New on Google Play: More ways to create, discover, and play

New on Google Play: More ways to create, discover, and play Oct 13, 2026 | x.com Facebook LinkedIn Mail Copy link From more ways to find games you’ll love playing to new ways to launch apps, here’s a look at what’s coming to Google Play. Sam Bright Vice President and General Manager, Google Play + Developer Ecosystem Share x.com Facebook LinkedIn Mail Copy link Read AI-generated summary You can now build and run custom Android apps on your own device using Google AI Studio, no developer account required. Google Play is also rolling out AI-powered discovery tools like "Ask Play" and "Game Finder" to help you find content tailored to your specific tastes. Explore these new features today to start creating your own apps, discovering personalized games, and joining community challenges. Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental. "New on Google Play" introduces fresh ways to create, discover, and play your favorite apps. You can now build and run personal AI apps on your device without developer accounts. New AI tools and "Gamer DNA" help you find apps and games tailored to you. Enjoy new social features like 48-hour Sprints and community posts to connect with others. Google Play is expanding to more devices, including cars, large screens, and PCs. Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental. Google Play is making it easier to build your own custom apps using AI, even if you aren't a professional developer. They’re also adding smart tools like "Gamer DNA" to help you find games that perfectly match your personal taste. You can now join quick, 48-hour gaming challenges called Sprints to compete with friends. Plus, new AI features help you compare apps and get better recommendations across all your devices. Summaries were generated by Google AI. Generative AI is experimental. Explore other styles: General summary Bullet points Basic explainer In this article Google Play connects you with the apps and games you love. Today, it's becoming the place you go to connect with the ones that you create, making it possible for anyone with an idea to build a personal app and run it on Google Play. We're also introducing new ways to discover and play that put you in control. Here’s what’s new on Google Play. New ways to create and launch your own app From "there's an app for that" to "there's an app for me." Using Google AI Studio, you can vibe code a custom Android app. Since many of these apps start out as personal projects, through Google Play you can now launch these personal apps on your own device. This means your creations stay private, secure, and separate from the public store catalog. You only need your standard Google account to do so — no developer account required. This starts rolling out today to select markets, including the U.S., for users 18 and over. In the coming months, you'll be able to share your personal apps with a close circle of friends and family. And if you eventually want to share your app with the world, Google Play helps you graduate to a professional developer account. At that time, your app will go through the same Trust & Safety reviews and quality standards as every professional developer. Build custom apps with AI and run or share them privately through Google Play. Screen images simulated. Sequences shortened. Smarter, more personal ways to discover content Content discovery across every screen Discovery shouldn't stop at your phone screen. In cars with Google built-in , the updated Play Store adapts to your vehicle’s screen. On XR, the Play Store is an immersive 3D space where your apps surround you as you browse. And on Googlebook, apps optimized for large screens are shown front and center. To discover content for all your passions, Sports Topic Pages now cover soccer leagues like Premier League, Champions League, La Liga, Liga MX, and Major League Soccer. Follow live scores and jump straight into streaming apps with Sports Topic Pages. Watch MLS on Apple TV with a subscription, available on Google Play. AI-powered discovery with Ask Play and Play in Gemini Ask Play lets you ask a question and instantly get tailored recommendations. Starting today, Ask Play can generate a comparison between apps, highlighting key differences and user sentiment. Meanwhile, Play in Gemini brings Google Play's apps, games, and developer content right into your Gemini conversations. This will start rolling out to all Gemini users soon. Compare apps side-by-side and get tailored answers with Ask Play. Game discovery that finally gets you Gamers evaluate games based on mechanics, art style, and more — not just popularity. Play’s new Game Finder combines Google Play's gaming knowledge with our community of over 2 billion players, so you can easily find games that match your taste. At the heart of it is Gamer DNA: an analysis of how you play and preferences you've shared. Specify games, genres, mechanics, and more to finetune your Gamer DNA and see more of what you want. Plus, see how players with similar Gamer DNA are engaging with a title, find out how many people you follow are playing it, read user review summaries, and learn which games are trending and why. Game Finder rolls out in English to U.S. users today, with additional markets coming soon. We’re also introducing Game Playlists, allowing you to curate collections of games. Soon, you'll be able to share playlists and explore other gamers’ lists. Discover your next favorite game with game finder, tailored to your Gamer DNA and backed by the community. Social competition, new games, and great rewards Finding a great game is only half the fun — staying connected and in the action is what brings players back. Here are three news ways we’re doing that in Play: Sprints, rolling out to all markets today, are high-energy, 48-hour micro-challenges. Match with groups of two to five players for fast-paced contests. Sidekick, our in-game overlay rolling out to select devices, now lets you record 30-second Playbacks. Community Posts let you ask and answer questions about a game directly in its detail page. This is available today across all games and all languages with automatic translations. Over the coming weeks, we’ll roll out support for developer posts and official announcements. Track Sprints, claim rewards, and capture 30-second Playbacks without leaving your game using Sidekick. More great games across mobile and PC We’re bringing some of the most loved PC titles, like Dave the Diver and Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun, to Play. There’s even more releases over the next few months — including REPLACED, Chosen by Odin, and Over the Hill — all of which you can play across Android mobile and PC with cloud save. We're also expanding Game Trials from mobile to PC games, letting you try full premium games for a limited time before you buy. More value and real-world fandom with Google Play Points Google Play Points adds value to everything you do across mobile and PC. Today, we’re kicking off Play Fest . Unlock Play Points multipliers, claim in-game items and developer offers, and enter sweepstakes for real-world prizes during this week-long celebration. Trust and innovation for families Google Play is built on industry-leading security and privacy protections. As technology evolves, we’re introducing new ways to keep families safe while empowering anyone to run custom AI apps on their devices. Accessing age-appropriate experiences Parents can share their child’s age range (or their own) directly with apps using Play’s Family Link app. With this new feature, users can provide apps with the minimum information required to get a safe, age-appropriate experience. Head to Google Play today to explore these updates. And if you’re a developer, learn how these announcements can help grow your business . Get the latest news from Google in your inbox Sign up for our newsletters with product updates, event information, special offers, and more. Done. Just one step more. Check your inbox to confirm your subscription. You can also subscribe with a different email address . Your information will be used in accordance with Google's privacy policy. You may opt out at any time. Posted in: Related stories Google Play Win big at Play Fest: Epic prizes, gaming leagues, and daily deals start October 13 By Paul Feng Google Play Book insights in Google Play Books is now available in more than a million ebooks and in the iOS app. By Vitaliy Dikker Gemini Notebook Expert Intelligence: a new way for you to engage with trusted content By Steven Johnson & Will Houghteling Google Play Ready to play? Experience Google Play’s biggest Gamescom showcase yet. By Özgür Kirazcı Google Play Enter Google Play’s sweepstakes to win legendary experiences and collectibles with your Play Points. By Tom Grinsted Google Play Venmo is giving you a new way to pay on Google Play. — Company newsroom — sourced from Google. Matter furnished by the company. Not a Notice Nearby paid placement. This page reprints matter furnished by the company from its official newsroom. Notice Nearby did not write this release. Read the original: https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/platforms/google-play/google-play-updates-october-2026