Play Store Parley
Top 50 mobile games could all face higher 20% fee under Epic and Google's Play Store plans
Games selling cosmetics will only be charged a 9% fee under Google’s new policy, but gameplay advantages will come with a 20% cut
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Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.
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Luana André Assumpção
Sergio Salvador
Global Head Gaming Partnerships and Head Mobile APAC
Greg Hartrell
Director of Product Management: Android/Google Play
Mariusz Gasiewski
CEE Mobile Gaming Lead
Kunal Soni
Head of Google Play Apps and Games - South East Asia, India and Australia
David Foster
VP of Product Engineering
Phil Harrison
Stadia vice-president and general manager
Sundar Pichai
CEO
Noah Falstein
Chief Game Designer
Alejandro Manchado
Video Game Analytics and Monetization Business Development
Anastasia Selchuk
Industry Manager
Jennifer Chan
Business Development Manager, Google Play Apps & Games
Jennifer Lui
Senior Product Manager
Mathieu Sneep
Team Lead, Mobile Developer Sales EMEA
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Articles featuring Google
Power Saving
Google launches new Android metric to help reduce battery drain from background processes
Starting March 2026, affected apps may lose Play Store visibility or receive warning labels
Podcast | Episode 71
Google and Epic upend Android mobile game monetisation | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 71...
New Era
An Epic deal for Google?
Epic and Google propose new rules for how you monetise your games
Settlement Reached
Google and Epic reach proposed settlement to open Android app store access
The proposal would allow third-party app stores to be downloaded more easily
Major Shift
Google Play injunction can "transform Android game economics"
Tech giant forced to allow alternative payment systems in the US until 2027 under court ruling in Epic Games case
Cracked Open
US Google Play store opens up to alternative payments in boost for DTC
Injunction will run until November 1st, 2027
Age Verification
Google is rolling out age verification on the Play Store
The rollout will vary by region, with some areas exempt from verification requirements
Podcast | Episode 69
The big AWS crash and Google delays Android regulation | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 69...
Market Status
CMA designates Apple and Google with strategic market status on mobile
The designation gives the CMA new powers to ensure fair competition across mobile ecosystems
Deadline Extension
US judge grants Google one-week extension to comply with Epic Games injunction
Both Google and Epic jointly requested the deadline extension from October 22nd to 29th, 2025
App Store Changes
US Supreme Court rejects Google’s bid to block Play Store overhaul
The decision stems from Epic Games’ antitrust lawsuit accusing Google of monopolising app distribution and payments
Ios Installs
Epic Games Store sees "stunning" rise in successful installations as iOS scare screen removed
The Fortnite maker still believes Apple is "thwarting competition" despite the improvements
Hot Five
Hot Five: Delta Force hits $300m, Nintendo shadow drops Fire Emblem Shadows, and EA in talks to go private
Our quick-fix roundup of the hottest stories on PocketGamer.biz
Podcast | Episode 66
UGC platform revenue share, app store competition, and Fire Emblem's surprise launch | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 66...
New Offerings
Google Play launches raft of new games features
Rolls out includes other features like the You tab and Play Games Leagues
Podcast | Episode 65
Gamescom insights and India's shock real-money gaming ban | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 65...
App Store Changes
Google to require identity verification for all Android app developers from next year
Developers in Brazil, Indonesia, Singapore, and Thailand face new verification rules from September 2026
Play Policy
Google Play policy update restricts pre-registrations, discovery and more to higher-tier fee payers
Changes also allow developers to more flexibly link to payments outside of an app
Platform Partnership
Atlas partners with Google Cloud as its AI platform enters closed beta
"If you haven't started putting AI in your development pipeline, you should probably do that," says Google Cloud global director for games Jack Buser
Legal Battle
Google loses appeal in Epic Games case that could crack open the Play store
The case could now make its way to the Supreme Court
On The Leash
The heavy hand of regulation
Regulators continue to fight big tech with mixed results
Podcast | Episode 62
Apple's regulatory wins and 2025's top genres | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 62...
Strategic Market Status
UK’s CMA crawls to Apple and Google regulation
Competition and Markets Authority proposes designating Apple and Google with Strategic Market Status
Google Games
Google quietly launches HTML5 games hub Instant Games on select Android devices
The new app allows users to access a selection of games without downloading them separately
New Offerings
Google brings Play Points to Roblox with launch of Diamond District experience
The search giant said the experience will be live until July 2nd, 2025
Jobs Roundup
May 2025’s Movers and Shakers: New King president, Scopely appoints CBO, Roblox exec exits, and more
Our regular roundup of the mobile games industry's movers and shakers
Podcast | Episode 51
Regulators poke the Apple and Google monopoly bear | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode 51...
Guilty Google
Google found guilty of illegal ad tech monopolies
But the tech giant plans to appeal
Tiktok Ban
TikTok returns to app stores in the US
US Attorney General Pam Bondi assured Apple in a letter that it wouldn't face fines for hosting TikTok on the App Store
Ecosystem Examination
UK’s CMA to investigate Apple and Google’s mobile ecosystems "in parallel"
These two investigations form the second of three "areas of digital activity" the CMA intends to examine
Best Of 2024
Craig Chapple's top stories of 2024: Inside Lilith Games, Tim Sweeney's app store war, Sensor Tower's data.ai acquisition, and more
PocketGamer.biz head of content Craig Chapple highlights some of his top stories of 2024
Ai In Games
Google’s AI Genie 2 brings images to life by transforming them into playable 3D worlds
“Games play a key role in the world of artificial intelligence research”
Gaming Trends
India's competition watchdog launches probe into Google's real-money gaming policies
The investigation is expected to conclude in next two months
Investigation
CMA Investigates Apple and Google’s dominance in UK mobile market
The CMA expects to make a final decision in March 2025
New Partnerships
ByteBrew teams up with Google Cloud to support developer community with analytics suite
Google wants to "push the boundaries of what's possible in game development."
The Battle Endures
Google accuses Microsoft of wanting to "free-ride" on Play Store’s success amid Epic Games legal battle
Microsoft came out in support of Epic Games last week - now Google has responded
Instant Games
Remember Facebook Instant Games? It’s back
The long-awaited introduction of in-app purchases on iOS is another example of a new era for games
Legal Proceedings
Google wins temporary reprieve in legal showdown with Epic Games
Epic says Google is using “fearmongering" and “unsubstantiated security threats" to maintain control over Android devices
Podcast | Episode 32
Breaking down Google Play's Judgement Day | Week in Mobile Games podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and and what's inside this week's episode 32...
Rise Of The Stores
Google Play’s Judgement Day - Does it matter?
The tech giant's next potential steps and whether rivals can change the status quo in just three years
Microsoft Triumph
Xbox Android app will start game sales next month
Players can use Xbox Cloud Gaming to stream titles they've purchased
Big Tech Breakup?
US mulls Google breakup in antitrust case
Tech giant labels DOJ proposals as "radical" and "government overreach"
Ruling Regulation
Epic beats Google: Play Store must allow third-party app store distribution in US
Starting November 1st, 2024, Google must allow distribution of rival stores from its own
Auto Blocker
Epic files lawsuit against Google and Samsung over “anti-competitive” app Auto Blocker
"This goes against everything we've been fighting for in Epic vs. Apple and Epic vs. Google," says CEO Tim Sweeney
Podcast
Google lead shines a light on the games industry's top trends | Podcast
The PocketGamer.biz podcast team and guests give you the state of play every week. Here's where to get it and what's inside this week's episode…
Funding For Games
Google launches $2 million Indie Games Fund for Latin American studios
Indie game developers who have launched a game on Google Play, PC or console are eligible to apply
Week That Was
Apple's acquiescence, Google's guilt, and what to expect from Nintendo's S(Wii)tch… | Week in Views
The Pocketgamer.biz team pick their highlights from the headlines this week and deliver the stories behind the stories
Turning Up The Heat
US judge finds Google guilty in landmark search and advertising monopoly case
It’s not just you. Yes, Google did create, and is running an illegal monopoly on search and advertising
Tough Times
2024's games industry lay-offs: The stories so far - all in one place
The second half of the year is still providing tough times. Here are all the companies that have resized, restructured and shed staff so far this year