Crash Course
Google Play removes 13 phoney apps from a single developer for installing malware
But not before the racing games accumulated over half a million downloads
Girl Power
Google’s Change the Game winners are now available on the Play Store
$10,000 Grand Prize goes to Washington student for her game, Mazu
Toll
Google will charge phone-makers if they want to use Google Play following European Commission ruling
Following a European Commission ruling earlier this year resulting in a $5 billion fine
Hit
Subway Surfers is the most downloaded game of all time on Google Play
App Annie has released a report on the most popular games of Google Play’s first 10 years
Top Stuff
Here are the longest-serving number one games and apps on Google Play since 2012
Sensor Tower reports on the high flyers over the last six years of the Android storefront
Play
Google Play improves support for app bundles and subscriptions
It has also launched Academy for App Success interactive courses for developers
Apponboard’s Tech Is Taking Off
Google Play’s Try Now demos are boosting retention and monetisation by more than 29%
AppOnboard’s tech is taking off
Play Bigger
The surprising successes of PC-based Android gaming platform BlueStacks
Mobile games flourish on PC
Click To Play
How Google is boosting Play Store by adding AppOnboard’s Try Now demos
CEO Jonathan Zweig explains all
Fort-not
Google Play now warning Fortnite fans that the game isn’t on its Android store
Despite best efforts, clones are likely to flood the Google Play store
Is It Worth It?
Is it time for the App Store and Google Play to ditch the 70/30 revenue split?
The mobile mavens offer their opinions
Salty Springs
Epic CEO Tim Sweeney labels Google Play 30% revenue share “disproportionate” as Fortnite bypasses Android store
Developer goes direct to consumer in bold move
Fortnite Android
Battle royale hit Fortnite may bypass Google Play for Android release
Rumours suggest there will be timed exclusivity for Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Co-op
App Store and Google Play game revenues hit combined $26.6 billion in first half of 2018
The combined total is a 28 per cent year-on-year increase from last years $26.9 billion
Hub
Google Play testing news and trending hub features with Google Play Games
News and trending features make up the new additions
Excellent
Google Play Excellence program welcomes Animal Crossing: Pocket Camp and six other games
World of Warships: Blitz and Flutter: Starlight also feature in high-quality highlights list
Drop
Drastic drop in Google Play downloads rocks indie devs after discovery algorithm fiasco
Devs started noticing the abnormal behaviour on Thursday, June 21st
Android Stars
Supercell’s Brawl Stars arrives on Android
Enters soft launch countries
Android Stars
Supercell teases Brawl Stars Android release
Could it suggest the MOBA-esque shooter is on its way to a full global launch?
First Person
Google out to highlight mobile games stars with new behind-the-scenes series
First three videos feature voice actor Ashly Burch, games dev Bennett Foddy and Ink Stories co-founder Vassiliki Khonsari
Winning
Empires and Puzzles takes home Best Breakthrough Hit from Google Play Awards
Broken Rules also won the Standout Indie Award while Pocket Gem snagged the Community Award
They Nominated Who
45 Android apps and games up for 2018 Google Play Awards
Well-being, accessibility and social impact make their debut as categories
Legal Investigation
Report: South Korea’s FTC investigates Google Play over claims it abused market leading position
Storefront accounted for 60 per cent of all mobile app content sales in 2017
Royal Flush
Social casino developer KamaGames racks up 100 million players
App Store proves more lucrative than Google Play
Shrinking Marketplace
Google Play continues to grow while number of App Store releases shrinks for the first time
There were 755,000 titles released on iOS in 2017, a drop of 29 per cent
Change The Game
Google Play challenges female teens to change the game with new design challenge
Students could win college scholarship of $10,000 and $15,000 school pledge, plus all-expenses paid trip to E3
Instant Gaming
Android Instant lets players quickly trial games like Clash Royale with tiny downloads
Service currently in closed beta
Showcasing Diversity
Google highlights games made by women as part of Change the Game initiative
Apps highlighted include 80 Days, Zen Koi 2, Race for the Galaxy and Kami 2
You're A Wizard
Jam City opens Google Play pre-registrations for Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Mobile title set for spring 2018 release
Google Play Winner
Bury me, my Love scoops top prize at the second Google Play Indie Games in Europe
Old Man's Journey and Yellow take second and third
Game Dev Tycoon Reviews
Greenheart Games loses 2,000 positive reviews for Game Dev Tycoon on Google Play under mysterious circumstances
Developer blames Google's algorithm, but Google claims it removed the reviews on purpose
Indie Showcase
Google Play Indie Games Contest heads to London next week
Takes place at Saatchi Gallery on February 13th
Win Big
Google Play Indie Games Contest open for entries
Submit your title by 6pm GMT on December 31st
Change The Game
Google Play launches Change the Game initiative to promote diversity in mobile games
Finds that 49% of all mobile gamers in the US are women
Best To Play
ZeptoLab’s CATS: Crash Arena Turbo Stars named Google Play’s Best Game for 2017
Quirky brawler proves popular on Android
Top Mario
Super Mario Run was the most downloaded new game on Google Play in 2017
Bubble Witch 3 Saga takes second, some dispute over the final three
Smashing Records
App Store and Google Play downloads hit record 26 billion in Q3
Consumer spend also at all-time high
Creative Thinking
How Creative Mobile made a premium success of Beholder on Android after launch
After an average launch, the team set about changing the game's fortunes
Infinite Deviations
Google Play launches Infinite Deviation: Games to bring new voices to mobile games
Three game concepts will be made to help push diversity in the indsutry
Best In Class
Google Play adds quarterly Android Excellence section to highlight its best apps and games
Galaxy of Heroes and Hitman GO among the first to be featured
Get Ready To Rumble
The Pokemon Company continues mobile push with new 3D brawler Pokéland
10,000 participants joining in on a first come, first served basis
Million Dollar Baby
66 publishers made their first $1 million in annual revenue on the US App Store in 2016
Compared to 39 on Google Play, according to Sensor Tower
Top Apps
Transformers: Forged to Fight wins Best Game in 2017 Google Play Awards
Winners for Standout Indie, Best VR and AR apps also revealed
Google Play Awards 2017
Fire Emblem Heroes, Pokemon GO and more pick up nominations for Google Play Awards 2017
The cream of the crop duke it out on May 18th
Google Free Apps
Google trials Free App of the Week feature to rival the App Store
A free app or game every week
Super Mario Review
Super Mario Run gets over 160,000 5-star reviews on Google Play in 24 hours
Fans rush to defend the big N
Discover And Play
Google Play improves discovery to focus on engagement over downloads
Also lets developers run their own sales
Reign Over Me
Indie hit Reigns wins big at European edition of Google Play Indie Games Contest
Takes home first place and the Unity award
Google Play In China
NetEase reportedly offers to help bring Google Play to China
Two tech giants working together?
All Winners Here
Google Play Indie Games Contest reveals 20 finalists for European competition
Overall winner to be decided on February 16th