Google is redesigning the Play Store to match content to interests and speak to the user in natural language. There’s «intent-based» search, a separate section for personal recommendations and insights, and even a game assistant that gives you tips right as you play.
Google is redesigning the Play Store to match content to interests and speak to the user in natural language. There’s «intent-based» search, a separate section for personal recommendations and insights, and even a game assistant that gives you tips right as you play.
TechCrunch writes about the changes in detail. The most noticeable innovation is «guided search.» Now you can enter not the name of the application, but the goal, for example, «looking for housing,» and the store will show the corresponding services. The updated Apps tab will also have thematic collections by season and interest. In the US, a block with materials about the WNBA will appear there, in other countries the collections are adjusted to local preferences, as has already been done in India and Japan.
The You tab appears. This is the user’s home page with subscriptions, Play Points bonuses, tips, viewing and listening history. It is convenient to continue a movie, podcast or book from where you left off. In the same section, gamers have access to an updated profile with achievements and statistics, which can be supplemented with an AI-generated avatar.
Separate changes concern games. The Games tab collects progress, rewards, and community. Play Games Leagues tournaments are launched with prizes in the form of Play Points. The first season is dedicated to Subway Surfers and will last from October 10 to 23. Another novelty is the game «assistant». This is a small window on top of the game that answers questions and gives tips in real time. It works on the Gemini base, so you don’t need to minimize the game and look for a walkthrough on the Internet. Initially, titles from EA and Netmarble are supported, including Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, FC Mobile, and Solo Leveling: Arise.
Game pages in the store will become more informative. There will be sections with events, news from developers and offers. Already in October, users will be able to ask questions directly on the game page and receive answers from other players. Separately, Google announced that the Google Play Games program on PC, which gives access to hundreds of thousands of mobile games on Windows, is leaving beta.
In recent years, Google has gradually transformed Play from an app catalog into a media hub. The company has added sections for searching for where to watch your favorite shows, as well as collections by topic. The current update makes this approach more personal: the store understands the user’s task, shows relevant tips, helps to return to unfinished content and supports the player right along the way. The goal is simple: shorten the path from «what to watch or play» to the finished choice, without forcing the user to wander between different services.
Previously, dev.ua wrote about how Google will change the rules for distributing Android applications starting in 2026: all developers, even those distributing applications outside the Play Store, will have to verify their identity. The company explains this by the need to reduce the number of cases of fraud and the spread of malware.
