From September 23, Android users will receive a new profile format with advanced statistics, achievements, and social features. The update is distributed automatically and will be noticeable not only in the Play Games application, but also in the Google Play store — profiles will appear directly on the game pages.
In essence, Google is turning Play Games into an analogue of a Steam profile: now players will be able to demonstrate what they are playing, how much time they spend in games, and what achievements they have unlocked.
As in Steam, users can make their profile public so that friends can follow their activity, or hide it completely. It is also possible to delete the profile along with all data. For existing accounts, statistics import is available — the system will pull up the history from the Google account and form the basis of the profile.
Google notes that it collects information about time in games, installed applications, and achievements. This data may be transferred to developers — including to improve services and personalized advertising. You can control the collection of information through the Google account settings (Activity Controls).
The new version of Play Games will be released almost simultaneously with a similar Apple initiative: iOS 19 will feature its own Games gaming hub with friends' activity, achievements, and news. Both companies are striving to make mobile gaming more social.