Back in March, Google announced the Google Play Games PC beta, a new app to bring Android games to PC. The beta is now finally going live, but access is limited to just a handful of countries.
With Google Play Games, PC gamers have an official way to access Android titles, without the need for an emulator like Blue Stacks. Unfortunately, the beta is quite limited right now, with only those in Australia, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand getting access. Additionally, the set of games available in beta is fairly small, so some of the biggest mobile titles are not yet available.
Before installing the app, ensure virtualisation is enabled (Hypervisor or HAXM) on your system. It's also worth noting that only one user on your system can use the app. If you have multiple accounts set up on a PC, you'll only be able to use the app on the account that installed it.
To see if your PC can run the app, check the system requirements below:
Minimum system requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 (v2004)
- Storage: Solid state drive (SSD) with 10 GB of available storage space
- Memory: 8 GB of RAM
- Graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU or comparable
- Processor: 4 CPU physical cores
- Other requirements: Windows admin account, Hardware virtualisation must be turned on
Recommended system requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 (v2004)
- Storage: Solid state drive (SSD) with 10 GB of available storage space
- Memory: 8 GB of RAM
- Graphics: Gaming-class GPU, like Nvidia GeForce MX450
- Processor: 8 CPU physical cores
- Other requirements: Windows admin account, Hardware virtualisation must be turned on.
Users in the regions where the app is available can download it HERE (you can sign up to receive a notification when it becomes available in your country). Then, install the app on your PC and follow the on-screen instructions to finish the process. Lastly, you'll need a Google account set in a supported country or region.
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KitGuru says: Even if you don't live in one of the regions where the Google Play Games beta is available, there are workarounds if you really want to try it out. Which Android games would you like to try on PC?