Google’s autoplay update is being reversed after causing issues for unintended targets

In the latest Google Chrome update, the browser attempted to tackle sites auto playing video with sound once and for all. Unfortunately, the update had some unexpected side effects, making some browser-based games completely unplayable. As a result, the new autoplay policy is being removed temporarily.

In a Chromium bug thread, Google product manager, John Pallett explains that the Chrome team will be giving developers more time to update their code. He also admits that “in this case, we didn't do a good job of communicating the impact of the new autoplay policy to developers” that rely on the Web Audio API.

Unfortunately, the likelihood of all online content being updated to fall in line with Google's new policies is slim and in some cases, developers will be unable to update their code. So when the Web Audio API returns in October, there will still be some impact, unless Google can find some alternative workaround.

The autoplay policy changes will return with Chrome update 70 in October. Currently, Google has yet to confirm any potential changes to reduce the impact on some online content.

KitGuru Says: While the main goal was to tackle the issue of websites autoplaying videos with sound switched on, Chrome 66 unfortunately had a wider impact than expected. Hopefully over the next few months some form of workaround will be found. 

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