Google’s I/O 2024 developer conference has unveiled some exciting updates for Android developers, with a particular focus on Google Play. One of the standout features is the Engage SDK, a developer preview that allows app makers to showcase their content in a personalized, full-screen experience. This immersive surface can highlight important content from users’ installed apps, provide personalized recommendations and promotions, or showcase the most compelling features of an app to users who haven’t installed it yet.
To tap into this new feature, developers will need to integrate with the Engage SDK, which takes about a week to complete. Currently, the Engage SDK is only available as an invite-only preview.
Google has also made improvements to Play Points, the rewards program within the Play ecosystem. Developers can now launch coupons, discounts, and exclusive in-game items through Play Points. Monitoring these promotions is now easier through the Play Console, enabling developers to optimize their campaigns more effectively.
Furthermore, Google has simplified the process of integrating with Play Games Services and expanded its Google Play Games on PC program to more than 140 markets. This program now offers over 3,000 titles, providing a wide range of gaming options for users.
For SDK developers, Google has opened up its SDK Console to all SDK makers. This means that as long as an SDK is distributed by a canonical Maven repository source that Google can verify, developers can now access the SDK Console. This expansion allows smaller SDKs and open-source SDKs to provide developers with tools to update to the latest SDK versions, fix bugs, and comply with the most recent Play Store guidelines.
Additionally, developers can now share crash reports and ANR errors with SDK owners to help improve their software development kits. This collaborative approach helps SDK owners take user feedback into account, leading to more reliable and user-friendly SDKs.
Google has also updated the Play Integrity API, which helps developers ensure that user actions and server requests are coming from unmodified versions of their apps. The API now includes three new features. The first is the public beta of “app access risk,” which alerts an app when another app is capturing the screen, displaying overlays, or controlling the device. The API can also provide a Play Protect verdict, informing developers if Play Protect is turned on and if any known malware is detected on the device. The final feature, “recent device activity,” allows developers to detect high volumes of requests coming from specific devices, which could indicate automated traffic or an attack.
To support developers in acquiring and engaging users, the Play Store now offers custom store listings. This feature enables developers to change their listings and optimize them for different target audiences. Developers can also create listings based on keywords that users are searching for, with the Play Console providing keyword suggestions. Google’s Gemini AI can even assist in writing app descriptions, streamlining the process for developers.
In addition to these changes, the Play Store now displays screenshots, ratings, and reviews specific to different form factors, such as tablets or watches. This improves the user experience when filtering apps by device type or exploring the page dedicated to apps for “other devices.”
Developers using deep links to their apps can now update those links without needing to submit an app update for review. With the deep links patching feature in the Play Console, developers can experiment with different links and push them live easily.
Google has also made several updates to Play Store commerce. It now supports UPI (Unified Payments Interface) in India and Pix in Brazil. For families, parents can approve purchases for kids within a Google Family setup. In India, users can even ask a family member or friend outside of their own family group to purchase an app or in-app product by sharing a payment link through text or email. Prices on the Play Store automatically update to reflect currency fluctuations against the U.S. dollar, and developers can now price products as high as USD $999.99 (or the local equivalent).
To improve the customer experience, Google has introduced a new Play Billing Lab app that allows developers to test features related to one-time purchases and subscriptions. This includes an installment subscriptions feature, which allows customers to pay for long-term subscriptions over time. This program has seen significant growth in subscription sign-ups and user spending during its early access phase.
Developers looking to take advantage of these features will need to upgrade to Play Billing Library 7.0 later this month.
In conclusion, Google’s I/O 2024 developer conference has introduced several exciting updates for Android developers and the Google Play ecosystem. The Engage SDK, Play Points enhancements, improvements to developer-facing tools, and updates to the Play Integrity API are just a few of the highlights. These advancements provide developers with more ways to showcase their apps, engage with users, and ensure app integrity and security. With the Play Store becoming more customizable, flexible, and user-centric, Android developers can continue innovating and delivering exceptional experiences to users worldwide.
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