Google Play updates from Google I/O 2026

At Google I/O, we introduced new ways for developers to expand their reach and scale their business with less complexity.

We’re expanding their reach by meeting users where they are.

• On the Store: Play Shorts provides a glimpse into an app’s look, feel & functionality, while Ask Play allows conversational search for finding the right app.
• Beyond the Store: We’re surfacing apps directly in the Gemini app on Android and web while expanding content discovery across more surfaces via Engage SDK.
• In games: Play Games Sidekick, our in-game overlay that gives players instant access to gaming information, including tips, rewards and new social updates to deepen player connections.

Learn more about these updates and the ways we’re helping developers grow their businesses on Google Play in our Android developer blog post or watch the I/O keynote recording.