Google Play Games app is receiving a new update today, which bumps the version to 5.5.72, which should be available for you in the Play Store app by now, or soon.
While there is literally nothing — yet! — on the front when you open the new version of the app, it’s exactly the opposite when you inside the code from the new version. There is literally a ton of new code, hinting at loads of new features that could be on their way, chief of which would be the ‘Arcade‘ section, and stuff like ‘Just installed’ and ‘Recent games’ sections. Version 5.5.72 should be available for you in the Play Store app by now, or soon.
Let’s dive into what we found inside the APK of Google Play games 5.5.72, that started rolling out today, that is, February 27, 2018. There is no guarantee any of the features discussed below here would become available for real.
Arcade section
This is huge! We might soon see an Arcade section within the Google Play games app. Here, Google would give you games suggestions for the start, and may bring a lot of info-giving stuff into it.
<string name="games__arcade__title">Arcade</string> <string name="games__arcade__toolbar_title">Games</string> <string name="games__arcade_fragment_content_description">Showing \"Arcade\" page.</string>
Editor’s choice in Arcade?
Looks like the Arcade section in the Google Play Games would also recommend you games via an Editor’s choice section.
<string name="games__arcade__editors_choice__editors_choice_label">"Editors' Choice"</string> <string name="games__arcade__editors_choice__preview_image_content_description_1">Skip to first game.</string> <string name="games__arcade__editors_choice__preview_image_content_description_2">Skip to second game.</string> <string name="games__arcade__editors_choice__preview_image_content_description_3">Skip to third game.</string> <string name="games__arcade__editors_choice__preview_image_content_description_4">Skip to fourth game.</string> <string name="games__arcade__editors_choice__preview_image_content_description_5">Skip to fifth game.</string>
Recent games
This is also a nice addition. If you are the type who doesn’t quite remember which games played, recently, or ever, then this would be a big help. I know it is for me.
<string name="games_mvp_carousel_item_content_description_loading">Loading your recent games.</string>
Just installed games
Just like recent games, the ‘just installed’ section would give you the games you installed, with newer installs coming in at the top.
<string name="games_mvp_installed_just_now">Just installed</string> <string name="games_mvp_installed_time_format">Installed %1$s</string>
We could soon see a navigation bar, and one menu in that could be ‘My games’. There is also a ‘Games library’ menu here.
<string name="games_my_games_navigation_bar_title">My Games</string> <string name="games_profile_edit_discoverability">Allow other players to find my Gamer ID using my name or email address</string> <string name="games_mvp_games_library_expanded_full_content_description">Showing games library with %1$d games installed, %2$d games available to try now, and %3$d games not installed.</string> <string name="games_mvp_games_library_expanded_without_instant_content_description">Showing games library with %1$d games installed and %2$d games not installed.</string> <string name="games_mvp_games_library_label">Games Library</string> <string name="games_mvp_games_library_label">Library</string> <string name="games_mvp_games_library_spinny_content_description">Loading more games into games library.</string> <string name="games_mvp_games_library_toolbar_title">Library</string>
Info about Achievements and Players (revamp?)
This already exists, but there could be a new way of presenting things about Players (that you may or may not know) playing a game in your library. Similarly, it may also give information on locked and unlocked achievements of the game.
<string name="gamedetails__apl_players">Players</string> <string name="gamedetails__apl_achievements">Achievements</string> <string name="gamedetails__apl_back_content_description">Back</string> <string name="gamedetails__apl_leaderboards">Leaderboards</string> <string name="gamedetails__apl_achievement_content_description">Achievement: %1$s. Description: %2$s. Status: %3$s. %4$s. %5$s</string> <string name="gamedetails__apl_achievement_hidden_description">Keep playing to learn more.</string> <string name="gamedetails__apl_achievement_hidden_name">Secret</string> <string name="gamedetails__apl_achievement_locked_content_description">locked</string> <string name="gamedetails__apl_achievement_unlocked_content_description">unlocked</string> <string name="gamedetails__apl_achievement_xp">%1$s XP</string>
Instant games suggestions!
Play games app might throw you some games you should try.
<string name="games_mvp_instant_games_label">Try now</string> <string name="games_mvp_instant_games_label_content_description">\"Try now\" header</string>
Other stuff:
Achievements count
This is new. We haven’t had counts of Achievements I guess.
<string name="games_achievementcount_content_description">%1$d out of %2$d achievements unlocked</string> <string name="games_achievementcount_text_format">%1$d / %2$d</string>
Stuff for empty game profile
Would give you a headstart if you have no games in your profile. Maybe just new interface, because I guess this thing already exists. ‘Let’s play’ text would replace the old ‘You have no games’ text (in italics below).
<string name="games_mvp_empty_prompt_visit_arcade">Grab a shiny new game from the arcade</string> <string name="games_mvp_empty_prompt_visit_library">Pick a game from your library</string> <string name="games_mvp_empty_prompt_visit_library_or_arcade">Pick a game from your library or the arcade</string> <string name="games_mvp_empty_prompt_visit_store">Check out the Play Store for tons of new games</string> <string name="games_mvp_you_have_no_games_message">"Let's play!"</string> <string name="games_mvp_you_have_no_games_message">You have no games.</string>
Find games is now Explore games
Change of text for the ‘find games’ section. Would be called Explore games.
<string name="games_mvp_find_games_button_text">Explore games</string> <string name="games_mvp_find_games_button_text">Find games</string>
My games section
<string name="games_mvp_menu_hide">Hide in \"My Games\"</string> <string name="games_mvp_menu_show">Show in \"My Games\"</string> <string name="games_mvp_hide_undo_snackbar_text">%1$s has been hidden</string> <string name="games_mvp_show_undo_snackbar_text">%1$s is now shown in \"My Games\"</string> <string name="games_mvp_snackbar_undo_button_text">Undo</string>
Restricted account stuff!
It would tell you if your current Google account is no usable in the Play games app.
<string name="games_sign_in_unicorn_account_dialog_message">"%s <br/><br/> Unfortunately we can't sign you into Google Play Games with this account."</string> <string name="games_sign_in_unicorn_account_dialog_title">Unsupported account</string>
New tags
We’re also wondering what this does.
<string name="pf__tagbrowse__reset_content_description">Clear all tag selections</string> <string name="pf__tagbrowse__selected_tag_content_description">Selected tag: %1$s</string> <string name="pf__tagbrowse__unselected_tag_content_description">Unselected tag: %1$s</string>
So, that was all the info on upcoming features the Google Games app could soon feature.
Thoughts?
