Google is revamping its Play Store, and introducing several AI-powered features, including a Gemini-powered "Sidekick" for gamers. This new in-game overlay provides real-time help and guidance during gameplay, enhancing the user experience without forcing them to exit their game. The Sidekick feature will appear as an overlay on supported titles, allowing users to take screenshots, record their screens, and stream on YouTube, with the most significant addition being the option for Gemini Live.
The Gemini Live feature within Sidekick will use the AI's screen-sharing technology to understand the gameplay context. Players can activate the assistant to ask for advice, walkthroughs, and strategies that are tailored to their current in-game situation. Google's official description of the feature states, “Sidekick curates and organizes relevant gaming info, and provides direct access to Gemini Live for real-time guidance, so you can stay in the game.” The feature is reminiscent of Microsoft’s Gaming Copilot, which offers similar AI assistance on Xbox and Windows 11.
Beyond the gaming features, Google is introducing a redesigned "You" tab on the Play Store. This new tab will provide a unified hub for user data, including rewards, subscriptions, recommendations, and updates across all their devices. The "You" tab will also extend beyond gaming to offer personalized content recommendations for other interests, such as audiobooks and podcasts. The integrated gaming platform will also allow users to create and customize Gen AI-based avatars to express their personality within their gamer profiles.
The announcement also includes a major update to Google Play Games, which has officially exited its beta phase after more than three years. The platform will now be generally available with support for over 200,000 titles, enabling seamless cross-platform play between mobile and PC. In addition, Google is launching the Play Games League, a new competitive system that will rank players globally and offer rewards through the Google Play Points program. The first league is set to kick off on October 10 with the game Subway Surfers.
The new features, including the "You" tab and the integrated gaming platform, will begin rolling out this week to "select Play Points markets," with a wider expansion to additional countries starting October 1. While the Sidekick overlay promises to be a significant addition, it may create a point of friction for users whose devices already come with a dedicated gaming mode from their OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) like Vivo, Oppo, or OnePlus.
