Google Play Store has a variety of exciting games for Android users. This vast catalogue of games includes free and paid apps. Most developers who only offer a paid version of their game usually launch a separate demo for users to try out. This is a bit stressful for developers as they’re basically building another game, only more limited than the main one. Google wants to change that by making things easier for both developers and users.
Google Play Store Try before you buy
In an APK teardown of the Google Play Store (version 49.6.19-29), Android Authority discovered multiple strings that mention a new “Try before you buy” feature for games. The code allows developers to set the free-trial duration to minutes, an hour, or multiple hours. There isn’t a fixed duration for all games. While the strings indicate that the upcoming feature will be limited to games on the Play Store, there are chances that other paid apps may adopt the trial period too.
Play Store Pick up where you left of
Other lines of code suggest letting users pick up where they left off in the demo if they decide to buy. The “Pick up where you left off” option allows users to continue playing by making a one-time payment. There’s only one trial per user for each game. On the second attempt, the game displays a “You already used the trial” message.
It’s not clear yet if the “Try before you buy” model will be adopted for freemium titles on the Play Store. If it will, this will provide gamers with temporary access to locked or paywalled content and, in some cases, remove ads. Although some game developers already offer a version of this on their own, Google including the feature on the Play Store would make it more accessible.
There are no details on when this feature will be available on the Play Store or how exactly the feature will function for now.