Google Play is becoming an “experience” — what’s new
Google announced several updates to Google Play aimed at turning the app store into more of an “experience” than just a download source. Many changes use AI and focus on discovery, content sampling and personalization.
Key updates
- You Tab — A new profile/For You hybrid for app and content recommendations, gaming profiles and curated deals.
- Regional content sections — The Play Store will surface region- or season-focused hubs (examples: Cricket Hub in India, Comics in Japan, Entertainment hub in Korea). Some content can be sampled directly in Play (webcomics, short-form dramas).
- Guided Search — Gemini-powered searches that organize results by goals (e.g., “buy a house”) to make discovery more task-focused.
- Ask Play — Expanded availability of AI Q&A on app pages to get AI-generated answers about apps.
- Play Points rollout — Updates begin in countries where Play Points exists (US/UK/Japan/Korea) with a wider rollout planned for Oct 1.
These updates are rolling out this week in Play Points countries and will expand on Oct 1. Sources and further reading:
- Android Developers Blog — I/O 2025: What’s new in Google Play
- 9to5Google — June 2025 Google system updates (Play Store summary)
What feature are you most excited about — the “You” tab, in-Play media sampling, or AI-powered Guided Search? Leave a comment below.