Google is preparing a major Play Games update which will introduce Steam-like public “gamer profiles” that show stats, milestones, and other data about your time playing games across Android and Play Games on Windows.
Starting on September 23, Google says that Play Games profiles will be updated to include “gaming stats and milestones” from games you’ve installed, as well as offering “new social features.”
Google Play Games profiles already exist, but they’re not readily accessible, and certainly lack any kind of “social features.” As it stands today, they mainly just show achievements.
Details are a little unclear, but the company’s description sounds a lot like what Steam offers to its players. Public profiles on Steam can show what games a user has played, what achievements they’ve earned, and more information. But, like Steam, Google will allow users to change their profile settings to hide this data from public view which the company explains on a support page.
Google’s email (which apparently started rolling out late last week) to Play Games users reads as follows:
We’ll soon update the way gamer profiles work on Google Play.
Starting on September 23rd, we’ll begin updating Play Games profiles, including yours. Your profile will include your gaming stats and milestones from games you’ve installed from Google Play and new social features. Your profile and related features will soon show up right on Google Play so it’s easier to access all of our gaming offerings.
To power features and services related to your gaming profile, Google will collect information about your game usage, such as which games you’ve played and when you’ve played them. We’ll also use this data to improve the Google Play gaming experience. Just like today, developers may receive information about your profile and your activity and purchases in their game to help them provide and improve the game, subject to their privacy policies. Developers may also send data to Google about your activity in their games, such as your achievements and game progress.
When we update your profile, we’ll use your existing profile visibility settings as the default settings for your updated profile. For example, if your current profile is set to “visible to everyone,” then information about your updated profile will also be visible to everyone. You can learn more about or update your current profile visibility settings here.
Your profile will be updated automatically, so you don’t need to take any action. Remember that you can delete your Play Games profile from your Google Account at any time.
You can also delete your Google Account entirely. Deleting your Google Account will delete all data and content in that account, like emails, files and photos.
We’re excited to show you your new integrated gaming experience and look forward to seeing you on Google Play.
On another support page relaying the same message, Google clarifies that these changes won’t take effect in the EU and UK until October 1.
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