For most Android users, you have discovered that there is that green colored Google Play game services app, that manages online features of your phone that you rarely use. Well the search giant wants to extend it the the Apple fans using iOS and allow them play Google Games. In an announcement timed for the Game Developers Conference this week, Google says it’s bringing turn-based and real-time multiplayer capabilities to iOS. This of course is in the hands of developers who will choose to integrate the service with their games, they’ll be able to enable gamers with Android and iOS devices to play against each other cross-platform.
Currently Google’s Play Games supports iOS through a plug-in for the Unity game engine that supports achievements and leaderboards, and that plug-in will be updated soon adding the multiplayer element. An early version of a separate SDK for non-Unity games is also being released, but at launch it won’t support multiplayer gaming.
Could this signal a change in Mobile gaming?
It’s clear that Google is only making this announcement of expanding it’s multiplayer capabilities to iOS, due to Microsoft’s anticipated announcement. As Microsoft plans to expand Xbox Live to mobile platforms in order to facilitate multiplayer matchmaking, achievements, and friends lists. This seen a move that could signal a change in the way the big three mobile operating systems approach gaming. We may see one game running on iOS’s GameCenter, Android’s Google Play game services, and Windows Phone’s Xbox Live. Google says that all of the features will become available tomorrow Tuesday March 18th, at it’s developer day conference.
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