Google Play Pass is being released in the United States to size up its Apple Arcade competition but it looks like Australians will have to wait a while.
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2019/09/google-adds-to-our-subscription-nightmares-with-google-play-pass/” thumb=”https://gizmodo.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/google-play-passcoming-410×231.jpg” title=”Google Adds To Our Subscription Nightmares With Google Play Pass” excerpt=”If you could sum up the decade in tech in one word, I’d probably choose ‘subscriptions’. Subscriptions started out as cost-effective way for consumers to consume entertainment but it’s since turned into an expensive, disorientating nightmare. So naturally, Google wants in with its upcoming Play Pass.”]
Speaking to Gizmodo Australia a Google spokesperson said, “Play Pass is coming to Android devices in the U.S. this week, and we’ll be bringing it to additional countries soon.”
While there has been no confirmation if Australia will be one of them, we’re holding out hope. In the meantime, this is what we know so far.
What is it?
Google Play Pass is a subscription service for the Google Play Store, which will grant you with a selection of premium games and apps for a monthly price. That monthly cost is $US4.99 a month and means included games won’t come with in-app purchases or those pesky ads.
The service comes with more than 350 apps and games, according to Google’s post, and you’ll need an Android device with at least version 4.4 and Play Store version 16.6.25 and above.
What games are included?
Like most monthly subscription services, there’s a rotation of content meaning the games the service starts might not stay the same month-on-month. It’s not clear how many games will be added and drop out each month but we’ll assume it’s around parity for now.
What we do know, based on the trailer and Google’s blog post, is the following titles should be included for now:
- 60 Seconds! Atomic Adventure
- Bridge Constructor Panel
- Chameleon Run
- Evoland
- Lichtspeer
- LIMBO
- Lumino City
- Mini Metro
- Monument Valley 2
- Old Man’s Journey
- Reigns: Game of Thrones
- Risk
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic
- Stardew Valley
- Suzy Cube
- Terraria
- The Bug Butcher
- Titan Quest
- Toca Nature
- Wayward Souls
Some more of the titles included can be viewed on the dedicated Play Pass page.
Will it come to Australia?
Unlike Apple Arcade, which is available to Australians with iOS 13 right now, Google Play Pass hasn’t actually been confirmed for release here too. As we mentioned above, Google could only tell us that it’s coming to more countries soon.
So, while it seems likely Google will introduce the service to Australia as well, it’s probably waiting to see how well it fares in the U.S. and what titles it can secure before we can get our clammy hands all over it. When it does, the $US4.99 a month will probably go up to $7.99 per month for Australians.
Until then, Apple Arcade it is.
[referenced url=”https://gizmodo.com.au/2019/09/okay-apple-arcade-is-probably-going-to-be-good/” thumb=”https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/t_ku-large/hisryikpyzfhcvx9bs4y.jpg” title=”OK, Apple Arcade Is Probably Going To Be Good” excerpt=”Apple Arcade probably isn’t going to suck. Maybe you already assumed that because you’re an Apple fan, or because you recognise that $7.99 for a selection of thoughtfully curated games could be a good deal. But questions have lingered about the service since Apple first announced it last spring. After a couple of hours playing through some of the biggest titles for the service ahead of its September 20 launch, I’m tentatively excited.”]