Play Games Faster: Android 12 Lets You Game Before Download

Google Accelerates Android Game Launches with "Play as You Download"

During today’s Game Developer Summit, Google unveiled a new capability for Android game creators. This feature is designed to significantly reduce the wait time between initiating a download from the Google Play Store and actually launching a game – with improvements of up to 2x on devices running Android 12.

The functionality, aptly named “play as you download,” allows players to begin interacting with a game even before the complete download is finished. This addresses a common frustration for mobile gamers.

Addressing Large Game File Sizes

Contemporary games often represent the largest applications users download. A lengthy download period, potentially spanning several minutes, can lead to users abandoning the process in favor of other activities.

Google asserts that this new feature will halve the time required to start playing a game approximately 400MB in size. This approach mirrors a similar system already implemented by Sony for PlayStation games, offering a familiar experience for console gamers.

Building on Existing Technologies

This isn't Google's initial foray into optimizing game loading speeds. The company previously introduced “Google Play Instant,” which enables immediate game access directly from the Play Store.

However, Play Instant aims to eliminate the installation process entirely, providing potential players with a demo-like experience. “Play as you download” takes a different approach, prioritizing quicker access to the full game.

Leveraging the Android App Bundle

Both the Play Instant feature and the new “play as you download” capability are powered by Google’s Android App Bundle format.

This format is progressively superseding the older APK standard, offering greater flexibility and efficiency in app delivery.

Image Credits: Google

The Android App Bundle allows for optimized delivery of game assets, contributing to the faster launch times promised by the new feature.