Google Redesigns Play Store with AI-Powered Features and Personalized Content for a More Engaging User Experience

Google has announced significant updates to the Google Play Store, aiming to enhance user experience and boost engagement. Key changes include a redesigned Apps tab, an overhauled Play Games experience, a new interest-based tab, and various features leveraging Gemini AI.

The revamped store aims to transform the Play Store into a more engaging destination, with additions such as a tab showcasing streaming options for favorite shows and ‘Collections’, which categorize preferred apps and games under shop, watch, and listen categories.

Google’s Vice President and General Manager of Play Games, Aurash Mahbood, shared in a press briefing that the platform serves as a crucial gateway for over 4 billion users to discover apps, games, books, movies, TV shows, and cultural content. The goal is to help all users engage with content that aligns with their needs and interests.

The update introduces AI-powered functionality, including Guided Search. Users can now find desired apps or games by inputting goals or ideas instead of specific app names. For instance, typing “find a home” would direct users to real estate apps.

The Apps tab is being revamped with seasonal and user-interest focused ‘curated spaces’, which may feature content from multiple apps. In the U.S., this will include WNBA-related content initially. This expansion follows the launch of curated spaces in India and Japan, focusing on regional interests like cricket and comics, respectively. Korean users will gain a video content-focused curated space offering a mix of movies, TV shows, and short-form videos.

A new ‘You’ tab is being introduced to encourage more frequent user engagement. It serves as a central hub for managing subscriptions, rewards, recommendations, stats, and updates. The tab will also offer content suggestions based on user interests, such as movies or shows, podcasts, ebooks, or audiobooks, making it easier to resume previous reading, listening, or viewing sessions.

Gamers will see an updated gamer profile in the ‘You’ tab, which organizes stats and achievements across games and devices. These profiles can now be personalized with a Gen AI avatar.

New features for gamers are also being rolled out following the launch of the new Games app accompanying Apple’s iOS 26 release. The Games tab will consolidate stat and achievement tracking, rewards, and community into one place. Play Games Leagues will allow users to compete against friends for Play Points rewards, starting with a league dedicated to Subway Surfers from October 10 to October 23.

The most intriguing update is the addition of the AI-enabled Play Games Sidekick, an in-game overlay providing real-time gaming assistance from Gemini Live. Users can seek help or tips when stuck in a game without leaving it, leveraging the latest Gemini audio-to-audio model for quick responses and encouragement.

The Sidekick will also curate and organize other relevant gaming information in one place, keeping users immersed in their games. Initially, the feature will be supported in games from EA and Netmarble, including Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes, FC Mobile, and Solo Leveling: Arise.

Additionally, enhanced Game Detail Pages will showcase title information, including ongoing events, developer updates, and offers. Starting next month, gamers will be able to ask questions and share answers on this page to help or seek help from other gamers.

Finally, the Google Play Games for PC offering, featuring over 200,000 titles, exits beta today.