Google could soon let you play paid Android games for free

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Credit: Joe Hindy / Android Authority


TL;DR

• Google Play Store is working on a “Try before you buy” feature that allows users to play premium games for a set duration at no cost.
• Users can purchase the full game experience once their trial ends, and their progress will be carried over.
• The feature is likely to be an opt-in tool for game developers, helping them attract users who are hesitant about upfront costs.

The Google Play Store houses tens of thousands of high-quality games that you can play on your Android flagship. Most games these days are monetized through (often greedy) in-app purchases for cosmetics and gameplay enhancements, but there are rare gems that still offer their entire gaming experience as an upfront, one-time purchase. However, this is both a pro and a con, as users cannot even try out the game before spending money on it. Google may be looking to address this issue, as the Play Store could soon offer a new “Try before you buy” feature for premium games.

Authority Insights



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Currently, the Google Play Store allows developers to offer free trials for subscriptions. However, this is not a solution for games (and apps) that bank on an upfront, one-time purchase. Developers for such games often resort to creating a “demo” version of their game as a separate listing, allowing users to try out the game in a limited capacity before committing to the full experience with their wallet.




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