Play Games Sidekick

Play Games Sidekick is an overlay that helps players stay in your game by delivering relevant content and offers directly to players.

• User retention with Gemini Live and tips, so players don't need to leave the game for help or advice.
• Increased monetization with in-the-moment Points exchange, Play-funded offers, and Pass coupons.
• Rewarded gameplay with integrated streaks, quests, and profile interactions.
• Deeper engagement with content and videos.

Features

Available features on Sidekick will vary by game, depending on your Google Play Games Services integration status and Play Points enrollment. Players can expect the following features:

• Gaming utilities: Screenshot, screen record, YouTube Livestream, and Do Not Disturb.
• Achievements: Requires implementation of achievements.
• Gaming streaks: Gaming streaks.
• Play Points credit exchange.
• Play Points boosters and coupons: Available to enrolled Play Points developers.
• Play Pass benefits and offers.
• Quests: Quests are available to enrolled Quest developers.
• Official and Creator Videos: Sidekick shows the videos that you add. For more information about how to add videos on Play Store and Sidekick, see Showcase your app with YouTube videos on Google Play.

Some features are being tested with Early Access Partners:

• Gemini Live: Only available to Early Access Partners (EAP). If your game is not an EAP title, Gemini Live won't appear on your game. There will be a minimum of 3 months notice for any changes from this EAP program to move to the General Availability (GA) phase. Use our EAP program to test for performance in your test tracks.
• Game Tips: Available in select languages in an Early Access Program (EAP). If your game is not an EAP title, Game Tips won't appear on your game. There will be a minimum of 3 months notice for any changes from this EAP program to move to the General Availability (GA) phase. Use our EAP program to test for performance in your test tracks.

Software and hardware requirements

To access Sidekick, players need the following:

• A mobile phone running Android 13 or higher.

• Players must have one Gamer profile.

• The game must be installed from the Play Store.

Try Sidekick

To enable Sidekick for your game, follow these steps:

Make Sidekick default on for your game

Create an internal or closed testing release in Play Console to test pre-release versions of your game with Sidekick and gather targeted feedback.

Once you've tested with a smaller group of colleagues or trusted users, you can expand your test to an open release.

1. In the Play Console, set up an internal or a closed testing release.
2. To add Play Games Sidekick to your app bundle, select Sidekick is on by default.
3. Conduct your testing.
4. Once ready, release the build to production. For more information, see Prepare and roll out a release.

Players can manage the visibility of Sidekick at any time through the user settings in the Play Store.

Manage Sidekick visibility on your device for testing

Once the release is available to your testers in the Play Console, follow these steps to enable Play Store developer options on the device:

1. Open Google Play Store app.
2. Tap your profile icon and then tap Settings.
3. Tap the About menu.
4. Tap the Play Store version 7 times until you see the message You are now a developer!. This enables developer options on your device.
5. Tap General and then tap Developer options.
6. Turn on Play Games Sidekick.
7. Go to your game to see Sidekick appear.

Automatically add Sidekick to all bundle uploads

When you create a release and make Sidekick default on for your game, Sidekick is added to all of your future app bundles.

To change if Sidekick is on by default for all new app bundles you upload, follow these steps:

1. Open Play Console.
2. Select a game.
3. Go to Testing > Advanced settings.
4. On the Play Games Sidekick tab, select either
   • Automatically make Sidekick is on by default for new app bundles you upload.
   • Don't automatically make Sidekick default on for new app bundles you upload.
5. Select Save changes.

If your app updates are infrequent, we may periodically update the Sidekick for you. You can opt out of Sidekick using the advanced settings in the Google Play Console at any time.

Promote Sidekick to production

If you promote a release containing Sidekick to production, players will see Sidekick. Players can manage the visibility of Sidekick at any time through the user settings in the Play Store app.

Games that promote a release with Sidekick satisfy the Level Up guidelines.

Give feedback

For any feedback on Sidekick, use the feedback form.

Frequently asked questions