Google Starts Testing Its Google Play Subscription Service

Google has been previously rumored to be working on a subscription service for Google Play. Called the Google Play Pass, the new subscription is meant to give users access to a catalog of apps and games for free, with no ads

The subscription also unlocks all in-app purchases for users, meaning you won’t have to pay at all for the games or apps. The idea here is very interesting, and Android Police is reporting that Google has already started testing the service with some users.

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The $4.99 a month service sounds quite promising, especially if Google sticks to the pricing. Google also seems to be working on a Family plan for the Play Pass, which will also be quite interesting. It’s not clear exactly how many apps or games are in the catalog, though, but one popular game I can see in the promotional images is Monument Valley.

Google later confirmed that the company has indeed started testing Play Pass, though it won’t share more details on the service as of yet. If it is publicly launched, Play Pass could be a great competitor for Apple’s upcoming Apple Arcade service which gives users free access to premium games on Apple devices. Apple Arcade is set for a Fall launch, and Google might go for a similar timeframe for the release of Play Pass, too.

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Conversation 3 comments

  • codymesh

    01 August, 2019 - 9:00 am

    <p>I don't know about others, but I felt a new thing – subscription fatigue – by just reading about this.</p>

  • nicholas_kathrein

    01 August, 2019 - 9:56 am

    <p>Good option to have. I'm going with Stadia so I don't think I'd go with this. I really would love packages for families that start off with everything and work there way down. Discounts for the top packages. I currently pay for google drive storage, Family plan for YouTube Premium, and Youtube TV. I'll have Stadia by the end of the year. It would be great to package this all together and get some kind of savings or other gifts like Stadia credits towards games.</p>

  • bill_russell

    01 August, 2019 - 3:23 pm

    <p>I might consider it, but I don't really use that many apps and games that I haven't already bought. I think it might be a good thing though, as one could see a time when all apps start to age and become unmaintained (entropy in action). This might be able to give out more overall to developers and tend to encourage maintainence. </p><p>If it would just give unlimited Robux, i'd be thrilled as that game with two kids is draining my coffers.</p><p><br></p><p>As far as subscriptions, we always forget you can typically do these things month to month. That is always the big advantage over cable vs video subscriptions. A friend took the summer off from youtube tv since they mostly just wanted certain sports, and is now about to get back on and the account is still maintained. Its like when we had cable we whined, but now that we have much more choice and flexibility we whine from other other side of the fence.</p>

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