Google is simplifying login for Google Play Games

This week, some changes to the Google Play Games permissions aim to simplify login and remove the requirement for a Google+ account.

Developers of Android games have had this issue for a while now – that it is much more hard to sign-in users from within their apps to make transactions and purchases. There’s a good chance if you’re reading this that’s a moot point, but once the change takes place new users will get a player ID that’s not tied to Google+. This was done by altering the model for game applications programming interfaces. Once a player’s account has been registered, there will be no need to sign in for any future games as they will be signed in automatically. End users will be able to log in faster and make easier payments on multiple apps, while coders will see more downloads as a result.

Since it is once again en vogue to compare and contrast relatively innocuous details about competing mobile platforms, it’s worth mentioning Apple’s Game Center has always used automatic sign-in. Also, players don’t have to upgrade to Google+ to use Play Games services like achievements or in-game recording.

Players will no longer be asked to sign-in to Google+ every time they play a game that uses Google Play Games API.

The big thing about this new system is that there is no more consent screen required for signing in on any particular game. Dobson added that to prevent player’s identities, the way player IDs work have been changed.

“For existing players: Games will continue to get their Google+ ID (also called “player ID” in previous documentation) when they sign in”.

“Let’s be very clear: If you do nothing, unless you are depending explicitly on Google+ features, you will see no change in functionality, and a smoother sign-in experience”, the blog post underlines.