Google Have Now Made it Easier for New Developers to Release Apps

Google have made a quiet move that could change the gaming sector as we know it.

01:51 27 December 2024

Google have made a quiet move that could change the gaming sector as we know it. They have officially lowered the minimum amount of people who must test a game before it can be released on the Google Play Store. Now, just 12 people have to test it for 14 days until it can be released. This requirement only applies to those who release apps using an account created after November 13th 2023.

A Sharp Rise in Mobile Game Developers

Right now, there are 17.7 million mobile developers. While Western Europe and North America are the two main regions, it seems that Africa and the Middle East are experiencing exponential growth, with numbers set to reach 2.9 million by the end of this year. As more developers come into the fold, we can expect even more game variety, as employment spikes often lead to new creative opportunities.

The casino market is a prime example here. With a CAGR rate of 6.46%, new slot games are released every year, exploring a huge range of different themes. Fishing Frenzy for example was released in 2014 and was one of the first games to include an underwater theme. Since the online gaming boom, it has spawned an impressive 14 sequels, along with the addition of special features, bonus rounds, and free spins. It’s easy to correlate the release of new titles, and game variants, with the sharp rise in demand for game developers.

As Google has made it easier for developers to release titles, this could well lead to more people entering the market, which is great news for gamers. It could mean that some interesting titles are on the horizon, and it will also mean that games are released faster as well. In combination with new possible niche game themes, this is all very good news for those who like to play using a mobile device.

Exploring the Update from Google

Before releasing an app on Google's App Store, developers had to test their app with different users. Google forced developers to test their apps with 20 people over a 2-week period, which was a huge obstacle for indie developers. In an update, Google has said that they are dropping the requirement to just 12 people, but only for accounts created in the last year or so. While this rule might not seem like a big deal, developers who don’t know a lot of people, or those who are new to the gaming industry, may find that they only have a few friends or coworkers who can test the app.

This limited pool of testers often posed a significant hurdle for app testing requirements and made it much more difficult for games to be released. Game developers often found themselves resorting to X or Reddit to find additional testers, which not only delayed the release of the app but also discouraged them from uploading the app to the Play Store. Although the idea behind this rule encourages developers to test their games and apps properly, Google seems to have listened to the concerns people had about the rule, and has relaxed them for those looking to find their footing in the market.