12 March 2026 — Google announced a new feature for its Play Store called Game Trials that allows users to play certain paid mobile games for a limited time before deciding to purchase them. The company said the functionality is rolling out initially for a selection of paid mobile titles and is planned to arrive later in Google Play Games for PC as well.
On the product page for any title that supports Game Trials, a Try button will appear. Tapping that button displays how long the trial period lasts for that specific game. Google illustrated the system using the survival horror title Dredge, which offers a 60‑minute trial: after that time the player must either buy the game or remove it from their device.
Google also said a wave of paid indie games will be available soon with Game Trials support, naming Moonlight Peaks, Sledding Game and Low‑Budget Repairs among the upcoming releases. In parallel, the company launched a new Play Store section dedicated to games optimized for Windows PCs; those PC‑ready games can be added to a wishlist so users receive notifications when they go on sale.
In addition to trial functionality, Google introduced Play Games Sidekick — an in‑game assistant powered by the Gemini AI model. Sidekick appears in some titles downloaded from the platform and displays timely information and tools relevant to gameplay, removing the need to leave a game to search for tips or walkthroughs.
For players who prefer community input over AI assistance, Google has begun surfacing community posts on some game pages so users can read other players’ thoughts and tips. Google noted, however, that those community materials are currently available only to English‑language audiences.
The company presented these updates as part of broader efforts to make discovering, trying and buying games on the Play ecosystem more convenient, and to bridge mobile and PC experiences through optimized titles and new discovery tools.