Google Play has rolled out a new feature called Game Trials, designed to let players experience a portion of paid games for free before deciding to make a purchase. Currently available for select titles on mobile, the feature will soon expand to Google Play Games on PC. Games offering Game Trials display a “Try” button on their profile pages, allowing users to play for a set period. For example, the survival and horror title Dredge permits 60 minutes of free play before prompting players to either purchase the game or remove it from their device. This move provides gamers with the opportunity to explore gameplay and mechanics without immediate financial commitment.
Alongside Game Trials, Google has launched Play Games Sidekick, an Android overlay powered by Gemini. Sidekick offers contextual in-game information and tools without requiring external searches. Players who prefer community input can also access the Community Posts feature, which provides advice and discussion for selected games in English. Google Play has also introduced a dedicated section highlighting paid indie titles optimized for Windows PCs, including upcoming releases such as Moonlight Peaks, Sledding Game, and Low-Budget Repairs, with the option to wishlist games and receive notifications when they go on sale.
Meanwhile, NVIDIA’s GeForce Now service has unveiled a series of updates for cloud gaming, particularly benefiting VR users and GOG account holders. Starting March 19, VR headsets like Apple Vision Pro and Meta Quest will support streaming at 90 frames per second for Ultimate members, enhancing smoothness and responsiveness in virtual environments. GeForce Now has also introduced in-app labels to show the availability of games tied to Xbox and Ubisoft accounts, and account linking has been expanded to include GOG, complementing prior integrations with services such as Gaijin.
The platform continues to enhance its library with select titles including Brutal Legend and Contrast, along with new releases launching directly on the cloud, such as Remedy’s Control Resonant and Samson: A Tyndalston Story. GeForce Now’s infrastructure, powered by GeForce RTX 5080 servers, delivers a high-quality cloud gaming experience comparable to high-end personal rigs, accessible across a wide range of devices including Windows and Mac PCs, Android TV, NVIDIA Shield, Fire TV sticks, and mobile platforms. These updates signal ongoing efforts from Google and NVIDIA to make gaming more accessible, flexible, and immersive for players worldwide.
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