Google+ Games get the axe with the launch of Google Play Games

Even as Google took the wraps off the much talked about Google Play Games services, the company has announced that it will be shuttering its Google+ Games

Nishtha Kanal|May 16, 2013, 13:48:51 IST

Even as Google took the wraps off the much talked about Google Play Games services, the company has announced that it will be shuttering its Google+ Games services soon. The announcement comes even as Google’s I/O developer conference in San Francisco is under way with major announcements and launches lined up.

While it may come as a surprise to some avid Google+ users, most would be alright with the service being axed since the games service on the social networking website had never been the most highlighted one. The Google+ Games service will be retired by the company on June 30, Google announced.

Goodbye, Games!

“If you would like to continue playing a particular game, contact the game's developer to find out if there's a new destination site for the game,” Google wrote in the support page for Google+. Some games on the social networking website already have links directing users to another site where their favourite games can be played.

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If you have been playing Games on Google+ and have poured in money to buy in game credits, Google+ has you covered. It has announced that some games will continue to use your unused payments, but on their alternative sites. Some games are also offering a grace period during which you can use any available credits before the game is shut down.

The Google+ Games service is being shut in favour of Google’s new Play Game service that it announced yesterday. It’s a cross-platform game service and SDK on Android, iOS and the web; it will have features such as Achievements, Social and Public Leaderboard, Cloud Save and Real-time Multiplayer connect.

By Nishtha Kanal

Intrigued by all things social, Nishtha will invariably tweet about you. When not tweeting or writing about the next viral video, you will hear her proclaiming her love to Metallica, James Hetfield, Opeth, Akerfeldt and all bands that go 'growl'. She also obsesses about ACP Pradyuman and South Park and you will always find her moving around with a book. Her focus is on all the happening stuff in the tech domain, and she won't hesitate to take a shot at some of the oddball devices that make their way to our labs.