Google’s New Play Pass Offers $4.99 Gaming, App Subscriptions

To let users enjoy apps and games without ads or in-app purchases, Google debuted the Google Play Pass. The new subscription service provides them with access to over 350 games and apps that are “completely unlocked,” the company said in a blog post.

The offering provides “a high-quality, curated collection of titles” ranging from AccuWeather to Stardew Valley with new games and apps coming every month. It is coming to Android devices this week in the U.S., and the company said it will be bringing it to more countries soon.

Users can begin with a free trial of 10 days, and then subscribe for a monthly fee of $4.99. But the company is letting customers receive the offering at a discount of $1.99 per month for the first year “for a limited time.”

Maria Sayans, CEO of Ustwo Games, said in the blog post about the offering, “Play Pass helps encourage people to try new experiences they would not have otherwise.”

The post notes that games and apps with Play Pass can be still be discovered in the Play Store, instructing users to “look for the Play Pass ‘ticket.’” It also says that all games and apps found on the homepage of Play Pass or in the Play Store with the ticket are fully unlocked with a subscription.

Google’s blog post also notes, “Just like Google Play Family Library, family managers can share their Play Pass subscription with up to five other family members. Each family member can access Play Pass individually, so your experience won’t be affected by what others download.”

The news comes as Apple has officially released the Apple arcade gaming subscription service. According to previous reports, the first month of the service will be free for those who want to test the offering, and it’s available as part of Apple’s latest OS upgrade, iOS 13. The service will come to iPads and Apple TV later in September, and it will be available on Mac computers next month.