Google closes some of its Play Games multiplayer APIs

According to a new Google support page, the search giant is closing several of its Play Games multiplayer APIs.

Google started offering APIs several years ago to mobile game developers using Play Games services. These APIs helped developers create multiplayer features of their games.

Now two of these APIs, real-time multiplayer services, will be closed on March 31, 2020. Starting September 17, 2019, developers will no longer be able to add real-time Play Games Multiplayer Services based on new applications. .

Existing applications using APIs will continue to run until March 31st. This gives developers a little over six months to move to new multiplayer services.

Google has suggested some of its other network services, such as the Firebase Realtime database and Google Cloud Open Match, created in partnership with Unity 3D.

Unfortunately, Play Games Services had the distinct advantage of being included in Google Play developer account fees. Firebase, at least, offers a generous free level while Open Match is open source and allows developers to choose their own cloud provider. In either case, the change could result in extra work and expense for developers.

Other Google Play Games services, such as achievements, rankings and cloud backups, will not be affected by the closing of the multiplayer APIs.

Source: Google Via: 9to5Google