Google has just launched a new subscription service which could change the way we purchase apps.
The subscription will consist of over 350 unlocked apps for a small monthly fee. So games and fitness tracking apps, which you would have previously had to pay a separate monthly subscription will be free, with no ads or in app charges.
The subscription will contain only existing play store content to begin with, however they have already said that original content will be developed.
The service will cost £4.00 per month, however early adopters will get a greater than 50% discount.
The bad news is that this service will only be made available in the US to begin with, however if that goes well you can expect rollout to the rest of the world in early 2020.
“Apple has worked really hard to curate some cutting-edge content of a very high quality,” commented Ben Wood from the consultancy CCS Insight.
“But Google has been able to throw a wider net and get more titles.”
“And that somewhat neutralises the threat that Apple Arcade could pose if someone was thinking about switching from iPhone to Android on that basis.”
Included apps highlighted by Google include:
- Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic – a sci-fi role-playing game that launched on Android in December 2014, which currently costs $9.99 to buy
- Risk – a digital version of the world domination board game, which usually charges up to $7.99 for in-app items
- Pic Stitch – a program that turns a selection of photos into a collage, which normally charges $3.99 an item for additional content
Apple do seem to be ahead of the game on this one though as they have already announced Apple Arcade, which will consist of over 100 original apps developed solely for the Apple Arcade and not otherwise available on the Apple Store.
