Google is officially opening the door to more games on Android Auto

If you find yourself sitting in your car doing nothing, Google expands your entertainment options. In addition to adding video streaming services to Android Auto and Android Automotive, Google is also making in-car gaming a big deal this year.

The company now has officially moved The Games category for Android Auto and Android Automotive OS is out of beta and in general availability. This means that games are no longer just an early access experiment, and developers can now freely publish compatible titles through Google Play’s open testing and production tracks.

Of course, Android Auto users can only play these games when the car is parked. Google puts this feature in place for times when you’re in your car, but not actually driving. This might mean waiting for your car to charge or sitting in a parking lot while you wait for someone.

Google also requires these in-car games to stop sounding when you start the car, and that sound cannot simply continue while the car is in motion.

The games are designed to run right on your car’s display and don’t require you to pull out your phone. Car screens support touch controls, and some games may also support connected game controllers.

For Android Auto, Google requires devices running Android 15 and up to support in-car games. Personal games must also support the vehicle form factor and meet Google’s requirements before appearing on Google Play for Cars.

Google is also asking developers to ensure that their games restore their previous state when restarted. So if you leave the game and come back later, it should pick up where you left off, rather than starting from scratch.

Additionally, the company encourages developers to make their games work on different car displays, which makes sense given how different car screens can be.