With the increasing computing powers on handheld devices, faster refresh rates, better graphics, and the ever-increasing game library on the play store, mobile gaming has become the center of focus for the upcoming version of Android. The latest iteration of Google’s operating system, Android 12, has introduced new gaming-focused features that are aimed at improving the experience of gamers across various devices.
Android 12 Gaming Features: What can we expect
While the feature list is short at the moment, users can expect more with upcoming updates. Here are some of the highlights-
Play as you download
At the annual Google for Games Developer Summit held in July 2021, the Mountain View-based company announced the Play as You Download feature. The service, as the name suggests, allows users to dive into the game as soon as possible while remaining game assets are being downloaded in the background. The feature has been on consoles for years and wasn’t needed on Android until recently due to the increasing game sizes.
Game Dashboard
Game Dashboard provides one-touch quick access in a floating window to tools like screen recording, screenshot shortcut, performance optimizer, FPS counter, and more. The game dashboard also has two widgets, the first one is for YouTube live streaming directly from the phone, while the other shows achievements and leaderboard from Google Play Games, tapping on the widgets reveal more information.
The game dashboard has been previously implemented by other OEMs like Samsung and OnePlus, but with Google providing native support players can expect more developers to optimize the game performance and a better user experience.
The optimization profile has three presets to select from- Performance, Standard, and Battery Saver. Performance maximizes the system resources allocated to the game for a smoother gaming experience while Battery Saver is aimed at longer gaming sessions at a lower frame rate. Players can also enable Do Not Disturb from the Game Dashboard for an uninterrupted gaming experience. DND will be toggled only while playing the game and will be deactivated as soon as the game is out of the foreground activity.
To enable game mode, open Settings and tap on Notifications. Head to the Do Not Disturb option at the bottom and select Schedules. The Game Mode will be available here and you can toggle it on/ off. To access the features click on the gear icon next to it.
Roll-out for games starts
As reported by an article on XDA, developers of some games have already started rolling out support for the newly released feature. The performance profile settings for Minecraft, Sniper 3D, and Temple Run 2 have opened up and potentially more games have also added support for the Game Mode API.
Over time players can expect support for a larger game library, especially top-of-the-line games like Genshin Impact, COD Mobile, PUBG Mobile/BGMI, etc.
Are you excited to explore the new gaming features on Android 12? Drop your opinions in the comments!
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