Google Play Games Update Brings Steam-Like Profile Features to PC and Mobile
Published on 02:52 AM, Thursday, September 4, 2025 by miladmim
Google Play Games is preparing to roll out one of its most significant updates yet, introducing a new set of profile features inspired by Steam’s community tools. For years, Steam has been the gold standard for PC gaming platforms, offering users the ability to showcase achievements, track in-game stats, and connect with friends through profiles and communities. Now, Google is taking a page from that playbook to evolve its own gaming ecosystem across Android and PC.
A Unified Gaming Profile Across Devices
Originally launched as a service for Android devices, Google Play Games has steadily expanded into other markets, including a PC client that allows users to play mobile titles on desktop. With this latest update, set to go live on September 23, 2025, players will see a completely refreshed profile system designed to highlight their “gaming journey” across platforms.
The revamped profiles will continue to display achievements but will now include new tools to showcase game stats, activity history, and other milestones. This unified system means that whether a player is unlocking rewards on mobile or grinding hours into a title on PC, their progress will be reflected in one seamless profile.
Steam-Inspired Community Features
One of the biggest talking points about the update is the introduction of community-driven features. Much like Steam, players will be able to make their profiles public, allowing friends and followers to see their gaming highlights. The update also promises “new ways to build your gaming community”, though Google has yet to provide specific details on how these interactions will work.
If these features expand into friend lists, activity feeds, or even game recommendations, Google Play Games could start to feel much closer to a full-fledged PC gaming hub rather than just an Android extension. For players who enjoy comparing progress or discovering titles through friends, this change could be a major step forward.
Privacy and Data Handling
Alongside the new features, Google is also updating how it manages gaming data. The service will begin collecting more detailed information such as which games are installed, how often they’re played, and total time spent in each title. While this data is crucial for building personalized stats and recommendations, Google emphasizes that users will have control over profile visibility settings.
By default, existing privacy preferences will carry over, meaning those who don’t want their gaming history publicly displayed won’t be forced into sharing. Players who wish to remain private can set their profiles to hidden before the update officially arrives.
Staggered Global Launch
The rollout begins on September 23, 2025, for most regions worldwide. However, players in the European Union and the United Kingdom will need to wait until October 1, 2025, due to regional policy and compliance requirements.
What This Means for Players
For casual mobile gamers, this update may simply feel like a cosmetic change. But for dedicated players, particularly those who already use the PC client, the Steam-inspired profiles could make Google Play Games a far more social and competitive platform. Achievements and stats won’t just be personal milestones anymore—they’ll become a way to connect with others, find new games, and track progress across an ever-expanding library.
As gaming ecosystems increasingly overlap between mobile and PC, Google’s move suggests a broader ambition: to turn Play Games into a central hub for cross-platform gaming, much like how Steam serves as the anchor for PC players. Whether this evolution succeeds will depend on how the community embraces the new tools and how Google continues to refine them in future updates.