Google Play game services at Google I/O

Google I/O keynote

Although we still have to wait a while to see Key Lime Pie, last week’s Google IO conference revealed a great deal of exciting news for android users and developers alike. One of the most interesting new developments is Google’s expansion of its games service to include a variety of new features like cloud saves, social leader-boards  real-time multiplayer, and an achievement system similar to those used by gaming ecosystems like Steam or Microsoft’s Xbox.

The announcement of Google Play’s game service came as no surprise, as it validated the the various rumors about Google’s game service that have been making the rounds of the internet for months. 

However, one of the most interesting features of Google Play’s game service is its cross-platform availability, which means that users will be able to access all of these features from iOS devices or from their browser. This functionality, which allows users to play with friends and share achievements across devices, is also one of the most obvious contrasts to Apple's own Game Center, which was launched in September 2010. If Google chooses to emphasize this point of difference, this could mean great things for the future of Google's gaming community and the quality of content in general.

A few games already using Google game services' new features