Google Play Games Services to be Discontinued in March 2023

**Google Play Games Services to be Discontinued in March 2023**.

Google has announced that it will be discontinuing its Google Play Games Services on March 31, 2023. The services, which include achievements, leaderboards, cloud saves, multiplayer, and real-time messaging, will no longer be available to developers or players after that date..

**Affected Services**.

The following services will be affected by the discontinuation:.

* Achievements.

* Leaderboards.

* Cloud saves.

* Multiplayer.

* Real-time messaging.

**Reason for Discontinuation**.

Google has not provided a specific reason for discontinuing the services, but it is believed to be due to a lack of usage. Google Play Games Services were introduced in 2013 and have never been widely adopted by developers or players..

**Impact on Developers**.

Developers who have integrated Google Play Games Services into their games will need to find alternative solutions for achievements, leaderboards, cloud saves, multiplayer, and real-time messaging. Some alternative solutions include:.

* Using a third-party service, such as GameSparks or PlayFab.

* Implementing your own in-house solutions.

**Impact on Players**.

Players who have used Google Play Games Services to track their progress in games will lose access to their achievements, leaderboards, and cloud saves after March 31, 2023..

**Timeline**.

* **March 31, 2023:** Google Play Games Services will be discontinued..

* **June 30, 2023:** All data associated with Google Play Games Services will be deleted..

**Alternatives to Google Play Games Services**.

There are a number of alternative solutions available to developers who need to replace Google Play Games Services. Some of the most popular alternatives include:.

* **GameSparks:** A cloud-based platform that provides a wide range of game development services, including achievements, leaderboards, cloud saves, multiplayer, and real-time messaging..

* **PlayFab:** A similar platform to GameSparks that provides a comprehensive suite of game development services..

* **Amazon GameLift:** A cloud-based platform that provides dedicated servers for multiplayer games..

* **Azure PlayFab:** A cloud-based platform that provides a wide range of game development services, including achievements, leaderboards, cloud saves, multiplayer, and real-time messaging..

**Conclusion**.

The discontinuation of Google Play Games Services is a significant event for the game development community. Developers will need to find alternative solutions for achievements, leaderboards, cloud saves, multiplayer, and real-time messaging. Players will lose access to their achievements, leaderboards, and cloud saves after March 31, 2023..

Google has not provided a specific reason for discontinuing the services, but it is believed to be due to a lack of usage. Developers are encouraged to explore alternative solutions for their games..