Google updates Play services with turn-based multiplayer, Google Drive API, improved battery life, and more
Google today updated Google Play Services to version 4.1, adding turn-based multiplayer support, a preliminary Google Drive API, improved battery life for all users with Google Location Reporting enabled, as well as ad targeting and Google+ improvements. You can download the new version now directly from Google Play.
If you don’t see the new version yet, don’t fret: it’s rolling out gradually. Once it becomes available to all Android users, developers will be able to download the SDK using the Android SDK manager and get started with the new APIs.
First off, Play Games now supports turn-based multiplayer. This means developers can build asynchronous games to play with friends and auto-matched players, with up to eight players per game.
Players’ turn data is automatically uploaded to Play Services and shared with other players. Google is also providing an optional new “Connecting to Play Games” transition animation during sign-in to help contextualize the permission dialog that comes up afterwards.
More to follow.
