Play Games ditches Google+ login for alternate IDs, a switch meant to protect players’ identities and offer more flexibility.
Play Games ditches Google+ login for alternate IDs, a switch meant to protect players’ identities and offer more flexibility.
The Play Games login will no longer be tied to your Google+ account. It’s time to bid farewell to the countless pesky requests for login via Google+ access. Instead, you’re given the chance to choose a custom ID all tailored to your fancy. The custom ID will be used for all the games currently hosted under the Play Games umbrella. The Mountain View team announced that the new feature is already rolling out.
Provided you can’t see it yet, give it a bit more time. Over the following days, all Play Games users will be notified about the change. As Play Games ditches Google+ login for alternate IDs, your real name prompted by the Google+ account will no longer be used while crushing away those diamonds. Instead, your custom ID complete with an avatar of your choice will replace it.
For inveterate Play Games users, the switch will be less obvious. You have to search through settings if you haven’t logged out and do away with the Google+ login. Alternatively, the next time you login into a game, a notification announcing the custom ID will surface.
New users will be required to create a custom ID as they sign in for the first Play Games session. In case you don’t see any changes reminding of the fact that Play Games ditches Google+ login for alternate IDs, you might have to update Play Services or Play Games to the latest version.
In addition to slashing Google+ login in favor of custom IDs, Play Games users can also choose between 40 new avatar images. Game activity as well as one’s custom ID can now be set to either private or public.
Now that custom ID is in place and ready to roll out, Play Games offers the opportunity to automatically sign in. No more manual sign in due to the Play Games account. The new feature was announced on the developer’s blog awhile back.
The API was changed to allow more action and less authorization requests or permission dialogs and Google+ login prompts. Game developers also have an added benefit from the API change. Users won’t be asked to entrust potentially sensitive information anymore.
However, if you’re a game developer and the game would be included in Play Games, head to Google’s developers’ blog for more information and tips on how to avoid potential issues coming with the API changes. For Play Games users, just remember that Play Games ditches Google+ login for alternate IDs.
Photo Credits: chip.de
