Introducing a new Google Play app and game icon specification

Posted by Steve Suppe, Product Manager, Google Play

As part of our focus and dedication to improving the Google Play Store experience for our users, we are introducing new design specifications for your app icons.

Left to right: original icon, new icon (example), original icon in legacy mode

As of early April, you will be able to upload new icons to the Google Play Console and confirm you are compliant with the new specification. Original icons are still accepted in the Google Play Store during this time. As of May 1st, developers will no longer be able to upload icons in the Play Console which do not meet the new specifications, although existing original icons in the Google Play Store during this period can remain unchanged.

By June 24, we require you to:

1. Update your icon to the new specification.


2. Upload your icon to Play Console.


3. Confirm in Play Console that your icon meets the new specification.

We highly recommend that you update your icons and confirm they meet the new specification as soon as possible to ensure that you provide the highest quality experience for users.

What exactly is changing?

• Icon assets will remain the same size (512 x 512), but transparent backgrounds will no longer be allowed.


• Google Play on Android and Chrome OS will dynamically apply rounded corners and drop shadows to icons. The corner radius will be 20% of the icon size, to ensure consistency at different sizes.


• There will be no changes to Google Play on other form factors (TV, Wear, Auto).


• Note this does not affect your APK launcher icons for Android.

Timelines	Changes
Early April	You can start uploading your new icons in Play Console and confirm they meet the new specification. Original icons will continue to display correctly in Google Play. New icons will display correctly in Google Play.
May 1st	Any new icons uploaded in Play Console must be confirmed as meeting the new specification. Original icons will continue to display correctly in Google Play. New icons will display correctly in Google Play.
June 24th	Original icons are converted to "legacy mode." You must confirm that any new icons uploaded in Play Console meet the new specification. Original icons will be automatically converted to "legacy mode" icons. New icons render correctly in the Google Play Store.

These updates will help us all provide a more unified and consistent look and feel for Google Play, allowing us to better showcase your apps and games and provide a higher quality user experience.

We will be keeping you up-to-date with these changes in the coming months - so look out for more updates. In the meantime, check out our new icon design specifications.

How useful did you find this blog post?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Grow your app business internationally through localization on Google Play

Posted by Chris Yang, Program Manager, Translation Service

It is not uncommon for developers to have the following concerns and thoughts when considering whether to localize their apps: "I just don't have the time!" "Translation is too expensive." "High-quality translation is just hard to find.'' Does this sound familiar?

At Google, we consider translation a key component of making the world's information universally accessible and useful. This commitment extends not only to localizing our own products, but also to providing tools to help developers and translators more easily localize their apps.

Introducing the Google Play App Translation Service

Available in the Google Play Console, the Google Play App Translation Service simplifies localization of your app user interface strings, store listing, in-app product names, and universal apps campaign ads. Thousands of developers have already used this service to reach hundreds of millions of users worldwide.

Here is an overview of some of the ways it can help:

1. Quick and easy - Order in minutes and receive your translation in as little as two days.

• Small translation orders can be completed in only two days. All orders are completed in eight days or less.
  
• Apply translations directly in the Play Console or download to build with your app.

2. Professional and human - Get high-quality translations by real human translators.

• All translations are carefully crafted by professional translators just for you.
  
• Translation providers are selected by Google based on quality and speed.

3. Value for money - Translate your app for as little as $0.07 per word.

• Pricing is upfront and simple. You only pay per word for each language you translate.
  
• For example, translating 200 words into one language at $0.07 per word would cost only $14.

Ordering a Translation

Find the Translation Service in the Google Play Console:

When you're ready to translate, just select the languages to use for translation, choose a vendor, and place your order.

Select languages to translate into.

Choose what type of content you want to translate.

Easily complete purchase of the service.

Language recommendations

You can also expand your global footprint with translation recommendations that can help increase installs. The recommendations can be found in the Google Play Console.

The language recommendation feature is developed using machine learning and is based on your app's install history and market data.

Did you know that you can reach almost 80% of internet users worldwide with only 10 languages. In particular, the Google Play opportunity in Russia and the Middle East continues to grow. Let us know once you have localized for these markets so we can consider featuring your app or game in the Now in Russian and Now in Arabic collections on the Play Store.

Launching the translation

Once you download the translation, you'll be ready to publish your newly translated app update on Google Play.

Get started with the App Translation Service today and let us know what you think!

How useful did you find this blog post?

★ ★ ★ ★ ★