Google's Apple Arcade competitor hits the US this week for $1.99, other countries soon

Google has introduced an app subscription service for games and apps on the Google Play Store. Dubbed Play Pass, users will be able to pay a fixed sum of money per month for access to full versions of any apps or games included in the program.

“Play Pass is a new subscription service that gives you access to more than 350 apps and games that are completely unlocked—all free of ads, in-app purchases and upfront payments,” Google’s Austin Shoemaker said on Monday. “Play Pass offers a high-quality, curated collection of titles from Stardew Valley to Risk, and Facetune to AccuWeather, with new apps and games added every month.”

Play Pass is highly reminiscent of Apple’s Arcade, a gaming-specific subscription service Apple introduced with iOS 13. Of course, with iOS having high-quality games and Google lacking them, it is just as likely that Google couldn’t replicate Apple Arcade if it wanted to.

Google’s Play Pass is available on Android this week, the timing of which Google says is merely coincidental to Apple’s Arcade appearing last week. What are the odds?

Play Pass is available for $4.99 a month, but users who sign up early will get it for $1.99 for the first 12 months. It’ll roll out first in the US, and other countries within the coming months.