Google opens Android Auto and car screens to games on Google Play

Google has announced that the games category for Android Auto and Android Automotive OS is now generally available, having moved out of beta. In a post on the Android Developers Blog on 21 September 2026, Google said developers can now publish car-screen games to the open testing and production tracks on Google Play.

The feature covers Android Auto on phones running Android 15 or later, as well as cars running Android Automotive OS with Google built-in. Google sees these games filling idle moments, such as waiting at a charging station or for a kerbside pickup.

What developers need to do

• Add android:appCategory="game" and the CAR_LAUNCHER intent category to the app manifest.
• Declare the android.hardware.type.automotive feature to support Android Automotive OS.
• Handle different screen sizes and aspect ratios, and restore the game's state when it is relaunched.
• Optionally declare gamepad support.
• Opt in to the Android Auto and Android Automotive OS form factors in the Play Console, and test with the Desktop Head Unit and the Automotive OS emulator.

The main rule is safety. Games are not allowed to run while the vehicle is moving, so their audio must stop as soon as driving begins and cannot start again until the car is parked.

Why it matters

Short, turn-based games such as card, board and puzzle titles seem a natural fit for a few minutes of parked downtime. Small Android studios get a new place to reach players without having to build a separate app, but the demand for games on car screens is still unproven.

Source: Android Developers Blog