Whether you're a fan of action-packed games or productivity-boosting tools, Google Play is where developers come to bring their innovative ideas to life. At the heart of this mission lies the importance of delivering exceptional user experiences for app and game enthusiasts. Today, we're excited to share two significant updates that will not only enhance the experience for users but also empower developers to build successful businesses.
New Age-Based Rating System
In today's diverse world, people have different expectations about what content is suitable for kids, teens, and adults. To address this concern, we're introducing a new age-based rating system for apps and games on Google Play. This change will enable developers to label their creations accurately, allowing users to discover content that aligns with their preferences. The International Age Rating Coalition (IARC) and its participating bodies have worked together to provide objective ratings, ensuring consistency across different regions.
Developers can now complete a content rating questionnaire for each of their apps and games, receiving an official age-based rating in the process. This rating system is designed to be quick, automated, and free for developers. As we roll out this new feature globally, users will soon see these ratings in their local markets.
Enhancing App Discovery and Engagement
To ensure your apps continue to thrive on Google Play, please sign in to the Developer Console and complete the new rating questionnaire for each of your creations. Apps without a completed rating questionnaire will be marked as "Unrated" and may face restrictions or limitations in certain territories or for specific users.
Improving App Publishing Process
In our ongoing effort to protect the community and maintain the quality of our app catalog, we've implemented a new review process for apps before they are published on Google Play. A team of experts reviews each submission, identifying potential issues early on and preventing violations of our developer policies.
To further support developers, we're also enhancing transparency in the publishing status updates. You'll now have more insight into why your app was rejected or suspended, allowing you to easily resolve minor policy violations and resubmit your creation for publication.
Empowering Developer Success
Over the past year, we've paid out over $7 billion to developers, fostering a thriving ecosystem that continues to grow and innovate. We're committed to building tools and services that support this growth, helping the developer community build successful businesses on Google Play.
As always, our goal is to provide an exceptional user experience for app enthusiasts worldwide. These updates are designed to achieve just that, empowering developers to create engaging apps and games while ensuring a positive experience for users searching for content on Google Play.