Google is testing app streaming to let users try Android games

Google has started streaming apps from the Play Store to give users the opportunity to try them before purchasing and installing them. For the time being, this is a test with games, in a limited number of countries.

Users can recognize games that are part of the test by a ‘try now’ button next to the purchase button, Android Police discovered. If you want to try an app, you can get an impression of how it works by using this button for ten minutes. The app runs on Google’s servers and the image is streamed to the user’s smartphone. When the time is up, you can proceed to purchase and actual installation.

The functionality works for a number of games in a limited number of countries, including the United States. Google has not yet officially announced the start of the streaming option. The company may provide more details at its event in San Francisco Tuesday night. During that event, Google will announce the new Pixel smartphones.

Google has been experimenting with streaming apps for some time now. Last year, reports appeared about streaming apps directly from search results. At Google I/O 2016, the company also unveiled Instant Apps for Android, a technology that makes it possible to run apps without installing them first.