Android gets local multiplayer with Google Play Games (but not in the way you probably think)

Hands up, how many of you play games on your smartphone? Ah, yes, everyone. Of course. Now, how many of you play games online against other people on your smartphone? Considerably less, we’d be willing to wager.

But what if there was a way to make the online mobile gaming experience a little less impersonal? Google certainly likes the sound of that, and has implemented some local multiplayer option with its latest Google Play Games update.

This update offers Nintendo 3DS-style nearby multiplayer options within Google Play, the Android gaming suite. Games that support it will allow you to search for nearby players to play with. From the sounds of things you’ll also be able to partner or lobby up with friends easier, too.

This is all great news, but we can’t have been the only ones who associate the term ‘local multiplayer’ with the concept of multiple people playing on the same device, can we?

The update is already live, and should be rolling out to a smartphone near you in the not-too-distant future.

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