Google levels up Android graphics with Vulkan API in time for GDC 2025

Google announced it is leveling up its multiplatform game offering in time for the Game Developers Conference next week, with graphics improvements leading the way.

In a press call, Matthew McCullough, VP of product management for Android at Google, said the team is stepping up its multiplatform gaming offering with exciting news dropping at GDC. He said Google has more than two billion monthly active players.

“We’re bringing users more games, more ways to play your games across devices, and improved gameplay,” McCullough said.

Google is making the Vulkan technology into the official graphics API on Android, enabling developers to build immersive visuals. And Google is enhancing the Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF) to help devs deliver longer, more stable gameplay.

McCullough said, these days, games require more processing power for realistic graphics and cutting-edge visuals. Vulkan is an API used for low level graphics that helps developers maximize the performance of modern GPUs, and today Google is making it the official graphics API for Android.

This unlocks advanced features like ray tracing and multithreading for realistic and immersive gaming visuals. For example, Diablo Immortal used Vulkan to implement ray tracing, bringing the world of Sanctuary to life with spectacular special effects, from fiery explosions to icy blasts.

Diablo Immortal running on Vulkan

For casual games like Pokémon TCG Pocket, which draws players into the vibrant world of each Pokémon, Vulkan helps optimize graphics across a broad range of devices to ensure a smooth and engaging experience for every player.

Google said Android is transitioning to a modern, unified rendering stack with Vulkan at its core. Starting with the next Android release, more devices will use Vulkan to process all graphics commands. If your game is running on OpenGL, it will use Angle as a system driver that translates OpenGL to Vulkan. We recommend testing your game on Angle today to ensure it’s ready for the Vulkan transition.

“We’re also partnering with major game engines to make Vulkan integration easier,” McCullough said. “With Unity 6, you can configure Vulkan per device while older versions can access this setting through plugins. Over 45% of sessions from new games on Unity use Vulkan, and we expect this number to grow rapidly.”

To simplify workflows further, we’re teaming up with the Samsung Austin Research Center to create an integrated GPU profiler toolchain for Vulkan and AI/ML optimization. Coming later this year, this tool will enable developers to make graphics, memory and compute workloads more efficient.

Longer and smoother gameplay sessions with ADPF

Android Dynamic Performance Framework (ADPF) enables developers to adjust between the device and game’s performance in real-time based on the thermal state of the device, and it’s getting a big update today to provide longer and smoother gameplay sessions. ADPF is designed to work across a wide range of devices including models like the Pixel 9 family and the Samsung S25 Series. We’re excited to see MMORPGs like Lineage W integrating ADPF to optimize performance on their core target devices.

Lineage W running on ADPF

Here’s how we’re enhancing ADPF with better performance and simplified integration:
Stronger performance: Our collaboration with MediaTek, a leading chip supplier for Android devices, has brought enhanced stability to ADPF. Devices powered by MediaTek’s MAGT system-on-chip solution can now fully utilize ADPF’s performance optimization capabilities.
Easier integration: Major game engines now offer built-in ADPF support with simple interfaces and default configurations. For advanced controls, developers can customize the ADPF behavior in real time.

Performance optimization with more features in Play Console

Once you’ve launched your game, Play Console offers the tools to monitor and improve your game’s performance. Google is including Low Memory Killers (LMK) in Android vitals, giving devs insight into memory constraints that can cause your game to crash. Android vitals is a dev’s one-stop destination for monitoring metrics that impact your visibility on the Play Store like slow sessions. Devs can find this information next to reach and devices which provides updates on their game’s user distribution and notifies developers for device-specific issues.

Bringing PC games to mobile, and pushing the boundaries of gaming

Google is launching a pilot program to simplify the process of bringing PC games to mobile. It provides support starting from Android game development all the way through publishing your game on Play. This month, games like Dredge and Tabs Mobile are growing their mobile audience using this program. Many more are following in their footsteps this year, including Disco Elysium.

New PC games are coming to mobile

Devs can learn more about Android game development at GDC. Google Android will be in the West Hall of Moscone next week.

Aurash Mahbod, VP and General Manager, Games on Google Play, and Matthew McCullough, VP of Product Management, Android, also said PC games are finally coming to mobile.

Google Play Games is expanding its library with a wider range of PC games, opening up the platform to more PC-only games. On top of popular titles like Remember of Majesty, Genshin Impact and Journey of Monarch, Google Play is welcoming Game of Thrones: Kingsroad, Sonic Rumble and Odin: Valhalla Rising to the platform this year.

Google is also making it easier for mobile developers to add their games to PC. You can enjoy titles like Train Sim and Pet Shop Fever: Animal Hotel along with thousands of new mobile games playable on Google Play Games.

The full Google Play Games on PC catalog will now also be available on more devices, including AMD laptops and desktops.

Google also wants to celebrate players and their gameplay on PC, so Google is making Play Points easier to use on PC with up to 10 times the points boosters. Rolling out over the next few weeks, the Play Points balance is now easier to track across mobile and PC. This means more opportunities to earn and redeem points for in-game items, discounts and more.

And Mahbod, VP and GM of Games on Google Play, said Google is stepping up its multiplatform gaming offering with exciting news dropping at this year’s GDC. Google is bringing users more games, more ways to play your games across devices, and improved gameplay.