Users would have liked to do without this

Apple showed the way, now Google is following suit: In the Play Store, users are now presented with more advertising – in a rather unusual place. When searching, Google now suggests certain apps in advance, provided the developers have paid for them. The search history almost disappears.

Play Store: Google shows ads in search

A few weeks ago, Apple made itself unpopular with users by announcing that it wanted to display more ads in the App Store. Only a short time later, Google follows suit. The group is now also testing more advertising in its Play Store’s Android app, but unlike Apple, it is showing it in an unusual place.

Previously, users were only presented with their own search history after tapping the search icon. So what was last searched for was displayed directly below the search slot. This is exactly where Google has apparently recognized a new potential for additional revenue. Advertising is now displayed instead of the search historybefore the search even started. Only when you start typing can you see the search history again.

The old view is on the left and the new view is on the right:

According to initial reports, the advertised apps are not based on users’ previous searches (source: 9to5Google). They should too do not necessarily follow user interests. Even those who are not interested in shooter games or Android games in general can see advertisements for Summoners War: Chronicles or Call of Duty Mobile Season 10. But that could change in the future.

Whether Android or iOS: These apps belong on every cell phone.

Google: Play Store ads not on desktop

The new advertising cannot be seen in the desktop version of the Play Store, but it can be seen in the Android app. Here Google has in the last published version of “new formats for search results” and also described features that, according to Google, “help discover the apps and games you love.”