Google introduces Gemini Live for Android gaming with Play Games Sidekick, enhancing in-game support.

Google is bringing Gemini Live to Android gaming with Play Games Sidekick. It is a “helpful in-game overlay available while playing games downloaded from Play.”

In supported games, users will see a new handle that can be dragged to either side of the screen or dismissed (and accessed from notifications). This overlays a panel that supports both landscape and portrait orientation, featuring links to profiles and Play Points.

The panel includes options to take a screenshot, screen record, stream to YouTube, and enable Do Not Disturb. There is a “Start Gemini Live” button that launches the assistant and starts sharing the screen, with inline controls to mute the microphone and end the session.

Users can ask anything about the game, with Gemini fully aware of the context, providing “in-game guidance with verbal tips, tricks, and support.” Google demonstrated Sidekick with “The Battle of Polytopia.”

Google Play collaborated with the Google DeepMind team, which first demoed AI agents for games last December. Gemini “can reason about the game based solely on the action on the screen.”

“Game Tips” in Sidekick is powered by AI and “based on your gameplay.” The panel also features carousels for Achievements, Streaks, Quests, Coupons (Play Points), Play Credit, and Boosts.

Google will start letting users try Play Games Sidekick with Gemini Live in “select games over the coming months.”

Google is starting a new “Level Up” program for game developers to support the latest platform features, with Sidekick being one of those capabilities and a July 2026 deadline for support.

Originally reported by 9to5google.com as “Play Games Sidekick is Gemini Live for Android games” on 2025-09-23 17:00:00.