Google Play Games drops Google+ integration

You no longer need a Google+ account to enjoy the benefits of connected gaming on Android.

Google is introducing Gamer IDs to its Google Play Games service for players and developers. This enables anyone to claim a unique handle that doesn’t have to link to an existing account, which means you can pick a random name like “Unic0rnd00d” instead of displaying the real name you have tied to your Gmail or Google+ (as it’s done with other products). This eliminates a barrier between gamers who want to start playing apps online with friends but maybe don’t want to sign up for yet another social network. And destroying those resistance points are crucial as Google tries to increase player engagement and spending on Android to grow the $30 billion mobile gaming sector that it dominates alongside Apple.