Google will no longer sell movies and TV shows from the Google Play app starting in May, the company announced (via Ars Technica). Instead, you’ll be able to get movies and shows from the Google TV app.
Google won’t let you buy movies and TV shows from the Play app starting in May
You’ll have to get them from the Google TV app instead
You’ll have to get them from the Google TV app instead
Illustration by Alex Castro / The Verge
is a senior reporter covering technology, gaming, and more. He joined The Verge in 2019 after nearly two years at Techmeme.
“On Google TV, you will find the same experience you are used to on Google Play Movies & TV with the latest new releases, rentals, deals, and great recommendations for you,” according to a company support page. Content you have already purchased will be available in the Google TV app, and you can use Play credit / gift cards to buy things there if you need.
Google Play will still have apps, games, and books
Ultimately, this doesn’t seem like too dramatic of a shift. However, this change and Google’s decision to shut down Google Play Music in favor of YouTube Music could both indicate that Google is lessening its reliance on the Play brand as its storefront for digital goods. Google Play will still be your destination if you want to buy apps, games, and books — at least for now.
Apple also fractures sales of its content across different apps. Apps are in the App Store, music is in the iTunes Store app, movies and TV shows are in the Apple TV app and in the iTunes Store app, and books are in Apple Books.
Correction March 24th, 12:08PM ET: Apple sells movies and TV shows in the iTunes Store app in addition to the Apple TV app. We regret the error.
Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.
