Google Play offers developers different ways to distribute their apps. In the European Economic Area (EEA), some developers may choose to use a basic set of Google Play features for their apps and games.
If a developer chooses this option, your experience with that app on Google Play will be different from other apps you download. These apps still meet Google Play's security and privacy standards, but you may notice differences:
- Limited automatic updates: You may not get unlimited automatic updates for the app from Google Play. To get the latest app version or bug fixes, you might need to manually check for and install updates on the Play Store.
- Changes to discovery: You may not find the app or its special events when you browse categories or recommendations on the Play Store. You can still find the app on Google Play if you search for its specific name.
- No ratings and reviews: You can't leave a rating or write a review for the app on the Play Store. Because the developer has chosen to turn this off, you won't find ratings or reviews from other users.
- Limited store listing information: You may not find certain details on the app's store listing page. For example, download counts or badges, like "Editor’s Choice" or "Teacher approved," may be missing.
- No in-app Play features: Some other features may not be available. This includes things like Google Play Games integration for achievements, leaderboards, and saved games.
For information on a specific app's features or how to get updates, contact the app's developer.