Google will no longer sell movies and TV shows from the Google Play app as of May, the company announced (via Ars Technica). Instead, you will be able to get movies and series from the Google TV app.
“On Google TV, you will find the same experience you are used to on Google Play Movies and TV with the latest releases, leases, offers and great recommendations for you,” according to a corporate support page. Content you have already purchased will be available in the Google TV app, and you can use Play credit / gift cards to purchase items there if you need to.
In the end, this does not seem like an overly dramatic change. However, this change and Google’s decision to shut down Google Play Music in favor of YouTube Music could both indicate that Google is reducing 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 breaks sales of its content across different apps. Apps are in the App Store, music is in iTunes, movies and TV shows are in the Apple TV app, and books are in Apple Books.