All the latest Android developer news and features you need to know about

January is often a quiet month and this year is no different with only a few updates from the Developers Blog. That said, there have been some interesting updates for game devs, including the latest Unity update, and news of the forthcoming Game Developers Conference.

Find more details below, along with the usual smattering of features, how-tos, and other news, as always!

Features and news from Android Authority

Android Game SDK: What it is and how to use it in your apps – This post breaks down the new Game SDK from Google, which stands to be an important tool for game devs going forward. Right now there is just one library, but we’ll be adding to this post as the SDK grows.

How to create non-game apps in Unity – We tend to think of Unity as a game engine first and foremost. However, it can also be a very flexible development environment for a range of non-gaming apps. Here’s how to build your first non-game app in Unity.

News and updates from Android Developer’s blog

Flashing Builds from the Android Open Source Project – Google has launched an Android Flash Tool to help developers flash devices with builds from the Android Open Source Project, significantly streamlining the process.

Get ready for the Game Developers Conference – If you’re a game dev, you’ll want to clear your calendar for the Game Developers Conference on March 16 and 17. Get the details here.

Enter the Indie Games Festival from Google Play – More news for game developers! If you are based in Europe, Japan, or South Korea, you have until March 2^nd to enter your game into one of three competitions, here.

News and features from Around the Web

Indie Games Festival – The online home of the Indie Games Festival. Submit your games or just sign up for one of the events, taking place on April 25.

Unity 2019.3 is now available – The latest version of Unity is now available: 2019.3. This is perhaps a little confusing given that it is now 2020! But nomenclature aside, this is an impressive update. There are lots of new features here, including: terrain updates to easily create holes and caves, support for third-party renderer materials, and additions to the DOTS-powered artist tooling. There are also a host of new 2D tools such as the 2D PSD Importer and 2D Pixel Perfect feature.

Intro to animations with Jetpack Compose – Jetpack Compose is a new tool from Google that looks to make UI design easier and crisper. This post shows how to create some attractive transitions and canvas transformations using it.

 

Dynamic screens using server-driven UI in Android – A primer on server-driven UIs for native development.

Android Fragments: FragmentContainerView – This post explores the recommended view for hosting fragments.