Releasing a game on Google Play Store

Games
2

  1. New application signing from Google Play store side is used for the new distribution bundle used called android app bundle (.aab) which you upload and from there multiple apks are generated so that your users get the optimised apk to reduce the delivery size. https://developer.android.com/platform/technology/app-bundle

  2. Solar2D supports the generation of .aab and .apk file. You can download the stable online builds (https://developer.coronalabs.com/downloads/coronasdk) and download 2020.3583 or the future builds where solar2D builds are headed towards offline build (https://github.com/coronalabs/corona/releases/) i.e. it will not require online connection to build the distribution files except for downloading the plugins you use in your app. *NOTE the offline builds are still in alpha stage and requires testing, if you are going to release app urgently then I would suggest the online builds but later on try testing the new build methods and if you find any issue just post it on github project issue or here, as the developer is still developing actively.

  3. It is preferred to use production keystore when you release apps to different stores for security purpose as the debug keystore is available for everyone to download freely. If you require debug info you can override in the build file not to strip debug info but remember info about app may be shown to the end user. For the process https://docs.coronalabs.com/guide/distribution/advancedSettings/index.html#build-control

  4. There are paths for the new distribution method by google play store (.aab). If your app is brand new the process is easy you just agree in the release tabs to use google play store’s keystore bundling after you upload the .aab the file. For existing apps in the play store you need to at first agree to let google play store use custom keystore and then you upload the .aab file, your new installs will use apk derived from the .aab file and exisiting users will receive the keystore you already used before. With .aab you also need to update your icons as well, for the full guide read this https://coronalabs.com/blog/2019/07/23/android-64-bit-is-here/ and
    https://coronalabs.com/blog/2020/04/16/google-64-bit-deadline-coming-august-1-2020/

  5. You still need your keystore to upload the .aab files for new or existing apps. One of the benefit of switching is that if you lose your keystore, you can request play store to receive another keystore to identify the developer. (This has to be used sparingly, I think there is a limit as well, best thing to do is store your keystore securely with multiple backups).

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