Updating an app with different device compatibility on Google Play

Solar2D Android
#1

I plan on porting over one my apps to Corona and updating it in the Google Play store. This will change the list of supported android devices.

Will users with the incompatible device be able to update the game and effectively break the app? Or does Google play recognize that the app is not compatible with their device and prevent them from updating it?

I don’t want to be left with a bunch of 1 star reviews as a result of the update. Anyone have experience with this?

#2

Hi @3D Methods,

Do you have a known list of devices which won’t support the app, and the reasons why they won’t? You can selectively disable downloads for certain devices in Google Play, but you need to know in advance which devices those are and will be.

Best regards,

Brent Sorrentino

#3

Hi Brent, thanks for your reply.

The list of supported devices would go from 3645 with the old software im using to 2957 supported devices with Corona (I assume because of ARMV6 vs 7). All of the devices are listed in the Google Play developer console.

I just found out that I can manually exclude all unsupported devices in the developer console. Does this prevent users from updating the app with an unsupported device?

#4

I believe by default the users of the unsupported devices won’t even be able to update in the first place, whether or not you manually exclude them.  But to be 100% sure I would ask over in the Google Play developer forum.

#5

Hi @3D Methods,

Do you have a known list of devices which won’t support the app, and the reasons why they won’t? You can selectively disable downloads for certain devices in Google Play, but you need to know in advance which devices those are and will be.

Best regards,

Brent Sorrentino

#6

Hi Brent, thanks for your reply.

The list of supported devices would go from 3645 with the old software im using to 2957 supported devices with Corona (I assume because of ARMV6 vs 7). All of the devices are listed in the Google Play developer console.

I just found out that I can manually exclude all unsupported devices in the developer console. Does this prevent users from updating the app with an unsupported device?

#7

I believe by default the users of the unsupported devices won’t even be able to update in the first place, whether or not you manually exclude them.  But to be 100% sure I would ask over in the Google Play developer forum.