- Sprints are 48-hour competitions between two to five players of the same game.
- You can join from the You tab of the Play Store or from Sidekick.
- You need a Play Games profile that was created at least 21 days ago.
- The winner receives effects and temporary recognition on their player profile.
Google Play Games has incorporated the SprintsThese challenges allow you to compete for 48 hours with a small group of people playing the same game. Instead of chasing a position on a huge leaderboard, you have a specific goal and a few rivals to compare your progress against.
The feature is already being rolled out, but It does not appear in all gamesIn addition, to join you need to meet several requirements related to your account, your player profile, and the game installation. We'll explain where to find Sprints, how they work, and what you can win.
What are Google Play Games Sprints?
A sprint is a competition of 48 hours Between two and five players of the same game. Google Play matches you with between one and four other people, and you all try to get the highest score in a given activity.
The activity that counts toward your ranking depends on the game. It might include, for example, scoring points, collecting coins, or completing levels. As you progress, your score is automatically updated on the shared leaderboard.
The timer starts when Google Play matches you with at least one other participant. At the end of 48 hours, whoever has the highest score wins. If there is a tie, the winner is the one who reached that number first. You can only participate in one Sprint at a time; when it ends, you can sign up for another one.
How to join a Sprint step by step
Google suggests two ways to find these challenges. The most direct is through the Play Store app:
- Open Google Play Store on your device.
- Go to the tab You and look for the section Challenges.
- Choose a Sprint from a compatible game and press Join the Sprint.
- Wait for Google Play to find the other members of the group.
- Play with the Google Play Games account linked to that title so that your score is recorded.
You can also access it from the menu. Play Games Sidekick while playing a compatible title, provided that interface is available on your device.
During the matchmaking process, you can cancel the matchmaking before the group is formed. If Google Play doesn't find enough people, the search will end, and you can try again later. Once the Sprint has started, you will not be able to pause the timer or leave the competition.
Requirements to participate
Just because the Challenges section appears in the Play Store doesn't mean any account or game can participate. Before signing up, please check the following:
- Personal account: You need a standard Google account that meets the minimum age requirement in your country. Work accounts, school accounts, and accounts managed through Family Link are not accepted.
- Profile age: Your Google Play Games profile must have been created at least 21 days before to sign up for the Sprint.
- Supported game: You must use the latest official version of a title that supports Sprints and install it from Google Play.
- Linked account: The game must be connected to your Google Play Games profile. Sign in with the correct account for your stats to be submitted and count towards the leaderboard.
- Supported device: You can play on a compatible Android device or on Google Play Games for PC.
Sprints are only available in certain games. Therefore, if a title doesn't display this option, you can't manually enable it from your mobile settings.
What prizes can you win?
The reward that Google documents for the winners is visual and temporalFor 48 hours after a victory, your player profile displays an effect around your avatar and a "Sprint Won" acknowledgment. Tapping your avatar will show you which competition it corresponds to.
It is important to distinguish this from the Play Games MissionsGoogle has also announced in-game rewards, such as skins, boosters, or coins, but these are presented as part of Missions. Don't assume that winning any Sprint will grant you these items.
Why isn't a Sprint appearing or why isn't your score being counted?
If you don't see the option, start by checking if there are any challenges available for a compatible game in Play Store > You > ChallengesGoogle may temporarily hide Sprints for maintenance or technical issues, and not all titles participate. It's also worth checking that your game is up to date and that you're using a personal account with a sufficiently old Play Games profile.
If you're already competing but your score isn't changing, check that you're logged into the game with the same Google Play Games account with which you signed up. The score depends on the game sending the statistics of the activity that measures that Sprint; not all actions necessarily count towards the challenge.
Finally, avoid deleting your game data or deleting your profile while participating: Google warns that you will immediately lose your progress in that competition. If the Sprint is suspended due to a technical issue, you'll find the corresponding notification in the You tab of the Play Store.
Sprints offer a way to compete for a limited time without having to follow a permanent leaderboard. To get started, simply find a compatible game, check that your profile meets the requirements, and join from Challenges or Sidekick. You can check the details and availability changes in the Official Google Play help about Sprints.
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