Unity Google Play Services: Easy Login Guide

Nov 15, 2025 by Alex Braham 45 views

Hey guys! Ever wanted to integrate Google Play Services login into your Unity game? It's a fantastic way to make your game more engaging, track player progress, and offer cool social features. In this guide, we'll walk you through the process step by step, making it super easy to implement. Trust me, it’s simpler than you might think! We'll cover everything from setting up your Google Play Console project to writing the actual Unity code. By the end of this article, you'll have a fully functional Google Play Services login system in your game. Let’s dive in!

Setting Up Google Play Services

First things first, you need to set up your project in the Google Play Console. This is where you'll configure your game, enable the necessary APIs, and get the credentials you need to authenticate your game. Don't worry, I’ll break it down into easy-to-follow steps. Here's how to do it:

Create a Project in Google Play Console: Go to the Google Play Console and sign in with your Google developer account. If you don't have one, you'll need to create one. Once you're in, click on the "Create app" button. Fill in the details for your game, such as the name, default language, and whether it's a game or an app. After filling in the required details, accept the Developer Distribution Agreement and create the app.
Link Your App to a Firebase Project: Firebase is Google's mobile platform that provides various services like analytics, authentication, and more. To use Google Play Services, you'll need to link your app to a Firebase project. In the Google Play Console, go to "Grow" > "Play Games Services" > "Setup and management" > "Configuration". Click on "Yes, use Google Play Games Services in my game". You'll be prompted to link your app to a Firebase project. If you don't have one, create a new Firebase project and link it to your app.
Enable the Google Play Games Services API: In the Firebase console, go to "Project settings" > "Service accounts". Here, you'll find a service account that Google Play Services uses to interact with your game. Make sure the Google Play Games Services API is enabled for this service account. If it's not enabled, you'll need to enable it in the Google Cloud Console.
Configure OAuth 2.0 Client IDs: OAuth 2.0 client IDs are used to authenticate your game with Google's servers. In the Firebase console, go to "Project settings" > "Service accounts". Create an OAuth 2.0 client ID for your game. You'll need to specify the package name and SHA-1 fingerprint of your game's signing certificate. To get the SHA-1 fingerprint, you can use the Keytool utility that comes with the Java Development Kit (JDK). Run the following command in your terminal:
```
keytool -list -v -keystore your-keystore-file.keystore -alias your-alias-name
```
Replace your-keystore-file.keystore with the path to your keystore file and your-alias-name with the alias of your signing key. The SHA-1 fingerprint will be displayed in the output.
Add Test Accounts: To test your Google Play Services integration, you'll need to add test accounts. In the Google Play Console, go to "Grow" > "Play Games Services" > "Setup and management" > "Testers". Add the email addresses of the Google accounts you want to use for testing. These accounts will be able to sign in to your game using Google Play Services even before it's published.

By following these steps, you'll have your Google Play Services project set up and ready to go. Next, we'll move on to importing the Google Play Games Plugin into your Unity project and writing the code to handle the login process.

Importing the Google Play Games Plugin into Unity

Now that your Google Play Services project is all set up, it's time to bring the magic into Unity! You'll need to import the Google Play Games Plugin for Unity. This plugin provides the necessary APIs and tools to interact with Google Play Services. Here’s how to get it done:

Download the Google Play Games Plugin: You can download the latest version of the Google Play Games Plugin for Unity from the GitHub repository. Look for the .unitypackage file in the releases section and download it.
Import the Plugin into Your Unity Project: Open your Unity project. Go to "Assets" > "Import Package" > "Custom Package". Navigate to the .unitypackage file you downloaded and select it. Unity will show you a list of files to import. Make sure all the files are selected and click on the "Import" button. This will import the Google Play Games Plugin into your Unity project.
Set Up the Plugin: After importing the plugin, you'll need to set it up properly. Go to "Window" > "Google Play Games" > "Setup" > "Android Setup". This will open the Android Setup window. Here, you'll need to enter your Android client ID and your Android resources definition. You can find these values in the Google Play Console. The Android client ID is the OAuth 2.0 client ID you created earlier. The Android resources definition is the name of the XML file that contains the resources for your game.
Resolve the Dependencies: The Google Play Games Plugin relies on some external dependencies. To resolve these dependencies, go to "Assets" > "External Dependency Manager" > "Android Resolver" > "Resolve". This will download and install the necessary dependencies. If you encounter any issues, try running "Force Resolve" instead. This will force the resolver to download the dependencies again.
Configure Player Settings: You'll also need to configure some settings in the Player Settings. Go to "Edit" > "Project Settings" > "Player". In the "Player Settings" window, go to the "Android" tab. Under "Other Settings", make sure the "Scripting Backend" is set to "IL2CPP" and the "Target Architectures" include "ARM64". This will ensure that your game runs smoothly on Android devices.

With the plugin imported and set up, you're now ready to write the code that handles the Google Play Services login. In the next section, we'll walk through the code step by step.

Writing the Login Code in Unity

Alright, now for the fun part – writing the code! This is where you'll actually implement the Google Play Services login in your Unity project. Here’s how to do it:

Create a New C# Script: In your Unity project, create a new C# script. Name it something descriptive, like GooglePlayServicesLogin. Attach this script to a GameObject in your scene. This script will handle the Google Play Services login process.
Add the Necessary Using Statements: In your script, add the following using statements at the top:
```
using GooglePlayGames;
using GooglePlayGames.BasicApi;
using UnityEngine.SocialPlatforms;
using UnityEngine;
```
These using statements import the necessary namespaces for using the Google Play Games Plugin.
Initialize Google Play Games: In the Start method of your script, initialize Google Play Games. This is where you'll configure the Google Play Games platform and authenticate the user. Here's the code:
```
void Start()
{
    PlayGamesPlatform.DebugLogEnabled = true;
    PlayGamesPlatform.Activate();
    SignInInteractivity = SignInInteractivity.CanPromptAlways;
}
```

Implement the SignIn Function: Create a function to handle the sign-in process. This function will attempt to authenticate the user with Google Play Services. Here's the code:

public void SignIn()
{
    Social.localUser.Authenticate((bool success) => {
        if (success)
        {
            Debug.Log("Successfully signed in");
            // Handle successful sign-in
        }
        else
        {
            Debug.Log("Failed to sign in");
            // Handle failed sign-in
        }
    });
}

Call the SignIn Function: Attach this function to a UI button or any other event trigger in your game. When the button is clicked, it will call the SignIn function and attempt to authenticate the user.

Handle Successful Sign-In: If the sign-in is successful, you can access the user's Google Play Games profile and use it to personalize their experience. For example, you can display their Google Play Games name and avatar. Here's how to do it:

if (success)
{
    string userName = Social.localUser.userName;
    string userID = Social.localUser.id;
    Texture2D userPhoto = Social.localUser.image;

    Debug.Log("User Name: " + userName);
    Debug.Log("User ID: " + userID);

    // Handle successful sign-in
}

Handle Failed Sign-In: If the sign-in fails, you should display an error message to the user and prompt them to try again. You can also log the error to the console for debugging purposes.

With this code in place, you should be able to sign in to your game using Google Play Services. Make sure to test it thoroughly to ensure that it's working correctly. In the next section, we'll cover how to test your Google Play Services integration.

Testing Your Google Play Services Integration

Testing is crucial to ensure that your Google Play Services integration works seamlessly. Here’s a breakdown of how to thoroughly test your implementation:

Build Your Game for Android: To test your Google Play Services integration, you'll need to build your game for Android. In the Unity Editor, go to "File" > "Build Settings". Select "Android" as the platform and click on the "Build" button. This will create an APK file that you can install on your Android device.
Install the Game on Your Android Device: Connect your Android device to your computer and install the APK file on your device. You can use the Android Debug Bridge (ADB) to install the APK. Open a terminal or command prompt and run the following command:
```
adb install your-game.apk
```
Replace your-game.apk with the path to your APK file. This will install the game on your Android device.
Sign In with a Test Account: Launch the game on your Android device and try to sign in with a test account. Make sure you're using one of the test accounts you added in the Google Play Console. If the sign-in is successful, you should see a message in the console indicating that the user has been successfully authenticated.
Test Different Scenarios: Test different scenarios to ensure that your Google Play Services integration is working correctly. For example, try signing in with a different test account, signing out and signing back in, and signing in without an internet connection. This will help you identify any potential issues and fix them before publishing your game.
Check the Logs: If you encounter any issues, check the logs for error messages. The Google Play Games Plugin provides detailed logs that can help you diagnose and fix problems. You can view the logs in the Unity Editor or on your Android device using ADB.
Use the Google Play Games Services Debugger: The Google Play Games Plugin includes a debugger that can help you troubleshoot issues with your integration. To use the debugger, go to "Window" > "Google Play Games" > "Developer Console". This will open the Google Play Games Services Debugger window. Here, you can view the status of your Google Play Services integration, check for errors, and perform other debugging tasks.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your Google Play Services integration is working correctly and that your game is ready to be published on the Google Play Store.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful setup, you might run into some hiccups. Here are a few common issues and how to tackle them:

Authentication Failures: Ensure your OAuth 2.0 client IDs are correctly configured in the Google Play Console. Double-check the package name and SHA-1 fingerprint. Also, make sure your test accounts are properly added.
Dependency Resolution Problems: Sometimes, the External Dependency Manager can act up. Try running "Force Resolve" multiple times. If that doesn’t work, manually delete the Assets/Plugins/Android folder and resolve again.
Plugin Setup Errors: Verify that you’ve entered the correct Android client ID and resources definition in the Android Setup window. Typos can be sneaky!
Version Conflicts: Ensure that you are using the latest version of the Google Play Games Plugin for Unity. Older versions may have compatibility issues with newer versions of Unity or the Google Play Games Services API.
Internet Connection Issues: Google Play Services requires an active internet connection to authenticate the user. Make sure your device is connected to the internet and that your game has the necessary permissions to access the internet.

By addressing these common issues, you can ensure that your Google Play Services integration is working correctly and that your game is ready to be published on the Google Play Store.

Conclusion

Integrating Google Play Services login into your Unity game can significantly enhance the player experience, providing features like achievements, leaderboards, and cloud saves. By following this guide, you've learned how to set up your Google Play Services project, import the Google Play Games Plugin into Unity, write the code to handle the login process, and test your integration. So go ahead and implement Google Play Services login into your Unity game and take your game to the next level! Happy coding, and may your game be a smashing success!