Google Play Store wants to standardize app icons to maintain a uniform shape
Google announced that applications submitted to the Google Play must meet certain specifications when designing application icons. The specification will force developers to update their app icons in the next few months to improve the Google Play experience. “Uniformed shapes are visually more appealing and easier to digest. They help users focus on the artwork, as opposed to the shape. They fix alignment issues caused by random open space to better present surrounding information, such as the title, rating, and price.”
Starting June 24th, the Google Play Store will no longer allow the use of “free shape” icons (such as circles, stars, etc.) superimposed on a transparent background, but instead, transform it into a specification like a rounded rectangle or a square circle. Shape is like wearing a uniform.
According to the new plan, the requirements are as follows:
When creating your artwork, ensure it conforms to the following:
- Final size: 512px x 512px
- Format: 32-bit PNG
- Color space: sRGB
- Max file size: 1024KB
- Shape: Full square – Google Play dynamically handles masking. Radius will be equivalent to 20% of icon size.
- Shadow: None – Google Play dynamically handles shadows. See ‘Shadows’ section below on including shadows within your artwork.
Beginning in early April, developers can start uploading new icons to the Google Play Console; by May 1st, Google will no longer accept substandard old icons.
