Alongside a series of announcements for Play, including AI-powered app comparison and the ability to bundle similar apps, Google also introduced new “Curated Spaces,” which are hubs dedicated to specific topics.
“Comics,” unveiled on Wednesday, is designed to appeal to manga fans. Located at the top of the screen between “Recommended” and “Top Charts,” the new hub will give Japanese users access to content such as manga and anime titles, live events and trailers.
Google has partnered with top providers such as Kodansha, the publisher of “Attack on Titan,” to allow users to preview samples directly in the app store, allowing them to read the comics without having to download the app.[コミック]The tab will display manga and anime related live streams at the top of the page, as well as trailers showcasing upcoming titles, editors' picks, and expert reviews.
According to Grand View Research, the global manga market size is estimated to reach $13.69 billion in 2023. Popular manga apps on Japan's Google Play Store include Piccoma, LINE Manga, Mecha Comic, Jump+, etc. Kodansha-owned Magapoke also makes it onto the list with around 20 million installs.
Comics is currently only available to users in Japan, and Google has no plans at this time to offer the space in other markets.
“We're excited to announce that our next curated space, Comics, is coming to Japan. More than half of the Japanese population reads comics, and many are looking for more accessible ways to get their hands on them,” Sam Bright, vice president of Google Play, told reporters at a demo yesterday.
But Bright said more curated spaces are in the plans.
“Comics are just the beginning. Over time, we plan to launch curated spaces to give more people and more countries new ways to dig deeper into the content they care about,” Bright said.
The company piloted a curated space for cricket fans in India earlier this year, offering gamified polls, cricket-related YouTube videos and other content from over 100 apps. The cricket space is not currently available, but curated spaces dedicated to other sports may appear in the future.