Google continues to tighten its policies for developers working through Play Console. According to the company, the main goal is to increase transparency and protect users. In practice, however, this results in additional checks, delays, and the need to constantly adapt to new requirements.

Re-verification of developer accounts

Now requests to verify identity, residential address, or even a video verification through the camera can be sent not only to new developer accounts but also to older ones. Formally, this measure is aimed at combating fraud, but in practice it complicates the work of independent developers.

More complex app moderation

Google now requires more information when uploading an application: from explaining how the app works and what types of data it collects, to a full list of SDKs and analytics tools used. Sometimes moderation teams request additional explanations or a video demonstrating the application's functionality. All of this turns the publishing process into a chain of formalities and clarifications that can take hours, and sometimes even days.

Slower moderation and impact on release timelines

Many developers have noticed that app review times have significantly increased. If releases previously passed within a few hours, the waiting time can now stretch to three to five days, especially for new or less active developer consoles. The introduction of manual moderation and machine learning algorithms has improved the accuracy of reviews, but reduced their speed.