Google’s new rule could give Android 16 gaming a boost

By Brittany Vincent Published April 4, 2025

Google is making a major change to how Android phones handle gaming. Starting with Android 16, any new phone or tablet that hits the market must support a new feature called Host Image Copy. While the name might sound like something only developers care about, the real-world impact is clear: faster load times, less stuttering, and games that run more smoothly overall. And that’s something anyone who games on their phone can appreciate.

Host Image Copy helps games load their visuals more efficiently by letting the phone’s processor take care of moving image data, rather than relying only on the graphic chip. That frees up resources and helps your games run better. It also cuts down the amount of memory games need to use behind the scenes, which is a win for performance and battery life. That could mean the end of the long pauses and lag spikes that have frustrated mobile gamers for years, or at the very least bolster them with enough speed and performance that it’s more attractive to some players who haven’t decided to buy in on mobile or specifically Android.

Google is requiring this feature for all new Android 16 devices, meaning developers can build more demanding games without worrying about compatibility. That’s good news not just for flagship phones, but for budget-friendly models too, especially ones sold by retailers like Walmart, where affordable Android devices are a staple.

This change is part of a larger effort by Google to make Android a more competitive platform for gaming. As we’ve seen with past updates, Android’s performance improvements often start in the background before showing up in flashy features, and Host Image Copy is no different. As Android 16 rolls out, users can expect games to look better, run faster, and feel smoother. That means your favorite games on the platform could soon feel a lot more comfortable to really, really get into, which is a change we can all get behind.