This week, Google Play Movies users received an e-mail directing users who watch their movie and TV libraries on the Google Play Movies app on Roku, Samsung, LG, and Vizio TVs to begin using the YouTube app, as the Google Play Movies app will no longer be available on those devices effective June 15, 2021. Users accessing the app on Roku devices are receiving the same warning in a splash screen that appears once the app loads.
This appears to be more of Google’s rebranding of its music and movie/TV services, consolidating to either Google TV and/or YouTube. This is a bit of a shame, since Google Play Movies had just begun supporting 4K content on Roku devices, and even included Dolby Digital+ 5.1 audio on most of its content.
The good news is that your Google Play Movies library was always available on YouTube, and it appears that YouTube now also supports 4K and Dolby Digital+ 5.1 audio on that content if it was purchased/redeemed in that resolution. Any credits you have on the Google Play Movies app will transfer over to YouTube.
The bad news is that the Watchlist from Google Play Movies has not ported over, but you can create Playlists within the YouTube app. Any purchases made on YouTube will not be eligible for Family Library Sharing, although purchases made within the Google TV app on devices or on the Google Play Movies website (and I suppose Movies Anywhere code redemptions as well).
I rarely use the Google Play Movies app on my Roku, but I do use the Family Library Sharing feature to share my library with family members who then view movies on the Google Play Movies app on their Roku or smart TV. With the steaming wars in full swing, expect to see more consolidation in services in the near future.
Todd Erwin has been a reviewer at Home Theater Forum since 2008. His love of movies began as a young child, first showing Super 8 movies in his backyard during the summer to friends and neighbors at age 10. He also received his first movie camera that year, a hand-crank Wollensak 8mm with three fixed lenses. In 1980, he graduated to "talkies" with his award-winning short The Ape-Man, followed by the cult favorite The Adventures of Terrific Man two years later. Other films include Myth or Fact: The Talbert Terror and Warren's Revenge (which is currently being restored). In addition to movie reviews, Todd has written many articles for Home Theater Forum centering mostly on streaming as well as an occasional hardware review, is the host of his own video podcast Streaming News & Views on YouTube and is a frequent guest on the Home Theater United podcast.
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