Google Play Games is ditching Google+ integration and Play Music is getting podcast support

Google looks to be amidst another one of its fairly regular Android app update frenzies and this time around it brings changes to Google Play Games and Play music. Good news for any of you avid Android gamers out there - Google Play Games will no longer require a direct link to a Google+ account. Instead, the search giant will be introducing a special Gamer ID, solely for the platform. It will resemble any other gaming account you might own, like one on Xbox Live or PSN and will thus allow a game alias and an avatar - initially selectable from a library of 40 images with planned free customization later on. The Gamer ID itself will only be linked to a regular Gmail account. Users will be ably to find one another by the email address and also choose what game activity will be public and what private (that Candy Crush guilty pleasure of yours is save with Google).