San Francisco, Feb 10, 2026, 00:58 PST
- Google’s newest system update highlights tweaks to Maps’ transit display controls and updates to Wallet’s ID Pass.
- Play Store v50.1 no longer supports content publication with outdated Engage SDK versions.
- Updates arrive via Google’s “system services” channel, independent of full Android OS upgrades.
On Monday, Google shared the February release notes for its Android “system services” updates. The latest Google Play services version brings new controls for transit data displays on maps where available, expands passport support within the Wallet “ID Pass” feature, and rolls out new device connectivity tools aimed at developers. Additionally, Google announced that Play Store v50.1 will drop support for content publication using outdated versions of its Engage SDK. (Pomoc Google)
This change is significant because Google can now deliver fixes and new features via Google Play services and the Play Store, bypassing the need for full OS updates from device makers and carriers. According to Google, these updates roll out to Google-certified Android devices—including phones, tablets, TVs, cars, wearables, and Chromebooks—and install automatically by default. (Pomoc Google)
App developers will see this Play Store change reflected in a program Google calls Engage SDK. It’s a developer-preview toolkit designed for pushing publishing recommendations and “continue” content to Google surfaces like the Play Store and Android’s Collections. According to Google’s developer docs, Engage SDK also supports Entertainment Space on certain tablets. (Android Developers)
Google’s Play services v26.05 update notes mention that it now “lets you control” how transit data appears on maps, covering Android Auto, phones, and Wear OS. The release also highlights new developer features linked to “Device Connectivity” within apps.
Google also mentioned that Wallet will add support for “more supported passports” with its ID Pass feature, though it didn’t specify which documents or countries in the release notes. ID Pass lets users store a digital passport-based ID within Google Wallet. According to Google’s help page, the feature currently works only in the U.S. and U.K., requiring either a U.S. or U.K. passport. It’s important to note, this isn’t intended to replace your physical ID. (Pomoc Google)
Google Wallet group product manager Alan Stapelberg announced in a 2025 product post that the company is launching updates designed to “help you prove your age and identity in a safe and secure way, right from your phone.” (Blog)
The Play Store v50.1 update was clear: content publication “is no longer supported” for outdated Engage SDK versions. For developers relying on Engage surfaces, this kind of cutoff quickly becomes a crunch-time maintenance task, even if their apps keep running without issues.
Digital ID support has become a busy space. The U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s digital ID page includes the Google Wallet ID pass for U.S. passport holders traveling domestically, along with state-issued mobile IDs accessible in Apple Wallet and, occasionally, Samsung Wallet. (Tsa)
Google’s changelogs are usually sparse, and Monday’s update didn’t clarify when or how fast users might get the new features. Tech outlet 9to5Google warned that just because something appears in the monthly log doesn’t guarantee it’s widely available—some features can take months before rolling out to everyone. (9to5Google)
Google Play services acts as a crucial delivery channel for Android. According to its Play Store description, it updates Google apps and those from Google Play, handling core functions like authentication and location services. The listing also cautions that apps “may not work” if users remove it. (Google)
