Owners of Android smartphones or tablets may be familiar with the Google Now Launcher, an application that lets users enjoy the home screen experience that Nexus device owners have without the need to do any complex flashing of their own devices. For those of you who do use the launcher, we have some bad news for you. Google is looking to remove the application from the Play Store within the first quarter of 2017.
A report by Android Police shows that Google has sent out e-mails to OEMs to inform them that both the Google Now Launcher and the Google Mobile Services package will be removed from the Play Store within the next few weeks. While you won’t be able to download the Google Now Launcher from the Play Store soon, those who’ve installed the app prior to its removal from the store will still be able to use the app as per normal. In addition, Google will continue to support existing users of the app by updating the Google Search App.
Google’s decision to remove the Google Now Launcher isn’t particularly surprising considering the fact that a Pixel Launcher also exists in the App Store, albeit that app is limited strictly to Pixel devices at the moment. It is entirely possible that Google will make the Pixel Launcher available for all once the Google Now Launcher gets taken down, but we wouldn’t hold our breath over it.
Source: Android Police