Google has released a new open-source Sign in with Google plugin for Unity, allowing game developers to integrate Google account authentication into Android and iOS titles using native platform authentication tools. The plugin is publicly available on GitHub and supports Unity 6.5, replacing an older implementation that faced compatibility issues with modern Android development environments.
The Sign in with Google Mobile Plugin for Unity provides a first-party authentication bridge designed to simplify account sign-in across mobile platforms. According to Google, developers previously relied on outdated sample integrations that could encounter problems with newer Gradle build pipelines and AndroidX requirements. The new implementation addresses those compatibility challenges by using native authentication components instead of legacy approaches.
On Android, the plugin integrates with Credential Manager through Kotlin, while the iOS implementation uses Google’s GIDSignIn SDK through Objective-C++. These native integrations allow Unity games to authenticate users through Google accounts without requiring developers to build separate authentication bridges for each operating system. Google said the architecture is designed to minimize runtime overhead while maintaining compatibility with current platform security and privacy requirements.
The plugin also introduces configuration options directly within the Unity Editor. Developers can enter their Web Client ID and iOS Reversed Client ID through the Google Sign-In Native settings interface, reducing the need to manually modify platform configuration files. Google provides a prebuilt Unity package that developers can import into their projects to begin integrating the authentication functionality.
A central feature of the release is its backend-independent authentication model. Rather than requiring developers to use a particular identity management service, the plugin retrieves a signed Google ID token and makes it available to Unity C# scripts through event callbacks. Developers can then use the token with authentication services such as Firebase Authentication, Supabase and Auth0, or connect it to their own backend infrastructure.
This approach separates the Google account sign-in process from the systems responsible for managing player accounts and application data. Studios using different authentication providers can integrate the plugin without necessarily replacing their existing backend services. However, the plugin’s primary purpose is to retrieve Google ID tokens, rather than provide a complete player account management system.
For mobile game developers, authentication is an important part of the player onboarding process, particularly for games that require persistent accounts or support returning users across devices. Google positioned the release as a way to reduce integration work and address technical issues associated with older authentication implementations.
The open-source release also gives developers access to the plugin’s implementation through GitHub, where they can review the code and incorporate it into their Unity projects. Google has not announced additional commercial services or pricing associated with the plugin.
The new integration provides Unity developers with a first-party option for implementing Google account authentication on Android and iOS, while allowing them to retain their existing backend authentication infrastructure. Its availability may be particularly relevant to studios updating older Unity projects or preparing new mobile games using Unity 6.5.
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