Google homepage adds Android store tab

The most visited website in the western world now offers a one-click portal to the Android app store, in a new attempt by Google to bolster its mobile games business.

Weeks after Google rebranded the Android app store – it now exists within a consolidated media hub called Google Play – the search engine giant has added smartphone game access to the google.com front page.

A redesigned tab bar spread across the lid of the home page also features links to other popular Google destinations, such as image search, maps and YouTube.

Google Play combines several other entertainment services into its online network, such as books, music and movies.

The service is elementally Google’s fully-branded alternative to iTunes, accessible to most existing Android devices. It provides chart data on bestselling apps and games, as well as recommended content.