ASO news recap (Jan 2026): more Apple Ads inventory + Gemini ‘Ask Play’
A summary of AppTweak’s January 2026 ASO updates: expanded App Store search ads inventory, Google Play’s Ask Play, and new store assets.
Original article (source): AppTweak — “ASO news & app store updates 2026” (January 2026 section)
This post is a summary of the most interesting points, with attribution and a backlink.
1) Expanded search ad inventory is coming (Apple)
AppTweak notes Apple confirmed additional ads will appear in App Store search results starting March 2026, with key operational implications:
- Ads can appear beyond the top result.
- Existing campaigns become eligible automatically.
- More paid placements likely increase competition and affect ROAS and CVR dynamics.
2) Ask Play: Gemini enters app discovery (Google Play)
AppTweak highlights Google’s “Ask Play” (Gemini-powered chatbot) on app listings:
- It suggests questions and generates answers using listing signals (metadata, reviews, context).
- Implication: listings must be optimized for AI readability and consistency.
3) New Play Store assets & quality signals
AppTweak also calls out:
- A rolling “Hero content carousel” asset for installed users (changes what’s above the fold).
- More video surfaces for installed users (multiple YouTube videos in some cases).
- A new app vital around excessive partial wake locks with potential discovery implications.
Why this matters
The “store page” is becoming:
- more competitive (more ads)
- more AI-mediated (Ask Play)
- more dynamic (new assets)
- more quality-signal-driven (vitals)
ASO teams need a faster loop: monitor changes → adjust messaging/creatives → validate conversion.
Read the original: https://www.apptweak.com/en/aso-blog/app-store-optimization-news-app-store-updates
Want help with ASO?
If you want this implemented for your app, check out our services — or run your workflow in APPlyzer.