A string of code found within the latest version of the Google Play Movies app suggests that Google may soon be following in Apple’s footsteps by allowing customers to upgrade their HD movies to Ultra HD versions free of charge. Currently, if a Google Play customer owns a movie in HD, they can’t upgrade to the Ultra HD version, even if they attempt to purchase it again — much like Microsoft’s movie store.
Conversely, Apple scored major brownie points when it launched the Apple TV 4K in late 2017 and upgraded any owned HD content to its Ultra HD and HDR counterpart where available.
Meanwhile, the patch notes for the new version of the Google Play Movies app don’t contain any reference to a potential Ultra HD upgrade plan, and the code string makes no mention of a similar upgrade to HDR. Of course, just because the code is there, that doesn’t mean Google intends to use it, but its presence could indicate that the groundwork is being laid for such a scheme to be rolled out in a future update.
