With the rapid development of graphics engines and the addition of new features like 3D rendering, game sizes have skyrocketed. That is so even on the mobile platform.
It is not uncommon for some games graphically powerful as PUBG Mobile and Call of Duty: Mobile break the 2GB barrier. Downloading such large files can be problematic for users on slower networks, and the process can sometimes take hours.
Some companies like Blizzard and EA let you play games even before they're fully downloaded, and the functionality could come to a future version of Android.
Play before full download
The XDA Developers they stumbled upon a change to the Linux Kernel submitted by a Google employee. The feat will be achieved through what is called an incremental file system.
It is a "special-purpose Linux virtual file system that allows execution of a program while its binary and resource files are still being downloaded bit by bit over network, USB, etc."
"This will allow large Android apps to run before their binaries and resources are fully downloaded to an Android device."
It will work by downloading packets of data that an application needs to run first, such as those containing a game's intro file. While the file is running, it may require subsequent packages needed to run the application.
If any blocks haven't been completely unloaded, the padding blocks will be loaded in advance, so the app doesn't stop dead in its tracks.
Google is testing the feature on the Pixel 4XL, and appears to have been in the works for over a year. However, the feature is still very early in concept and it will be years before it makes its way to Android. We could expect to see it on Android 12 S, at the earliest.
By then, Android games will have breached the 5 GB mark, so the feature will be a boon to many.