We all know that when you release a game on Google Play, first month is “boosted” in rankings. If you release before an alpha or beta to the store, that lapse starts to count with the alpha or beta release date, or only with the production release?
If not mistaken it is according to production date. I read it somewhere long time ago, it might be wrong now.
From my experience it starts from the moment you go into production. So don’t worry, you can test it properly before. But even your alpha version must follow all Google rules.
It goes 30 days from moment you upload apk file, even if you keep it in draft i think.
Have you personally experienced that?