diff --git a/.github/workflows/sdk-release.yml b/.github/workflows/sdk-release.yml
index c75e8ddf..4f1ee668 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/sdk-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/sdk-release.yml
@@ -874,8 +874,11 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: macos-14
     # GitHub's hosted Apple Silicon runner does not expose Hypervisor.Framework
     # to the nested Android VM (HV_UNSUPPORTED). Keep the real arm64 image and
-    # use software CPU emulation rather than weakening this to an x86 smoke.
-    timeout-minutes: 90
+    # explicitly opt into unsupported, slow TCG software CPU emulation rather
+    # than weakening this to an x86 smoke.
+    timeout-minutes: 120
+    env:
+      ANDROID_I_WANT_MY_TCG: "yes"
     steps:
       - name: Download all consumer Android APKs
         uses: actions/download-artifact@3e5f45b2cfb9172054b4087a40e8e0b5a5461e7c # v8.0.1
@@ -885,16 +888,16 @@ jobs:
           merge-multiple: true
 
       - name: Boot arm64 emulator, install and launch the game
-        timeout-minutes: 85
+        timeout-minutes: 115
         uses: reactivecircus/android-emulator-runner@a421e43855164a8197daf9d8d40fe71c6996bb0d # v2.38.0
         with:
           api-level: 30
           arch: arm64-v8a
           target: google_apis
-          emulator-boot-timeout: 1200
+          emulator-boot-timeout: 1800
           emulator-options: >-
             -no-window
-            -gpu swiftshader_indirect
+            -gpu swiftshader
             -no-snapshot
             -noaudio
             -no-boot-anim
diff --git a/scripts/tests/test_mobile_sdk_release_gates.py b/scripts/tests/test_mobile_sdk_release_gates.py
index 85702c94..6e6c4e64 100644
--- a/scripts/tests/test_mobile_sdk_release_gates.py
+++ b/scripts/tests/test_mobile_sdk_release_gates.py
@@ -30,7 +30,9 @@ class MobileSdkReleaseGateTests(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertIn("pattern: android-apk-*", block)
         self.assertIn("merge-multiple: true", block)
         self.assertIn("arch: arm64-v8a", block)
-        self.assertIn("emulator-boot-timeout: 1200", block)
+        self.assertIn('ANDROID_I_WANT_MY_TCG: "yes"', block)
+        self.assertIn("emulator-boot-timeout: 1800", block)
+        self.assertIn("-gpu swiftshader", block)
         self.assertIn("-accel off", block)
         self.assertIn("for apk_file in apk/*.apk", block)
         self.assertIn("EVE_CI_GAME_OK", block)