Are offline google maps used device wide? If you save an area on google maps on an android device, will other apps that use the maps api, pull data from this cache if it's available? Or is it separated and doesn't know that it exists?

I ask this question because of a reddit post that popped up about Pokemon GO:
https://www.reddit.com/r/pokemongo/comments/4s875y/i_wish_i_could_buy_this_guy_a_beer/
Unfortunately, there is no cross-app sharing of map information.

Firstly, there is a privacy concern - If Google allowed other apps to know your Google Maps offline areas (or infer them, for that matter), it would be possible for nasty apps to work out where you live and to sell that information.

Sadly, Google don't provide an 'offline maps' API to developers. I have found this frustrating when developing apps.

Unfortunately, Google have little motivation to encourage offline device usage - they make their money from their online services, especially advertising.