Google Stadia, the company's new streaming game service , launches today and shows what the future of gaming will look like, based not on expensive consoles, but on the cloud. But will Google prevail?
Sony PlayStation allows gamers to stream to PCs and PS4s, while Microsoft's Project xCloud (in beta) allows streaming to devices . It will be widely available in 2020.
, on the other hand, browser Chrome, select Pixel Android phones, and Google's Chromecast Ultra. You pay $9.99 a month to run games in the cloud , then stream them to whichever device you want to play on.
Note that you have to purchase each game separately. The initial selection is 22. Many of them are old, but some very popular games, such as “Red Dead Redemption 2” and “Destiny 2.”
If you pay $129, you get the Google Stadia controller, a Chromecast Ultra for your TV, and three months of Stadia Pro, which lets you stream in 4K and play games for free.
See below the positive and negative aspects of the new Stadia service:
What are the positive aspects?
A test showed that the Stadia service offers high resolution and excellent graphics.
Once you install the app and sign up for a username, you'll be able to buy games. They're not exactly cheap, although there are some discounts if you opt for the Stadia Pro subscription. There's also a free version, but it only streams at 1080p instead of 4K. It also doesn't include free games or discounts.
One of the positives of the Stadia service is that within seconds one can start playing either on a Pixel phone, or on a laptop or on a TV (according to tests). It didn't take time for game updates, as it does with the PS4. Why? Because everything is done in Google's cloud. So users can play at any time. The games are there.
However, since it's streaming, there's a chance that the quality will drop during gameplay or that there'll be an unexpected interruption. This doesn't happen often on an Xbox or PS4.
As for the controller, tests have shown that it is quite comfortable (even if you hold it for many hours) and battery lasts a long time. Also, connecting it to various devices is very easy. According to Google, it will soon work wirelessly.
The Stadia software is also good. Gamers can see a list showing whether their friends are online and a list of people they've recently played with.
What are the negative aspects?
There are also some concerns about the Stadia service. As we mentioned above, the service currently offers 22 games. More options will be available soon. However, we cannot know whether Google will continue to attract publishers to release new games on Stadia. This will largely depend on the number of users of the service.
Also, users don't have any physical copy of the game. This means that if Google decides to end the Stadia service or if the user cancels their subscription, they lose everything.
Additionally, there is no group feature, so you can't select a few friends to play with. For now, you can play with other strangers, but you can't create your own group. Also, if Stadia doesn't attract a lot of gamers, you won't be able to play games that require other people.
Another downside is that to play games on mobile right now you need to have one of the following models: Pixel 2, Pixel 3, Pixel 3a, or Pixel 4. In the future, the service will be available on iPhones and other Android. However, right now, the Stadia app for iPhones and other Android phones only allows you to manage and purchase games. On the plus side, you can play in Chrome on most computers or on a Chromecast Ultra on your TV.
Additionally, since this is streaming, you need to have a very good internet connection so you can play in 4K.
Google Stadia is a glimpse into what gaming will be like in the future. However, it's too early to know how it will all play out. All that remains to be seen is how people react and how Google will fix the issues mentioned above and strengthen its new service.
