Google Stadia was formally born in March 2019 during the opening speech of Google to the Game Developers Conference, where she presented herself to all the public with her real name and effectively eliminating the Project Stream nickname with which she had made herself famous in the previous period. Although not much has been said about the new Google service in recent months due in part to the announcements of PlayStation 5 e Switch Lite (the latter recently released) which have attracted all the attention a bit, the Google service will be available in less than a month, precisely the 19 Novembre, and many users still don't have a clear idea of what this service is and what it offers. The questions that we could ask ourselves and that we rightly ask ourselves in front of a new way of understanding videogame entertainment are many: how does it work? How much? Should I buy a new console? And many others… In this article we will analyze them all one by one.
What is Google Stadia?
Let's start with the first and most important question. What is Google Stadia? As is now well known news Stadia is a cloud-based gaming console usable by practically any type of device connected to the internet. We therefore specify that speaking of Stadia as a "console" is partly incorrect as we do not need a gaming machine but only a network line, as the console is a huge set of computers / servers provided by Google scattered around the world. To use the service, simply connect to the Google Chrome browser from a smartphone, tablet or PC and run the title you want to play; but also from televisions equipped with Chromecast Ultra (previous versions should not be compatible) with the free Stadia app installed for both Android and iOS (you must have the official controller to be able to play on TV). However, it must be said that the mobile devices supported at launch will be exclusively those owned by Google like the line pixel. At a later time the service will be extended to any other device. To better understand what we are "physically" connecting to, here is the detail of the technical characteristics of this machine that allows us to play in the cloud all the titles on the market that join the service. We are therefore talking about a machine equipped with custom x86 processor which spins at a speed equal to 2,7GHz, supported by 16GB RAM it's a AMD branded GPU which delivers a power of 10,7 teraflops, which is little more than Xbox One X and PlayStation 4 Pro combined. All this power will then have to be translated into a quality service for us players through cloud streaming allowing for a maximum resolution in 4K HDR and 60 frames per second (only available to Stadia Pro subscribers, non-subscribers can count on 1080p and 60fps service). From here we ask ourselves another question: what kind of internet connection do i need to play with Google Stadia? When it comes to streaming services or, more generally, exclusively online products, we always start with one foot in the pit due to an infrastructure that is not exactly excellent compared to many other states in the world. But let's see in detail what we need to have in order to take advantage of this service, namely the minimum requirements in terms of connection. We specify immediately that the resolution of Stadia will be dynamic, that is, it will adapt to the quality of the network that each of us has:
- Connection 10 Mbps: (recommended minimum power): Allows a resolution 720p a 60 FPS and Stereo audio
- Connection 20 Mbps: will ensure resolution 1080p with HDR a 60 FPS and surround sound 5.1
- Connection 35 Mbps: (best possible experience): will ensure resolution 4K with HDR a 60 FPS and surround sound 5.1
At this address you can perform the test to estimate the performance with your connection. It will also be possible to use the function Crowd Play which allows anyone who is watching a streaming to be able to enter the same session as who is playing thus generating a group game (remember the famous button Play Now di Assassin's Creed Odyssey?). Google Stadia will also allow you to share your saves between the various devices you own, thus giving players the ability to switch from one screen to another without losing their progress.
The Stadia Controller
Now that we understand what Stadia is and how it works let's talk about another important topic: the Stadia Controller. It will allow us to play the chosen titles like any other controller we already know, but with a few minor differences. The most important, given that we are talking about streaming games, is the input lag that afflicts games via the cloud. Google is aware of this problem and has studied ways to make it almost non-existent. In fact, the controller will connect directly to the servers via Wi-Fi that run the game in the cloud thus bypassing numerous intermediary links that cause transmission slowdowns to Google servers. Not only; the company has stated that it is working on special algorithms for machine learning able to predict the commands of the players in advance so as to be able to further reduce the latency time between controller and command. Definitely a great gimmick. Speaking more generally of the device we can tell you that it will be available in various colors such as the Wasabi, il Clearly White and Just Black. It will also be equipped with a 3,5mm headphone jack, an internal rechargeable lithium-ion battery, a port USB-C for charging and for using accessories e a button that acts as a Google assistant able to activate the microphone to help and support us in the game sessions also through the use of guides created by the developers without practically leaving the title. There will also be a button that allows you to quickly capture images and videos to share immediately on YouTube (automatically uploaded at 4K and 60fps) similar to the button Share of Dualschock 4. The controller can also be purchased individually at this link at the cost of 69,99 €.
How much does Google Stadia cost?
Speaking of prices, here is the question that most rumors in the heads of all of us gamers. Google Stadia, how much does it cost? It must be said that there is a bit of confusion regarding subscription prices or even simply the price of the package "Premiere Edition"but don't worry, your doubts are about to dissolve. As we said at the beginning, the streaming service will debut on 19st November, that is to say that at this moment it is only possible to pre-order what is called the “Premier Edition”.
Let's start from the beginning: those who want to pre-order Google Stadia can access this site and choose the color of the controller, receive a 3-month subscription to Stadia Pro and a Chromecast Ultra all for the price of € 129,00. After the first 3 months included in the offer the monthly canonical price will be € 9,99 which will allow you to continue playing using the 4K HDR with 60fps (in case your network supports it) and the possibility to play some titles totally free as the whole package of Destiny 2. Any other title, especially the latest releases, will have to be purchased separately. For those who choose to subscribe to the Stadia Pro service, there will be discounts within the stock portfolio as is already the case with EA Premier. For those who choose not to book Stadia, there will be the possibility to use the service for free only during 2020, without the maximum audio / video quality offered by the service and without an update of the stock of titles compared to what will be created until from the origins. In practice it is as if it were a huge demonstration demo that acts as a trailblazer of the service for all those who are willing to subscribe.
What games can i play on Google Stadia?
And here comes the last question: with What games can be played on Google Stadia? Probably the most important question, given that a person chooses a console or a service mainly because of the contents offered. What is certain is that Google has already started a collaboration with Ubisoft and expects to bring numerous third-party titles to the launch to which internally developed games will be added. For those who do not know in fact a team was founded that is called Stadia Games and Entertainment headed Jade Raymond. Below we leave you the list of games already announced and that will be available for purchase:
- Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey
- Baldur's Gate 3
- Borderlands 3
- The Crew 2
- cyberpunk 2077
- Darksiders Genesis
- Destiny 2
- Destroy All Humans
- Doom (2016)
- Doom Eternal
- Dragonball Xenoverse 2
- Farming Simulator 19
- Final Fantasy XV
- F
- Get Packed
- Gods & Monsters
- GRID
- Gylt
- Just Dance 2020
- China
- Marvel's Avengers
- Metro Exodus
- Mortal Kombat 11
- NBA 2K20
- Orcs Must Die 3
- Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
- 2 Rage
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Samurai Shodown
- superhot
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- Thumper
- Tomb Raider Definitive Edition
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2
- Trials Rising
- The Crew 2
- Watch Dogs Legion
- Wolfenstein: Youngblood
- 2 Windjammers
Summing up, Google Stadia aims to innovate a service that in recent years has already started its evolutionary process through the various subscriptions offered by software houses such as EA Access, Uplay +, Xbox Game Pass and many more, however, proposing a single and substantial difference that will be precisely the one that will tip the balance, that is the need not to have to buy a new console every time but simply to have an internet line. If this service were to take hold as Google has in mind the entire concept of videogame entertainment we have been used to for many years, it could change radically.
