- Google announced Stadia, its new video game platform, during their keynote address at GDC 2019 in San Francisco.
- Stadia will launch in November with dozens of new and classic games from major publishers.
- Stadia makes use of streaming technology to make high-quality video games playable on a variety of devices, including computers, smartphones, and Google’s Chromecast.
- Games on Stadia will have special YouTube integration and unique multiplayer features like State Share and Crowd Play.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
Google has finally announced the full details of its new video game streaming platform, Stadia. The service will launch in November with more than two dozen games, and will be capable of broadcasting gameplay at 4K on multiple devices.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai revealed Stadia, during the 2019 Game Developers Conference in March. Rather than creating a new console like the Xbox or PlayStation, every game on Stadia will be streamed directly to players from PCs in Google’s cloud data centers. That means Stadia will make high-quality video games available on any device with the Google Chrome browser, including computers, smartphones, and Google’s Chromecast.
Google says that games on Stadia will be able to surpass the graphical quality of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4, reaching up to 60 frames per second at 4K resolution when it launches later this year. Google partnered with chipmaker AMD to develop new technology for Stadia’s gaming hardware.
Google first tested their video game streaming service in October 2018 with a closed beta service called ProjectStream. The beta test let users play "Assassin's Creed: Odyssey," a $60 game released on PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, from Google's Chrome browser.
Developed by Ubisoft, "Assassin's Creed" is the sort of blockbuster game that would traditionally require a dedicated video game console or gaming computer to play. ProjectStream significantly reduced that barrier to entry; it only required a 25 mbps or faster internet connection and the Chrome browser, controllers were optional. The streaming platform offered the same high quality graphics and gameplay experience as the console versions of the game.
Stadia is due for release in November 2019 and Google has confirmed more than two dozen games for the platform's launch. Gamers can pre-order the Stadia Founder's Edition for $129 to get first access to the service in November; they'll get a Stadia controller, a Chromecast Ultra, a copy of Destiny 2, and a buddy pass for a friend. Stadia Basic will be available for free in February 2020.
Keep in mind that all players will still need to buy their own games on Stadia; the subscription doesn't work like Netflix or Spotify.
These are the game's we've seen so far:
"Assassin's Creed Odyssey" (Ubisoft)
"Assassin's Creed Odyssey" continues to feature heavily in Stadia content after being included in Google's ProjectStream test last year.
"DOOM Eternal" (Bethesda)
Announced last year for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC, "DOOM Eternal" will run at 60 frames per second with 4k resolution and HDR on Stadia.
"DOOM" (Bethesda)
"Rime" (Tequila Works)
"Rime," an adventure game first released in 2017, was used to demonstrate how easily developers can update and change the art style of their games on Stadia.
"NBA 2K19" (2K Games)
Stadia will also include new tools for streamers and content creators. Using Stadia's Crowd Play feature, players could join a game of "NBA 2K19" while watching their favorite streamer.
"Shadow of the Tomb Raider" (Square Enix)
"Shadow of the Tomb Raider" was used to demonstrate Stadia's YouTube integration. Players will be able to use the Google Assistant to find strategy videos and walk-throughs on YouTube. A single press of the assistant button on the Stadia controller while playing can bring the user to the right guide.
"Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2" (Bandai Namco)
"Rage 2" (Bethesda)
"The Elder Scrolls Online" (Bethesda)
"Wolfenstein: Youngblood" (Bethesda)
"Destiny 2" (Bungie)
"Get Packed" (Coatsink)
"Baldur's Gate 3" (Larian Studios)
"Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid" (nWay Games)
"Football Manager 2019" (Sega)
"Samurai Shodown" (SNK Games)
"Final Fantasy XV" (Square Enix)
"Tomb Raider" (Square Enix)
"Rise of the Tomb Raider" (Square Enix)
"Shadow of the Tomb Raider" (Square Enix)
"Borderlands 3" (2K Games)
"Gylt" (Tequila Works)
"Mortal Kombat 11" (Warner Bros.)
"Darksiders Genesis" (THQ Nordic)
"Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint" (Ubisoft)
"Tom Clancy's The Division 2" (Ubisoft)
"Trials Rising" (Ubisoft)
"The Crew 2" (Ubisoft)
Stadia wont be ready to launch until November, but you can preorder for the Founder's Edition or signup to receive updates via the Google Store.
