14Google had its first Stadia Connect video recently, revealing just about everything consumers needed to know about Google Stadia. Everything from games to pricing and requirements were shown, revealing that Google is seriously committed to this form of gaming. With Google hosting a lot of data on the cloud already, the company is putting its best foot forward to do the same to gaming. It is set to compete with other internet-based gaming services this year.
Many people have expressed apprehension regarding Google Stadia, but any big change in the industry is going to garner criticism. There are a lot of impressive details to Google Stadia, leading to 10 reasons why we're excited about it.
10 Play Right Away
In gaming, people appreciate convenience. One of Google Stadia's selling points seems to be on this matter, thankfully. Google boasted that players would simply have to log in, and they would be ready to go. Within seconds, they could start playing. With the hard power all being done on Google's end, players won't even have to worry about software booting up. Everyone should have a comparable experience in this matter. The process is even faster if you have a Stadia controller, which would likely get players right to their games and ready to start playing in no time at all.
9 Diverse Game Lineup
When new services like Google Stadia are announced, arguably the most important aspect is what sorts of games will come with it. Thankfully, Google announced that nearly 30 games would be available at launch, and they're not weak titles either. Ubisoft is on board, giving games like Assassin's Creed Odyssey and The Division 2. Google Stadia will also have the just-announced Baldur's Gate 3 and even new Mortal Kombat 11. Paying for Stadia would make no sense if there weren't games that people wanted to play. Luckily, Google seems relatively attuned to this matter and went the extra mile to get some great games on the platform.
8 Pricing
Google Stadia had the potential to be quite expensive. After all, giving players access to all those games surely wouldn't come cheaply. The reality is that the service itself isn't that expensive, coming in at only $9.99 per month. That's in line with what other gaming platforms charge for their streaming services, so it's a fair price, considering that subscribers don't need to purchase anything other than a Chromecast to make everything work. Players can also purchase the founder's edition for $129.99 that includes three months of Stadia Pro, a Chromecast, and an exclusive Google Stadia controller, which will probably be the optimal way to use the software.
7 No Downloads
A serious inconvenience in gaming is how much you have to download before you can play. This isn't a problem mitigated by physical copies anymore. It is industry standard to sell consumers a dis, then force them to sit through downloads as if they purchased it right from the online store instead.
No console is immune to this, and PC players are used to downloading everything anyway. With Google Stadia, that is no longer required. With Google handling everything on the hardware side of things, players just need to log in, pick the game they want, and they're ready to go.
6 Play on Multiple Devices
The advantage of having a game service run by Google is that it will be easy to use it on multiple devices. Of course, doing it through a computer would be familiar to most people, but subscribers can also use it on their laptops, tablets, and Pixel smartphones. With a Google account tying everything together, it will be easy to start a game on one device only to pick it up and play on a different one. The only downside to this is that playing games on smartphones is limited to the Google Pixel 3 and the Google Pixel 3A. More smartphones are expected to be supported in the future.
5 Social Integration
Because Google has a deep connection with social platforms like YouTube, Stadia will make connecting to friends while playing games a breeze. Capturing footage will be easy, making it an ideal way for YouTubers to get footage. Streaming games live will likely also be a cinch through Google Stadia considering how locked down Google has video streaming at this point. Friends will be able to join your games easily, complete with separate video footage showcasing what they see on their screens as well, something that would be much more difficult through consoles or PC.
4 Cross-progression
With the announcement that all the content in Destiny 2 would be coming to Google Stadia, the company announced that cross-progression would be available for those who already played on PC or Xbox One. Later on, it was confirmed that Sony would allow cross-progression for PS4 players as well. This sets the bar for Google Stadia that people who already have a large library of games should easily be able to carry their progress over to Stadia. This could make a transition easy for established gamers who just want to get on their beloved games quickly or want better quality if their computers don't allow for it.
3 4K 60 FPS
Google talked about what sorts of tech would be available to those who used Google Stadia, and the results, if accurate, are pleasing. Google said that Stadia would support up to 4K resolution at 60 fps. This means that games will look sharp, play smoothly, and hopefully, read inputs quickly as well.
Google Stadia will also support 5.1 surround sound, ensuring that those playing through the service will get the best quality. This is likely appealing for those who have quality displays but don't have the power to support max settings. Stadia will make that desire a reality with no extra horsepower needed.
2 Low Connection Requirement
Internet connection will be a major factor for Google Stadia. If the service's connection is poor, then the entire thing will crumble. If Google's statements about required internet are true, then players will have little to worry about—for the most part. Thirty-five Mbps are what is recommended to get 4K resolution and 60 fps. However, players can have as little as 10 Mbps and still get 720p resolution and maintain 60fps. A lot of people probably already have access to that kind of internet speed. The big question is how steadily that connection will hold through gaming sessions. If those numbers are incorrect on Google's part, then Stadia could be in big trouble.
1 Any Controller
Google Stadia does have a controller to its own, but that's far from the only option players have to use the service. Google said that any controller that would be supported on a PC will be supported with Stadia, which means that most people are already capable of using the service. Furthermore, Stadia will also support keyboard and mouse for those who feel that is the best way to play games. Naturally, the Stadia controller will best use of the service's features, but the support for all other controllers is a huge win for gamers. It makes things extremely convenient.