Google Stadia Preview

Google Stadia

In the age of modern gaming we’re surrounded by a more analog barrier in regards to how games are played.  However, gone are the days where the need for this physical connection to satisfy the salivating urges of even the most avid gamer. More and more titles are being offered digitally. You simply purchase a game key, download your game, and play. We are also seeing more and more subscription based gaming. The Netflix of the gaming realm if you will. Companies like Origin Access, Xbox Live Game pass, and even Discord has their own offerings. These subscriptions can be monthly, yearly, or in some cases like with the XBOX Live Game Pass you can even get a 3 year subscription. But these options still require the often costly physical component of the actual console or even a Gaming PC for the enthusiasts. I’m a little bias there because I’m a PC gamer don’t @me lol. You may not have piles or shelves of games anymore but you still need the heart of the operation sitting under your TV. Until now.

Stadia is a revolutionary idea brought to you by Google. We all use google. Be it their products or simply just the search engine. They have the resources, the experience, and the following to provide such a product. But what is The Google Stadia? Before we can answer that let’s talk about similar ideas within the industry and then we can delve into the meat of how it will potentially revolutionize the gaming industry.

Steam Link allows you to play your PC games on your TV, phone or tablet. You aren’t tied to your computer chair anymore. Steam Link gives you the ability to play your games in the comfort of your Lay-Z-Boy. And with the proper set up you can even play them on the go. However, it’s not recommended to use your phones data connection to do this as the lag would be generally unplayable. But it’s there and it was a step in the right direction. You also have the Nvidia Shield console which is very similar. But made for your TV and has the option for subscription based services. But this requires hardware which some may not have and is also very finicky. Also of course there’s a number of remote desktop apps you can use with your phone or tablet. Some are optimized for gaming and others are not. Again they have their flaws and require an excellent connection to the internet.

Google Stadia combines these worlds in a way that no one has. Stadia allows gamer's to immediately immerse themselves in games. It allows for up to 4K resolution, 60FPS, HDR support, and up to 5.1 surround sound on your TV without the need for a console. You can also play your games across laptops, desktops, Pixel 3, and Pixel 3a, and eventually other phones and tablets. You’ll even have cross-screen early access starting from day one. The best part is most people (at least in the US) have the ability to play on the highest settings due to the average broadband speeds. The minimum recommended speeds for Stadia are 10 Mbps and to get the best quality is 35 Mbps. It will match your network speed and adjust as needed.

I would say the most interesting part of the Stadia is that there is no need to download the games you want to play. The Cloud is your console. There is no need to install or take up space on a consoles internal storage. You’ll be playing your favorite games immediately without the wait and frustration of updates etc.

Let’s talk about cost. The Stadia Founders Edition is $129 US. Included in that is Access to Stadia at launch, 3 free months of Stadia Pro( more on this to come) for yourself and a friend, Exclusive Night Blue Stadia Controller, Google Chromecast Ultra for streaming to your TV, Destiny 2 The Collection, and a Founders Stadia Name ( more on this to come as well). All of this for about the quarter of the cost of a console.

Stadia Pro is the Subscription Service that allows you to have the maximum benefit to the gamer. Stadia Base albeit free is less attractive.  

The Stadia Founders Name is an accolade of sorts. I would venture to say almost prestigious. We all know how annoying your Blizzard ID and your Discord ID can be. Mine is TGxP1nkM1st#1345 and My Discord ID is TGxP1nkM1st#1337. On console you might get lucky and not need numbers at the end because someone already chose the name you wanted. Well with the Stadia Founders Name you won’t have the need to add numbers. You truly get to personalize something that is so unique to you.  

Now we can’t have all the good things without talking about the potential bad things. As stated before the concept has been around with other devices. But we will see if Googles experience and tech can eliminate the issues surrounding other devices with Stadia. Lag as well as input lag were huge issues. Are the numbers for the minimum download speeds required accurate or even in the ball park? Will you need any other equipment as far as compatibility with routers? It shouldn’t be an issue but even the Nvidia Shield Console required higher end routers. Time will only tell. We will all know more in November when it releases.

Pre-ordering is simple and only can be done exclusively at the Google Store. I pre-ordered mine on June 8th.  At $129 its worth giving it your best shot.

What Do You Think Of Stadia?   Will You Be Buying One?
Let us know in the comments section below!