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Nov 19, 2019 · Stadia on PC requires Google Chrome. You don't need any special hardware or software to stream Stadia games to your PC, just a web browser. Specifically, Google Chrome. To start using...
- Google Stadia could have been the be-all, end-all game-streaming platform
- Google Stadia: two-minute review
- Google Stadia Controller
- Performance
- Use if...
- Don't use it if...
Reviews
By Nick Pino
Contributions from
Henry Stockdale
published 23 January 2023
(Image: © Google)
Google Stadia was cloud gaming's first truly bright long-term forecast. After spending years tied to the console upgrade cycle, gamers received a welcome reprieve. Stadia provides a growing digital game library that works anywhere you go. Ambitious as it sounds, we tested it in our own home and can firmly say that it’s a true console alternative which did a lot of things right.
We say this in past tense because Google shut down Google Stadia on January 18, 2023. Thankfully, Google is refunding all Stadia hardware, software, and DLC purchases. So, if you're looking to get your money back, here's how to get a refund for Google Stadia.
Thankfully, we've seen devs want to help Google Stadia players to avoid them losing their saves and progress. This includes big hitters like Red Dead Redemption 2, Hitman 3, and Destiny 2, while Ubisoft confirmed on Twitter that it has plans to issue players free PC copies of the Stadia games they own. If you need to know how to download your Google Stadia save data to a PC, we've got you covered.
Besides offering surprisingly enjoyable performance with little latency on our home network, the service offers streaming via phones, tablets, PCs, and Chromecast. On top of that, Stadia does built-in YouTube Gaming live-streaming and, if you buy a Premiere Edition, comes with an ergonomic Wi-Fi controller that reduces latency showing Google has looked at Stadia from all angles.
So, how did it stack up to competitors like PlayStation Plus Premium (which merged PlayStation Now into the service) and GeForce Now? Well, we found that Stadia significantly outperformed PS Plus in terms of stability and while GeForce Now promises a larger library, Stadia is streaming 4K HDR and continues to release bigger titles. Does that mean Stadia is the perfect streaming service? Well, not quite.
Like any other streaming service, your experience could be radically different based on your proximity to Google’s servers and your connection speed. Unlike consoles that, roughly speaking, perform exactly the same from one location to the next, there’s no guarantee when it comes to game-streaming that we will all have the same experience. Since launch, Xbox Cloud Gaming has also arrived for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers.
The Stadia Controller feels a bit like a standard Xbox One gamepad in terms of heft and a familiar feel in the hands. The aligned sticks obviously bare some resemblance to the PS4’s DualShock 4, but they have a textured ridge like the Xbox One’s pad.
In terms of face buttons, you’ve got a clicky D-Pad that feels moderately responsive, a set of four lettered buttons in the same layout as the Xbox One, and four special function buttons: menu (start), options (select), Google Assistant and the Capture button that saves screenshots to your account and, one day, will connect to YouTube Gaming. Last but not least, the front has a Stadia center button that turns the controller on and off.
Under the Stadia button is a 3.5mm jack for a pair of headphones while on the back you’ll find a USB-C port for pairing and power, plus a pair of triggers and bumpers. The bumpers have a responsive click when depressed, but the triggers are fairly mushy and don’t have any sort of haptic feedback. That news will be kind of upsetting for folks who play racing or shooting games as force feedback really enhances the gameplay in those genres.
The Stadia Controller comes with both the Premiere and Founders Edition of Google Stadia and will primarily serve as the de facto controller for the next few months. However, Stadia does support the Xbox One controller, Xbox Wireless Controller, and DualShock 4 gamepads.
So how did Stadia actually perform out in the real-world? It’s a question we’d wanted the answer to since Stadia was announced, and now we finally have an answer: it was awesome. For our real-world testing, we tried Stadia on three different devices - PC in a browser, Casting to a Chromecast Ultra and on a Google Pixel phone - with three very different types of games. Here’s what we found.
Performance (on a 150Mbps hard-wired connection in a browser window)
On a 150Mbps hard-wired connection, Stadia is amazing - it’s like playing a game stored locally on your PC.
For our PC test we played the first few hours of the Stadia-exclusive GYLT in a regular Chrome browser, and we didn’t notice a single dropped frame or artifacting of any sort throughout the entire, hour-long session. Sure, there was a brief buffer period when the game first launched, but after that it was entirely seamless all the way through.
Admittedly, this is probably the way we’ll continue to play games on Stadia, especially those that require ultra-specific timing (shooters and fighting games, as you’ll see in a second) or games that simply work better with a keyboard and mouse.
Performance (on a 50Mbps Wi-Fi connection with Chromecast Ultra)
You're a gamer with 100Mbps (or better) internet
Stadia is a streaming service, obviously, and therefore largely depends on factors like how fast your internet connection is and how far away you are from Google's servers. Long story short is that gamers that live in a good metro location and pay for above-par internet will likely love the service's performance, while those who don't won't.
You're tired of downloads, updates and expensive hardware
Whether you play games on PC or console, we've all been subjected to massive downloads that take minutes (or hours) to complete. Because games are fully updated on Stadia's servers, you'll never see another download screen again. The same can be said for gaming hardware - once you've got what you need for Stadia, you're good for the next few years.
You're an ultra-competitive gamer looking for a new platform
Obviously anyone with a slow internet connection will take umbrage with Stadia, but very competitive gamers who need the absolute bare-minimum latency may not enjoy it either. Stadia is blazing fast on 100+Mbps connections, but it's never going to outpace playing the game locally on your PC.
You only use iOS or play games at the office
Weirdly Stadia has its limitations in other ways besides just internet connection speeds. As we mentioned earlier, iOS devices can only Cast games to the Chromecast Ultra, not stream them on the device itself. Another weird caveat is that Stadia doesn't work well on office connections - so if that's where you're planning on streaming, you might want to reconsider your purchase.
•Best gaming console: PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch and more
Google Stadia: Price Comparison
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Nov 7, 2020 · Google Stadia is a cloud video game service that offers AAA titles that can be played on just about any screen you own. Stadia offers free and premium subscription options, both of which have a growing number of titles to choose from.
Dec 9, 2020 · Stadia, Google's cloud-based gaming platform, represents a new world of gaming where you don't need a console or PC to play popular games like "Destiny 2" or cult favorites like "Dead...
- Emma Witman
Dec 31, 2020 · You can download the Stadia app from the Google Play Store for free. Once you open it, you'll be prompted to connect your Google account, and then set up your Stadia profile. Or, if you...
- Emma Witman
Apr 8, 2020 · Download the Stadia app on Android or iOS. Play on your laptop, desktop or Chrome OS tablet with your favorite (HID compliant) USB supported controller or mouse and keyboard. Play over Wi-Fi on Pixel or many supported Android phones.
Apr 13, 2021 · Pros. +. Streaming games instantly just works. +. Next-to-no lag on good internet. +. Cross-platform compatibility. +. Large and growing library. +. Great value for Stadia Pro. Cons. - Some...
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