The first ever Stadia Connect presentation just wrapped up, and we learned more about Google’s upcoming answer to the gaming industry at large – the age of game-streaming services have officially begun.
The 30-minute presentation was chock-full of details about everything there is to know about the Stadia. That said, there were a ton of surprises made which actually makes the Stadia a very viable option to anyone looking to play the latest games on any device.
And by any device, I mean TVs, PCs, laptops, tablets and Pixel smartphones. The presentation started with the announcements for these, and the only thing that surprised me is the fact that Stadia will not be available on just any Android mobile phone, needing a Pixel device starting with the Pixel 3. Further along the video, it was stated that this line of devices will be expanded down the line, including more compatible smartphones.
Of course, a bulk of the presentation was made for announcements regarding games. A floating graphic of publishers and developers expected to bring their titles to the Stadia appeared on-screen, and they’re clearly a veritable group. The graphic includes developers like Crystal Dynamics, Capcom, NeatherRealm, Deep Silver, Electronic Arts, Larian Studios. Gearbox Software, Bethesda, Avalanche Studios, SNK, Ubisoft, 2K, THQ Nordic, Warner Bros. Games, Arkane Studios, Rockstar, Square Enix, EA Sports, Codemasters, Sega, Bungie, 4A Games, id, Zenimax, Bandai Namco, Tequila Works and so much more.
The first major game announcement came with Larian Studios officially announcing Baldur’s Gate III, which they have been teasing for quite a while now. It was accompanied by a cinematic trailer alongside an interview with Swen Vincke, founder of Larian Studios. In it, he describes the benefits of bringing the game to the Google Stadia. Check out the cinematic trailer below.
The video then goes into an in-depth into what players should expect in terms of the internet bandwidth needed to run Stadia, courtesy of Google Vice President Phil Harrison. Check it out below.
- 4K, HDR, 60 fps and 5.1 Surround audio requires 35 Mbps
- 1080p, HDR, 60 fps and 5.1 Surround audio requires 20 Mbps
- 720p, 60fps, and Stereo audio requires 10 Mbps
With the recommended minimum of 10 Mbps, you’re still getting visual quality on par with something like the Switch, although it remains to be seen just how affecting the input lag can get. You can test your own network now with this tool to see how prepared you are for Stadia.
We then get a closer look at the Stadia controller, which, thankfully, is not a requirement for the service. You can still play on the Stadia using any supported game controller, although the game controllers were not specified. If we’re basing it on the infographic, then it looks like it will include the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 controllers, as well as third-party controllers. You can also play it with a mouse and keyboard on PC. That said, the Stadia controller does offer an in-game capture button for your game footage, plus a dedicated button for the Google Assistant. It also comes in a wide variety of colors, if you’re into that sort of aesthetic.
Playing on devices like PCs, laptops and tablets only require you to open a Chrome browser window, while for HD TVs, you will need a Chromecast Ultra to support the 4K graphics. For Pixel devices, you can use an upcoming Stadia app.
Going back to game reveals, it looks like Ubisoft is going all out with its partnership with Google as another title was announced for the service, which is the upcoming Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint. The presentation debuted a new story trailer which showcased Jon Bernthal’s character better, providing some backstory as to his exploits in Auroa. One of the surprises came at the end of the trailer, when a Stadia-exclusive Stream Connect feature was shown. This feature allowed you to see your teammates’ point-of-view at the side of your screen, which opens up new possibilities as you play online. Check out the trailer below.
We then get a look at the first ever Stadia exclusive, a curious little title called Gylt. This one is pretty interesting, and before the title was revealed I actually thought it was a Stranger Things game. The game sees you playing as a little girl trapped inside an abandoned building filled with various monstrosities. It’s being developed by Tequila Works. Check out the trailer below.
The next title is a party game called Get Packed. The goal of the game is to successfully get packed for a move, with levels getting increasingly more hilarious as dangers are thrown into the mix, such as speeding cars, conveyor belts leading to shredders, and so much more. Check out the trailer below.
Next up is another Ubisoft title, The Division 2. Its titles like these that make me worried for the Stadia as a whole, as these action games require great latencies in order to be playable.
Then, we finally head on to the Stadia’s pricing model. The Stadia will launch with the Stadia Pro, which includes all of the 31 titles available at launch for $9.99 a month. You can also opt into a Founder’s Edition, which includes:
- A Chromecast Ultra
- Limited-edition Night Blue Stadia Controller
- Three months of Stadia Pro
- Three-month buddy pass to give to a friend or relative
- Exclusive access to selecting a Stadia Name
It’s important to note that, according to a Google blog by Stadia VP John Justice, not all of the titles at launch are free. It remains to be seen which are going to be included in the Stadia Pro subscription model, as the blog states that the Stadia Pro “will include free content, as well as discounts on titles you buy.” That said, here’s a sizzle reel of the available titles at launch, followed by the list itself.
- Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
- Doom Eternal
- Doom (2016)
- Rage 2
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- Wolfenstein: Youngblood
- Destiny 2
- Get Packed
- Grid
- Metro Exodus
- Thumper
- Farming Simulator 19
- Baldur’s Gate III
- Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
- Football Manager
- Samurai Shodown
- Final Fantasy XV
- Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider
- NBA 2K
- Borderlands 3
- Gylt
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Darksiders Genesis
- Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey
- Just Dance
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint
- Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
- Trials Rising
- The Crew
Stadia controllers will also be sold separately for $69.99, if you want to get one instead of using an existing controller. They come in three colors at launch: Just Black, Clearly White or Wasabi.
Finally, we have launch details. The Stadia service is expected to debut sometime in November, in 14 countries.
- U.S.
- Belgium
- Canada
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Italy
- Ireland
- Netherlands
- Norway
- Spain
- Sweden
- U.K.
More countries are expected to be added in 2020, so stay tuned during that time if your country makes it to the list.
Well, what do you guys think? Is the Stadia absolutely worth it? Share your thoughts with us in the comments down below.
