Google Stadia | Shutting Down Jan. 2023

[Moonface]

Google has formally unveiled their entry into the gaming world with Stadia,  a new gaming platform for playing AAA video games across all kinds of screens via streaming.

• A streaming only, INSTANT Access system with controller - https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D2CR6GUWwAAoc2P.jpg
  
• Play across multiple devices, including laptops, desktops, and select phones and tablets.
  
• Go from watching a video to playing a game in seconds, with even more innovative experiences to come for select games.
  
• Enjoy gaming the way you love, with beautiful HDR graphics and smooth frame rates.
  
• No updates, no downloads. Jump right into the game.
  
• Stadia's cloud based infrastructure evolves to meet the demands of players, developers, and YouTube creators.
  
• Streams up to 4K 60fps HDR, will later add support for 8K 120fps
  
• Stadia instances are 10.7 Teraflops of GPU power, more than the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X combined.
  
• You can click Play Now in a STADIA enabled browser and instantly get into the respective game on sites like YouTube.
  
• Connects using Chrome as a streaming platform across many devices.
  
• Single code base enjoyed across desktop, laptop, TV, tablet, and phone.
  
• Works on existing devices - Chromecast, Chrome browsers, and Chrome apps.
  
• Works with existing controllers, not just Google controller.
  
• Cross-platform multiplayer and save files.
  
• Couch co-op and Split-screen using separate instances available.
  
• Low latency platform for "everyone."
  

So what do you folks think about Google's venture into the gaming scene? Do you think they will be the ones to succeed where other streaming based gaming services such as OnLive have failed?

I think if anyone could pull this off, it has to be Google. No other company is going to have the knowledge and hardware available to make it work. However, apart from the ease of accessibility it offers to people with decent internet, I don't see what else the platform has going for it over any of the ones already on the market. Most of the big games that were announced for it like Doom Eternal aren't going to shift people over, not at least until this console generation comes to an end and people have to make a choice on what outlet they access their games from in the future. Although even then, I think it'll be less of a choice between PS5/Xbox/Nintendo/PC/Stadia and more of a PC vs. Stadia ordeal. The home consoles have exclusives that people will buy them for and Stadia can't change that, so the only target they can go toe to toe with is PC. If I could use a cheaper PC to play all the games that I'd need to have a high end PC for, why wouldn't I besides wanting to actually own my games vs. what I presume will be some rental subscription type service that Stadia will offer.

I'm curious to see where this goes just in regards to how the industry as a whole responds and whether Google can make it work on a large scale without becoming some exclusive thing for people fortunate enough to live somewhere with ridiculously fast internet speeds. I know that if I was still living in my home town in the UK, I would be skeptical I could use this service. I want to see just how wide the net can be cast for it now; I don't really care about more statements of 4K, 8K, Teraflops, and all that. Means nothing if more people than not can't reliably use the service due to factors outside of Google's control.

[Metallix]

It’s intriguing. I’ve used PlayStation Now and it works flawlessly for me but streaming only limits it in many countries. Even the US where we have data caps.

[Moonface]

So I know one instance doesn't make a case, but I saw that Game Informer tried out Doom Eternal at the Stadia reveal event, and they had noticeable input lag.

Now they said it wasn't ruinous, but if this lag was because of Stadia and not the game being a work in progress, it doesn't fill me with confidence. If Google can't get a flawless experience at their own event where they can create the most ideal environment, then what problems could we see when Stadia is used somewhere else?

[Metallix]

Yeah I don’t see it becoming huge right out of the gate.

The biggest thing I hate about these streaming services are you own nothing. You’re just paying to use their servers, it’s essentially a rental service.

[Moonface]

The lack of ownership is what would make me never use Stadia over any other option. At best I'd use it to play a game for cheap that I just want to play and be done with in a rental style. I would absolutely not use Stadia for an entire library of permanent games.

There's also rumours flying about that Wal-Mart are working on something to compete with Stadia. I hope it isn't true just because it would be stupid of Wal-Mart to think they could seriously pull this off. They expect to compete with Google when their brand name is synonymous with a cheap and poor experience.

[Metallix]

In the time I had with PS Now it was the same. I played games I hadn’t tried and basically it was used to see if I wanted to buy them not complete them.

[Karo]

I'm going to be honest I have a bias against this thing already. I am actually really anti-Cloud because I don't really like the idea of all accounts linking together into one big super account and some games I'd rather have physical copies of rather digital copies and for someone like me who has bad internet in rural area! This thing wouldn't be even worth trying for me!

For those that do get one and have a n internet speed I hope you enjoy it, but I personally will not be voting with my wallet for this monstrosities and I hope Xbox and Sony don't go the way of digital streaming services only. Give us a lot of way to play don't limit them by stupid streaming shit.

[Moonface]

I doubt Sony would go into a streaming only service any time soon. PS Now is likely the most they would go for, so as to offer a way to play older games on newer systems. They might offer a streaming service for new games alongside the digital/physical purchase methods, but it would just be another option; it wouldn't replace anything.

[queenzelda]

Not just Google is going to be streaming games, apparently Walmart & JcPenny are getting into the cloud gaming service to. Me? I'm just not interested. I want to own my games thanks.

[Moonface]

Does JC Penny even sell games?

[queenzelda]

Does JC Penny even sell games?

Yep, but so did Sears & Kmart before they started to go belly under. JcPenny is just getting on board the cloud gaming wagon cause it'll make $$ munny.

[Dragon Lord]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha...

Oh wait, they're serious. Big yikes.

[Mr EliteL]

Skimmed through it after knowing I won't be interested. I'll merely wonder how well Stadia will do after launch, but that's about it. Not the way I want to play games, so will steer way clear of this. Walmart of all things want to try something? Oh please no.

[Karo]

Oh boy I can't wait to get my Walmart cloud gaming system! Finally I can get the quality service of Walmart in my gaming experience!

Truly a wonder!

[ShiraNoMai]

This is an interesting investment and would, in theory, spread gaming to a width swath of folk that don't have good access to games consoles (especially places where they super upcharge imports). However, I think it's still way too early to rely on our lord and saviors "The ISPs" in terms of getting decent internet any and everywhere. Who knows how long it'll take for this to properly kick off the way they want it to, but I'm afraid by the time that rolls around, Google will have already hopped ship like they do with everything they've ever invested in that doesn't last for as long as hey hope for.