Here’s The New Google Stadia Controller And How To Use It
The most flexible controller option for Google's upcoming Stadia cloud gaming service is the company's own Stadia Controller, which is available in Clearly White, Just Black, and Wasabit color options (each one is priced at $69). As Stadia's launch day fast approaches, Google has posted a comprehensive guide on how to use the controller.
Google also posted a guide on setting up the Stadia Controller. To do that, you need to have the Stadia app installed on your mobile device. The app uses Location access, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth to find and configure the controller, and if any of those are turned off when setting it up, you will be asked to turn them on.
How To Set Up Google's Stadia Controller
Here are the steps...- To turn on your Stadia Controller, hold down the Stadia button for two seconds until it vibrates.
- On your mobile device, open the Stadia app.
- Tap the Controller icon in the upper-right corner.
- If prompted, enable location access, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on your mobile device.
- Select your controller from the list.
- The controller will vibrate to make sure the right controller is being set up. When the controller starts vibrating, tap Yes and then Continue.
- Tap Connect to [network name] to connect your controller to the same Wi-Fi network that your phone is connected to. If you want to connect your Stadia Controller to a different network tap Choose a different network.
- Enter your Wi-Fi password and then tap Connect to Wi-Fi and then Done.
- Your controller will download and install an update. You don’t need to wait for the update to finish before continuing. Tap OK.
To play games on a TV using a Chromecast Ultra, a PC using Google Chrome, or a mobile device, you will need to link the controller to one of those devices.
Google Stadia Controller Buttons And Controls
Google's support document includes a few handy diagrams that outline the controls on the Stadia Controller. Here's a look...
Click to Enlarge
The dedicated Stadia button acts as both a Status Light and a multi-purpose button. Pressing and holding it down for 1 second (until the controller vibrates) turns on Stadia. Once it's own, tapping the Stadia button opens up the Stadia menu, and holding it down for 1 second opens the platform menu. To turn the controller off, you would hold the Stadia button for 4 seconds, or 8 seconds for a hard power down.
"Doing this can be useful as a hard reset procedure if the controller were to become unresponsive. The controller may be turned back on with a 1 second press of the Stadia button," Google explains.
Here's what the four other unique buttons do...
Menu
- Access in-game menu
- Pause supported games
- May be used differently in some games
Options
- Access in-game menu options menu
- Pause supported games
- May be used differently in some games
Assistant
- Talk to the Google Assistant
Note: You don't need to keep holding the button while you speak.
Note: You must have Google Assistant enabled in your Stadia account to use Google Assistant on your controller.
Capture
- Press to save a screenshot
- Hold to save a clip
As for the status light, there are four statuses it might display. When it's blinking white, the controller is ready for you to enter the linking code. When it's solid white, the controller is on, linked, and ready to play. Blinking orange means it needs to be set up with Wi-Fi, and a solid orange light means it is charging (it will turn off when fully charged).
Most everything else is rather straightforward—it has A, B, X, and Y buttons, along with left and right bumpers and triggers, a directional pad (D-pad), and two analog thumbsticks. Fairly standard stuff on a modern controller. You can hit the link in the Via field below to read more about each one.
If you don't want to use the Stadia Controller, Google has outlined support for various other popular controller options, including Sony's DualShock 4, Microsoft's Xbox One controller, and Nintendo's Switch Pro.
Stadia launches on November 19 in 14 different territories. It will have a dozen games on day-one, all of which Stadia Pro subscribers will be able to access for no additional charge (beyond the subscription fee).
