Items tagged with stadia
When Google launched its Stadia game streaming service, it also laid out plans to deliver first-party games exclusive to the platform. With this approach, Google was seemingly looking to take a page from Microsoft's book, which has several game studios under its umbrella to deliver exclusive games for its Xbox consoles. These exclusive games -- if they proved popular -- would give further incentive for gamers to try out Stadia. "The role I'm filling as head of SG&E is building out all of the exclusive content for Stadia," said Stadia Games & Entertainment VP Jade Raymond in October 2019. "We have a plan that includes building out a few different first-party studios, and also building...
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After first announcing its intentions last month, Google has made good on its promise to bring Stadia game streaming to iOS platforms (i.e. iPhone and iPad). However, because of restrictions that Apple has in placewith regards to game streaming apps in the App Store, Google's solution is more of a workaround. Apple insists that every single game available through streaming services like Stadia or Xbox Game Pass Ultimate be downloaded directly to a device (which defeats the purpose of streaming), and that each game be reviewed by its App Store steam. Considering that this is an onerous task for gamers (and Microsoft, Google, NVIDIA, etc.), Google has decided instead to offer...
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CD Projekt Red’s Cyberpunk 2077 is nearly here, and Google is gearing up in a big way for the game's launch. As were reported back in October, Cyberpunk 2077 will be available on Google’s Stadia game streaming service on Day 1 alongside PC and console offerings. However, with Stadia, you'll be able to play the game across a wide spectrum of platforms including on your TV with a Chromecast and a wireless controller or with your mobile device. In preparation for the December 10th launch of Cyberpunk 2077, Google just announced that Stadia is expanding to 8 additional European countries starting today. Potential subscribers in these new markets -- Austria, Czechia,...
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It should come as no surprise that there's been a lot of hype surrounding the release of Cyberpunk 2077. It doesn't help that the game has been delayed multiple times, which has drawn even more attention to CD Projekt Red's latest masterpiece. With that being said, if you haven't already preordered the game on any platform so far, Google is offering up a rather intriguing deal for those that are potentially looking to try out Stadia game streaming. If you preorder the game on Stadia, Google will give you a free Stadia Premiere kit. This kit includes a single Stadia controller, a Chromecast Ultra and a one-month trial to Stadia Pro (if you're a new customer). For those not in the know,...
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When you make as much money as Google does (its parent company, Alphabet, raked in more than $46 billion in the last quarter alone), you can afford to gift hardware to consumers, especially if it is tied to a subscription service. And that is precisely the deal here—if you are a YouTube Premium subscriber, you might be eligible to receive a free Stadia hardware bundle. There are some caveats which we will get to in a moment. But first let's talk about Stadia. This is Google's cloud gaming service, and if you have not done so already, check out our Google Stadia review for our full thoughts an analysis. The short version is, while promising, there are some limitations and caveats. That said,...
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Last month, it was announced EA Play, and Xbox Game Pass were partnering to provide an expansive game library. Now, Ubisoft is partnering with Amazon Luna and Google Stadia to provide competition in the cloud gaming sphere with Ubisoft+, the rebranded UPLAY+. This service will launch with a beta on the Amazon Luna platform on November 10th and will cost $14.99 per month. Cloud gaming has become one of the hot topics of the year, and everyone wants in. At $14.99 per month with unlimited access to over 100 games, Ubisoft+ is comparable to Xbox’s Game Pass Ultimate subscription. Conveniently, this new subscription from Ubisoft is launching the same day as the Xbox and EA Play subscription,...
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Cyberpunk 2077 is shaping up to be one of the biggest gaming releases of 2020, and excitement surrounding the game is understandably incredibly high. We already knew that the launch of Cyberpunk 2077 would be a "family affair", so to speak, as it will launch on November 19th for the Xbox, PlayStation, and PC platforms. However, CD Projekt Red confirmed today that Cyberpunk 2077 will be arriving on Google Stadia on the exact same day that it hits other platforms. This is an awesome development for those that have invested in Google's game streaming platform. The release of the game will represent the culmination of years of development, along with two recent delays to the game. However,...
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We’ve had quite a bit of time to assess Google’s Stadia streaming platform, especially after the free tier for the service first launched nearly two months ago (you can read the HotHardware review here). Stadia brings the promise of “up to” 4K/60 game streaming with HDR and 5.1 surround sound supports on laptops, TVs, desktops, and even smartphones. However, some in the industry haven’t been impressed with what Google has brought to the table; at least initially. One such voice is Strauss Zelnick, who serves as the CEO of Take-Two. While there’s no doubt that streaming will indeed be part of gaming’s future, it’s apparent that Zelknick...
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Google Stadia may not be the service we hoped it would be right out of the gate, but perhaps it will get there someday. Inching closer, Google has added a few more games and features to the mix, including Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath, a "massive new story expansion, bringing tons of material to both single-player and multiplayer," and a new display option. Starting with the games, Google has made available Jotun: Valhalla Edition available to purchase on Stadia for $14.99, as well as Sundered: Eldritch Edition for $19.99. Both of these are hand-drawn titles by developer and publisher Thunder Lotus Games. Mortal Kombat 11: Aftermath is also available, priced at $39.99 as just the expansion. However,...
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The Google Stadia streaming service is adding four games for that will be available to all "Pro" users to claim and play for free right now. The first of the free games is The Turing Test. It has players unraveling the mysteries surrounding an outpost on the icy moon of Europa. Zombie Army 4: Dead War has players facing an army of zombies that are gearing up for an invasion. This is a co-op game that has the player and up to three friends collaborating to stop the zombies. SteamWorld Heist (image above) is a side-scrolling game about steam-powered robot space pirates that involves bouncing bullets off the environment to destroy enemies. Battle royale shooter PUBG is also available for free...
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With the COVID-19 pandemic pummeling the world’s population hard over the past three months, many have retreated to their homes to conduct business, complete schoolwork, and of course, play video games. So perhaps now is a better time than ever for Google to launch the free tier of its Stadia game streaming service that it has long promised. Google says that it is now opening up the free tier for anyone that signs up at Stadia.com. In addition, everyone will get a two-month trial to Stadia Pro. That even includes current subscribers to Stadia Pro, who will simply see their current subscription extended by two months. According to Phil Harrison, VP and GM of Google Stadia,...
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So far, the Google Stadia game streaming service has been having some growing pains. The biggest problem that most gamers have is that the service has a small game library. For those unfamiliar, Stadia isn't so much a platform or console as it's a digital storefront that allows fans to stream their favorite games over the Internet. Some see the service as trying to be the Netflix of gaming, and Google had such high hopes for the game streaming service when it was announced nearly a year ago in March 2019. Stadia is still very light on games with only 28 titles available, but Google continues to promise that more games are coming to the service. Google says that 120 additional games will...
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When Google launched its Stadia game streaming service, support on Android devices was incredibly limited. Somewhat predictably, the service was initially limited to Google's first-party Pixel smartphones -- devices that it has full control over with respect to both hardware and software. Now, Google is ready to expand support to a wide range of third-party Android phones from popular brands like Samsung, Razer and ASUS (but mostly Samsung). Here's the list of additional devices that will support Stadia starting on February 20th: Samsung Galaxy S8 Samsung Galaxy S8+ Samsung Galaxy S8 Active Samsung Galaxy Note8 Samsung Galaxy S9 Samsung Galaxy S9+ Samsung Galaxy Note9 Samsung Galaxy...
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NVIDIA's GeForce NOW game streaming service is now available for all, meaning that it is no longer relegated to a select few that were accepted in waves as part of the early beta program. With this announcement, anyone can now join in with the service that allows you to bring the power of PC gaming to just about any modern computing platform including Macs, Smart TVs, the SHIELD TV, and Android phones. For those that may have not followed the development of GeForce NOW over the past four and a half years, it allows you to stream games at Full HD resolution at 60+ fps -- even on relatively "underpowered" devices like low-end PCs and smartphones. The primary limiting factor...
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Verizon has announced that it has teamed up with Google to give its Fios Gigabit internet customers the ability to play games on the Google Stadia gaming service. Verizon will offer new Fios Gigabit internet customers Stadia Premiere Edition at no cost starting on January 29th. The Stadia Premier Edition includes a controller, three months of Stadia Pro subscription service, and a Chromecast Ultra. Verizon brags that Fios has "long been" known as the leading internet service for console gaming and streaming content. It says that with the surge in cloud gaming, thanks to Stadia, Fios will serve as the "backbone" for the best cloud gaming services. Google adds that Verizon's commitment to "deliver...
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Google has laid out a roadmap for its nascent Stadia game streaming service, and 2020 is shaping up to be a big one for gamers. Those early adopters that were able to snag a Founder's Edition Bundle have been able to enjoy Stadia for a few months, but here's what you can expect for first quarter of the year: Support for 4K gaming on the Web Add further Assistant functionality when playing on the Web Support additional Android Phones Wireless gameplay on the Web through the Stadia controller If you have a 4K-capable Chromebook, the updated web streaming options will be right up your alley. Those same gamers will be able to take advantage of the new wireless controller support to remain untethered...
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Subscribing to the Stadia Pro tier is supposed to net players several perks, the highlight being the ability to play games at a 4K resolution (3840x2160) at 60 frames per second—it's one of the main selling points for the $9.99 per month subscription fee. Be that as it may, some users have voiced concern that Stadia's 4K gaming experience is not living up to expectations. In the lead up to Stadia launch, Google did plenty of chest puffing, especially in regards to how its cloud gaming service stacks up to the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 in horsepower. According to Google, Stadia can delivers 10.7 GPU teraflops of performance, which is more than the Xbox One X (6 TFLOPs) and PS4 Pro (4.2...
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Have you been itching to try out Google Stadia? Now may be your chance if you already own a Chromecast Ultra. Google has finally released firmware that offers Stadia support to existing Chromecast Ultra devices. Stadia is Google’s cloud gaming service that was released this past week. Google has boasted that Stadia is compatible with a wide variety of devices and controllers, including PS4, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch controllers. However, this statement is not technically true. Users need a Chromecast Ultra to stream games on a TV. Unfortunately, not any old Chromecast Ultra would do. At launch, consumers needed to purchase the Chromecast Ultra that came with the Stadia Premier or Stadia...
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Maybe in six months or 12 months, Stadia will be the service Google hyped prior to launch. In the early going, though, delayed features and hiccups like missing invite codes have somewhat marred both Stadia and the idea of cloud gaming (to some extent), and the issues keep coming. On top of everything else, some users are now complaining that their Chromecast Ultras are getting really hot, and even shutting down in some cases, when using Stadia. It's not clear how widespread the problem actually is, though over on Reddit, multiple users have complained that their Chromecast Ultra dongles are "overheating" when using the cloud gaming service. "I was in the middle of a fight in Destiny 2 when suddenly...
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Are the console wars transitioning to the cloud? Not so fast—both Microsoft and Sony have already shared a few detail's about each company's next-generation game console (Project Scarlett and PlayStation 5, respectively), and those won't even reach retail for another year. At the same time, however, companies are making plays in cloud gaming, and Amazon might be gearing up to throw its weight into the category as well. The spotlight is on cloud gaming right now because Google just launched its Stadia platform. Stadia is as ambitious as it comes—it's been likened to a Netflix for games, though the comparison is not entirely accurate. Still, the idea of playing games powered by servers...
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After all of the hype and anticipation—and there was plenty of both—Google's cloud gaming Stadia service has arrived, and some early adopters are pretty pissed at what has been delivered versus what was advertised. Part of it boils down to the usual growing pains, especially for a project this ambitious. Still, the annoyances are starting to pile up. One of the big complaints has nothing to do with gameplay or performance, but missing access codes. Some of the people who preordered Stadia—a group referred to as founders, because they purchased the Stadia Founder's Edition—are still without their access codes days after the service launched. "We're aware that some of you...
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Oh, the joys of marketing. Here we are just a day away from the launch of Stadia, Google's highly anticipated cloud gaming service, and we have just learned it will debut with nearly double the number of games from what was original announced. This addresses one of the points of initial criticism, and there's little doubt in my mind that the sudden uptick in day-one titles is a strategic announcement. That's to say, I have a hard time believing there was anything technical behind this announcement, which might have made possible a greater number of games suddenly being available. Not that it matters—when Stadia launches tomorrow, it will have 22 games available to play, 10 more than previously...
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