Google Stadia is still alive and now added 400 new games

Have you already written off Google’s streaming service Stadia? The company says that it is still fully behind it and underlines this with the fact that there are more than 400 games in the works.

The idea behind Google Stadia is interesting: you can easily play anywhere via streaming without having to buy an expensive console or gaming PC. But so far the system has not really caught on. Even though you can play good games on it. Including The Elder Scrolls Online, Destiny 2, and the early access version of Baldur’s Gate 3 or the upcoming Cyberpunk 2077.

Google sticks to Stadia

However, the acceptance of the gamer community leaves a lot to be desired, which does not prevent Google from continuing to work on Stadia and campaigning for success. Buser, Stadia’s Director of Games, said:

“Even if a year feels like a long time, we’re just getting started. We’re going to be in for the long run. It’s part of business development that games take a long time to build, so I know what to do with Stadia is going to happen in three years, in four years. And when I think about that long-term vision and how exciting it is – this is going to be the adventure of a lifetime. What I can tell you is that we have a roadmap of about 400 games from 200 developers who are in the works. When these games come out, be it in calendar year 2021 or later, you will hear more from us in the future. Will there be more developers and more games on the platform? Definitely. ”

So Google has big plans for Stadia. You shouldn’t write off the platform yet. We can look forward to what awaits us in the coming year and beyond and whether the streaming service will still be a great success.

Google Stadia in the test – a successful foundation for the future

“Cloud gaming is the future of gaming.” “Cloud gaming won’t catch on.” We have been able to read these two points of view again and again over the past few months. On November 19, 2019 , Google Stadia, another extremely ambitious streaming service for video games, will start, which will show whether our favourite hobby will develop in this direction – or not.

What to expect: In the Stadia-Check we describe our first experiences with the Founder’s Edition of Google Stadia and we will go into the following points in more detail:

Structure: The way to the first game stream

User interface: how is Stadia presented?

Controller: Our impression of the Stadia pad

Streaming quality: How smooth was our gaming experience?

Subscription models: What does the fun cost me?

Game selection: Which titles can I play at the release?

The structure: What you have to do before the first game stream

You can use Google Stadia either on a laptop / desktop PC, the TV or mobile on your smartphone. Regarding mobile streaming, however, it should be said that only the Google Phones of the Pixel 3 series are compatible at the start.

The first step: Before you can start your first Stadia stream, you must first download the Stadia app. Here you link your Gmail address to the cloud service, register your Founders Code, choose a nickname and choose a suitable avatar.

TV streaming via Google Chromecast: If you want to use Stadia on your television, you also have to configure the Chromecast dongle included in the Founder’s Edition via the Google Home app.

In our test, the setup went without any problems and was completed after about 20 minutes.

The user interface: how is Stadia presented?

If you have set up your account and optionally Chromecast for use on the TV, you will find yourself on the Google Stadia user interface.

What is immediately noticeable: Google does without big bells and whistles. The start page presents the games you have bought, which you can start directly from here. At the top right of the UI you can still find the options to connect your Stadia Controller, to examine your friends list – including the option to create a party – and to jump into the settings. And that’s it.

Stadia’s user interface is simple and clean. Stadia’s user interface is simple and clean.

With its plug & play character, it reminded us of uncomplicated gaming from 30 years ago, which is definitely meant positively. In a few seconds you open the web app, choose your game and off you go – at least in theory.

The biggest problem: there was often a bug when starting a game. After clicking on the respective game we got the message that we should start the game again. After repeating the process several times, the game started. It is very possible that this was an early bug that does not appear on all systems. The Game Star colleagues, for example, were completely spared this mistake.

We asked Google for an official statement on the bug. We will add this to the test immediately upon receipt.

The controller: Our first impression of the Stadia pad

As owners of the Founder’s Edition, we had access to the new controller from Google Stadia. First things first: No, the pad is not reinventing the wheel and will not appear alien to owners of a PS4, Xbox One, or Switch.

Wireless or Wired?

At the start of Google Stadia you can only use the pad wirelessly on the TV. If you want to play with the controller on your laptop or smartphone, you always have to connect a USB C cable. According to Google, a wireless function will be added at the beginning of next year.

But it doesn’t necessarily have to be the Stadia Pad: Controllers such as the Dual Shock 4, the Xbox One Pad or the Switch Pro controller can be used wirelessly to start the portal without any problems. A full list of compatible controllers can be found at the link.