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Stadia exclusive Outcasters brings its chaotic multiplayer mayhem to everyone for free
Including a free trial for non-Stadia members
Outcasters is one of the few exclusives on Stadia, an online multiplayer top-down shooter that launched on the platform at the tail end of 2020 for $20, a title we reviewed and were impressed with, even though the price was a little high. Well, Google has just announced that the game is going free to play for all Stadia members, even if you're not subscribed to Pro. There's even a new free trial for the game where anyone can test Outcasters without a Stadia account.
Google Stadia has an ever-expanding library of games, from AAA titles to some fantastic indie games. While the cloud gaming service may not be for everyone the ability to stream on your TV through your Chromecast, or play on the go with your tablet or phone makes it a versatile platform.
All the free games included with Stadia Pro
Five new games in August, including Killer Queen Black and new release Grime
Any Pro games you claim stay in your library as long as you're a Pro subscriber. If you unsubscribe, you lose access — but you'll get it back if you resubscribe later. If you've enabled family sharing, members of your family group can access your Pro titles, even if they're not subscribed themselves.
Google Stadia: Subscription cost, games list, free games, compatibility requirements, and more
Everything you need to know about Stadia
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In fall 2018, Google made its interest in gaming known with Project Stream, a beta that let users play the high-end Assassin's Creed Odyssey from a humble Chrome tab. The following spring, it announced Stadia, a full-fat gaming platform that would leverage the company's computing and networking prowess to provide users access to games with no dedicated gaming hardware required. That service is available now, and it's getting a lot of attention — both positive and negative. So what's the deal? Here's everything you need to know.
The Crew 2 will be free to play for Stadia Pro subscribers this weekend
And don't forget to redeem September's free games, including Hitman and Hello Neighbor
Google kicked off Stadia's Free Play Days program last month with an event that let Pro subscribers play looter-shooter Borderlands 3 free for four days. Later this week, subscribers can enjoy limited-time access to open-world racing title The Crew 2, free of charge.
Rock of Ages 3 is out today on Stadia, free for Pro subscribers
Non-subscribers can buy it for $29.99
Quirky arcade action game Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break is available on Stadia starting today. You'll control various rolling avatars, like the moon and a giant wheel of cheese, to smash up historically-themed, often surreal levels. And if you're a Stadia Pro subscriber, you can get it for free.
Stadia's free tier will be available to Pro subscribers when their trials end
General public will have to hang in there a bit longer
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In a recent interview between Protocol and Google executive Phil Harrison, it was revealed that Stadia's free tier will launch "over the next few months," which certainly sounds like acknowledgement it will come well after the late-February timeline many people had anticipated. While this is a letdown for anybody looking to test the waters without forking over for an early access kit, it also brought up bigger concerns for many current members that didn't intend to maintain Pro subscriptions after the 3-month trial ended. Fortunately, we now know a bit more about what will happen for those players that already made game purchases, and they basically have nothing to worry about.
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For all the mixed press Stadia has received since launch in November, the cloud gaming service shows a ton of promise. But the real trial of Google's gaming chops will come when the free Base tier rolls out in 2020. To help the paid Pro side stand out, Google is adding two more free games to the list of perks: Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration and Thumper.