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Stadia refunds: What we know now that they are rolling out
Google is delivering on its promise and refunds are on their way out the door
You might've built up a library using Google's Stadia platform on your favorite Android gaming phone but learning that Google is killing Stadia for good really puts a damper on gaming plans for 2023. But thankfully, you won't go empty-handed leading up to the door's closing; as of November 9th, 2022, Google has begun processing refunds on all its eligible Google Stadia products. Still, you don't have much time left before the doors shutter for good on January 18th, and if Stadia library consists of games by Ubisoft, IO Interactive, Bungie, Rockstar Games, Bethesda, or CD Projekt Red, there's a shot at salvaging your save files and getting free copies of these games for other platforms. So with all this info revealed in the wake of Google's closure, we've outlined how you take part in the return process before the doors shut for good — don't let the latest addition to the Google Graveyard sour your start for 2023.
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.
Samsung's 2022 TVs will bring Stadia and GeForce Now under one roof
The company's new Gaming Hub will also come with controller passthrough support from consoles
Samsung is starting CES 2022 by announcing its latest generation of smart TVs featuring Micro LED and Neo QLED panels. Apart from a plethora of image and sound quality improvements, the company will debut the Samsung Gaming Hub on select new TVs with support for three game streaming services: GeForce Now, Stadia, and Utomik. The notable omission from this list is Microsoft's Xbox Cloud Gaming, but worry not as Samsung says this is "just the beginning," and support for more services will be added during the year.
Having officially embarked on its third year as a platform, Google Stadia continues to defy naysayers as it trudges along with its mission to bring cloud gaming to the masses. While Stadia may have missed out on some of the year's biggest AAA titles, it added quite a few indie gems to the roster. These are my top five favorite indie games that came to Stadia in 2021.
Get a Stadia wireless controller and Chromecast Ultra for just $22 to celebrate the platform's second anniversary
72% off, but be quick
Today marks the second anniversary of Google Stadia, having debuted back on November 19th, 2019. While its success over those two years is probably a debate for another day, it definitely helped bring attention to the concept of cloud gaming and game streaming. To commemorate the platform's second anniversary, Google's offering an early Black Friday promotion for Stadia lovers (or those suitably curious), making the Premiere Edition practically an impulse buy.
Google Stadia as a service has grown a fair bit since it was first launched almost two years ago, but the Android app has always lagged behind. All the platforms that are supported by Stadia have featured voice chat and party chat for a while, except for the Android app, for some reason. It's got to the point where people would rather use the web app on Android because it supports chat, but that won't be necessary anymore. The Android app is finally righting this wrong.
Google Stadia vs. Xbox Cloud Gaming: Which is the streaming champion?
Can Google compete with the gaming giant that is Xbox?
If you'd told me five years ago that one day I'd be able to reliably stream video games to my device over the internet in the same way we do videos on YouTube, I'd have laughed. Services like OnLive had given it a go, but it still felt like it was a long way from going mainstream. Then came Google in 2019, promising the world with Stadia and under-delivering in a way only Google can. Nearly two years after its troubled launch, Stadia has matured into a decent service, but it faces stronger competition than ever before in the form of Xbox Cloud Gaming. So, which is the better streaming service?
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.
Stadia is live for Android TV, and Google is celebrating with half off controllers
Time to throw your old Chromecast Ultra in a drawer
The latest Chromecast is a phenomenal streaming device, but there has been a glaring omission since its launch last year. Google has promised Stadia as the future of cloud gaming, but it's been missing from Android TV devices, including the Chromecast with Google TV. That changes today, as Stadia is finally up and running on the Play Store.
Sign up for Ubisoft+ through Stadia to get access to 20 games
Not all games on Ubisoft+ are available on Stadia, but you can also use it on other platforms
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Not everyone is a fan of monthly subscription services, but in some cases, they can end up being cheaper than buying everything you want individually. Ubisoft+ is a subscription that includes most of the titles published by the French game company of the same name, and Google has announced you can now sign up for the service right through Stadia.
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Since Google announced that Stadia's first-party development arm, Stadia Games & Entertainment, would be shutting down, there's been a lot of online prognosticating about the platform's imminent death — but Google seems committed to making good on its pledge to keep bringing on third-party titles. Case in point: Square Enix's upcoming RPG-shooter Outriders has launched today, April 1, day-and-date with other platforms.
Life is Strange: True Colors is coming to Stadia in September
Square Enix is showing Stadia some much-needed love
This year hasn't been kind to Stadia, but Google can rest assured at least one major publisher is on its side. Earlier this week, Square Enix brought its hit JRPG Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age to the cloud-streaming platform, and its brand-new RPG-shooter Outriders is set to release next month. Stadia fans can look forward to another major title this fall, as Life is Strange: True Colors plans to go live on September 10th.
FIFA 21 may be an underwhelming entry to the long-standing series, but for those of us who use Stadia, it couldn't be more exciting — it's the first game in EA Sport's football (okay, soccer) franchise to make the jump to Google's game streaming service, hot on the heels of Madden NFL 21. Following the initial announcement in early February, FIFA 21 is finally available on Stadia for $24.59 (£25.19) today.
Google announced earlier this month that it would close Stadia Games & Entertainment, the game studio that was tasked with producing exclusive titles for the Stadia game streaming service. The closure was seemingly a result of Stadia's slow momentum, and now a new report from Bloomberg sheds some light on the topic.
PixelJunk Raiders is a rogue-like adventure arriving exclusively on Google Stadia
Release date is set for March 1st
While Google hasn't secured as many exclusive titles for Stadia as competing platforms, there has been a slow trickle of indie games arriving first on the streaming service. Google today announced another game coming to Stadia before anywhere else: PixelJunk Raiders.
Google's Stadia game streaming platform is still hanging in there, but it still hasn't lived up to some of its original goals. The available library is limited (compared to other platforms), there won't be any first-party games developed by Google, and Stadia's ambitions for 4K gameplay didn't really pan out. Now the company faces a possible class action lawsuit over 4K gaming claims.
Google says over 100 games will join Stadia in 2021, despite first-party studio closure
FIFA 21, some of the Shantae series, and other titles are on the way
Google revealed earlier this month that it would close its own first-party game studio for Stadia, less than a year after forming it (seemingly forgetting that most games take multiple years to complete). The company said it would focus instead on turning Stadia into a turn-key cloud solution for publishers, as well as releasing more third-party games, and now Google has shared more details about the latter plan.
Stadia makes the world creation game Crayta free for everyone to play
Also new games, expansions, and sales this week
You may have seen Little Nightmares II is coming to Stadia Pro tomorrow (February 11), but that's not the only Stadia news for the week. There are several other announcements today, but perhaps the biggest news is that Crayta is going to be free to everybody — no subscription required. Additionally, Pikuniku is now available, Destiny 2 Season of the Chosen and the PAC-MAN Mega Tunnel Battle add-on are here, and there's a sale on several Assassin's Creed and 2K games.
Even Google doesn't want to make games for Stadia anymore
Games industry veteran Jade Raymond is leaving the company
Google has had massive ambitions for its Stadia gaming platform, and the service finished 2020 on a high note, especially after it delivered the most usable version of Cyberpunk 2077. Google has repeatedly stated it's dedicated to Stadia's long-term success, but today the company announced that its internal game studio is shutting its doors.
New Stadia feature will let your friends pick up where you left off in 'playable slices'
State Share availability starts with the Hitman trilogy
Google's Stadia platform has been commonly criticized for not taking advantage of its presence in the cloud more fully. For example, most of the games available on Stadia available on other platforms, even though cloud servers are (theoretically) more versatile than console or PC hardware. Google is now launching a new feature that has mostly only been seen previously with console emulators — sharable game states.