Google Stadia

[jonno_c]

Is it going to be a console killer??!

Looks like they are going after Twitch as well with a live stream button to YouTube.

BBC News - Google reveals gaming platform Stadia

Google reveals gaming platform Stadia

The new digital platform will stream games over the internet at console-like quality, the company said.

www.bbc.co.uk

Potential 2019 UK launch as well, so it will be one to watch.

 

[Darren S]

Nope. Not for the next several years at least. We can’t (as a society) support 4K streaming for all programs through TV, let alone games - and hardware vendors are already pushing 8K.

That said, if it was to ever gain traction, it would require the likes of Google’s might behind it.

It will gain favour with the console players far more than the PC camp, too. Personally, I’d much prefer to own a box that I’ve got direct control over - than some subscription fee that dictates my game library via Google.

 

[Ay Ay Ron]

Seen a bit earlier on this. They say it'll be more powerful than the ps4 pro and Xbox 1x(?) Combined.

You'll have to have wired connection for this I think, well, I would anyway and even then I think it'd struggle with the BT Hub ?

Sounds a good idea, all depends how much the subscription service would cost. Could see the console being close to a grand.

 

[SharkyUK]

The demonstration I saw looked pretty good and worked really well. Lag wasn't too bad and actually on a par with playing an Xbox One X in terms of lag between controller input and on-screen reaction. I think that was a 400Mbps connection though...

 

[Darren S]

Worse...... you just know that somehow, someway, they will find a way to push Android onto you through it. ?

 

[Gally]

We ordered the founder edition the other day, quite excited to see what it can bring. Didn't want to invest in an Xbox just now with next gen coming next year.

Let's see what Google can do. Just hoping the likes of COD etc can end up on there and make it a proper console competitor.

 

[Cookie]

We ordered the founder edition the other day, quite excited to see what it can bring. Didn't want to invest in an Xbox just now with next gen coming next year.

Let's see what Google can do. Just hoping the likes of COD etc can end up on there and make it a proper console competitor.

How much have you wasted on it?

 

[Gally]

It's like a hundred odd quid. Free subscription for 3 months odd also. Quite a few perks.

 

[Matt Cup]

This seems to be getting pretty poor reviews just before it’s launch. Internet requirements being one of the main focal points.

 

[iain187]

I heard that it was being reviewed well but i can't imagine youtube was a success on day 1 either.

I want to get football manager on it as it is probably more suited but i think I'll do it next year

 

[Clart]

Not entirely sure how this will pan out. How it will be for normal users with a 30mb connection i've no idea. I'll stick to the xbox thanks

 

[The Psychedelic Socialist]

Don't really get this tbh.

So I don't have to spend £200 on a console, but I do still have to buy the Google hardware (chromecast & controller) and I still have to pay for games, but now the quality of the game is dependant on my internet connection.

Other than saving a small amount of money initially on hardware, how is this better for me than just buying a console?

 

[Rojer]

Stadia is a joke, launching with 22 s**t games, lots of the features promised missing etc. I can't see this lasting long without a lot more development.

 

[iain187]

Don't really get this tbh.

So I don't have to spend £200 on a console, but I do still have to buy the Google hardware (chromecast & controller) and I still have to pay for games, but now the quality of the game is dependant on my internet connection.

Other than saving a small amount of money initially on hardware, how is this better for me than just buying a console?

you used to buy DVD player and DVDs but now you just have a netflix subscription... it's the natural progression from a technology perspective once they sort all the issues / broadband infrastructure catches up with it.

I read somewhere someone played 2.5 hours of 4k gaming each day over 5 days (I think) and it ate 40gb of data haha

 

[The Psychedelic Socialist]

you used to buy DVD player and DVDs but now you just have a netflix subscription... it's the natural progression from a technology perspective once they sort all the issues / broadband infrastructure catches up with it.

I read somewhere someone played 2.5 hours of 4k gaming each day over 5 days (I think) and it ate 40gb of data haha

Yeah I can see that ultimately it's where we'll end up, but it still feels too soon.

Also, if I have Netflix, I don't have to pay extra to watch a specific film or show. With Stadia, I'm likely looking at a monthly subscription plus the cost to buy a game.

 

[Rojer]

And if the service goes away you have lost access to the game!

 

[Matt Cup]

And if the service goes away you have lost access to the game!

This would be my biggest concern as you cannot even download the game and store it locally.

I’ll be sticking to physical copies of games until they stop producing them.

 

[Darren S]

This would be my biggest concern as you cannot even download the game and store it locally.

I’ll be sticking to physical copies of games until they stop producing them.

I'd also question the necessity of games that are single player only (or predominately) to be totally reliant on streaming? On the rare occasion that the internet connection has gone down - you've at least got something else to have a dabble with in the meantime. And if I actually think about it - the majority of games I play with the exception of Warframe are single player anyway.

One of the main benefits of being offline/single player is zero lag. You're introducing that risk with streaming services. I think as @cs_rich says above, it just feels a bit premature. Almost like we're considering blu-ray tech when we're still messing around with VHS and BetaMax.

 

[Cookie]

Yeah I can see that ultimately it's where we'll end up, but it still feels too soon.

Also, if I have Netflix, I don't have to pay extra to watch a specific film or show. With Stadia, I'm likely looking at a monthly subscription plus the cost to buy a game.

Yep

I think Microsoft will destroy Google when xCloud launches properly.. if they bundle it with Game Pass

 

[Rojer]

Problems with Stadia

* Users who pre-ordered didn't receive their access codes on release day, others didn't receive the Chrome Cast Ultra either.
* Reports of phone holder damaging the Stadia controller
* You pay for a subscription and then you have to pay full price for the games on top
* Launch titles are old, outdated and over priced. You can get the games a lot cheaper elsewhere.
* Only 22 games on launch, not enough.
* If Google pulls out, you have lost access to the games
* Latency and image quality, to achieve 4K Google is up-scaling a 1080p image, by the time it's compressed and streamed you basically get a 1080p image back. User's experiencing all sorts of stuttering and artifacts when playing, even when their connection surpasses Google's recommendations.

For me it's a big no, the only way they could survive is change the model to one similar to Netflix, you pay a subscription and have access to a library of games.

 

[N0ddie]

It definitely looks like it has been a total mess at launch. I recommend you watch the Gamers Nexus YouTube video on it.

In the meantime. Has anyone tried Xbox's X-Cloud streaming beta? I've been playing for the last couple of days and am very impressed.

 

[Gouldy]

I've been keeping an eye on stadia as I was tempted to try it at one point. Thankfully, I didn't buy one.

Its bombed, catastrophically.

So many faults to list on this one. Watch the youtube video I've linked, that explains most of them. I've never seen a console bomb so badly so soon after launch.

What sort of console manufacturer designs a controller around gender neutrality vs mechanical engineering and quality?! So stupid on so many levels.

 

[N0ddie]

I've been keeping an eye on stadia as I was tempted to try it at one point. Thankfully, I didn't buy one.

Its bombed, catastrophically.

So many faults to list on this one. Watch the youtube video I've linked, that explains most of them. I've never seen a console bomb so badly so soon after launch.

What sort of console manufacturer designs a controller around gender neutrality vs mechanical engineering and quality?! So stupid on so many levels.

That dude sums it up nicely. A rip roaring disaster

 

[Darren S]

I've been keeping an eye on stadia as I was tempted to try it at one point. Thankfully, I didn't buy one.

Its bombed, catastrophically.

So many faults to list on this one. Watch the youtube video I've linked, that explains most of them. I've never seen a console bomb so badly so soon after launch.

What sort of console manufacturer designs a controller around gender neutrality vs mechanical engineering and quality?! So stupid on so many levels.

Probably because they were trying to be all 2019 about it and making a 'they' or a 'them' controller. After all, we've heard of the thousands of female gamers that are up in arms about the blatant masculinity and phallic representations of the standard XBox and PlayStation controllers, haven't we?

Said no one.

Ever.

 

[Cookie]

Google is shutting down Stadia

Google’s cloud gaming service launched three years ago.

www.theverge.com

Officially dead

 

[Clart]

Was fairly obviously it wasn’t going to work. Hope they fired whoever had that idea

 

[Gally]

I enjoyed it for a long period before game pass and X cloud came around heavy.

 

[Chocice]

They are going to refund everyone who bought anything stadia related including games without the need to send anything back to them which is crazy. I bought a few controllers and a couple of games I never play so I’m very happy with that news.

 

[Jonnio]

Even those controller/chromecast packs? 🤔

 

[danward]

Even those controller/chromecast packs? 🤔

I still have one of these unopened!

 

[Chocice]

As long as it was bought through Google store you will get the refund automatically according to the email I received

 

[MLB]

Yep got the same email just minutes ago. Be good to get a refund on the controller and chrome cast, didn't work at all for me.

 

[Chocice]

I spent probably £150+ on kit and games over the years and dot use any of it anymore

 

[jonno_c]

That's pretty decent of them refunding every purchase. Shows how much money they have kicking about, hence the reason they entered this market!

 

[Chocice]

Must be a lot of money in user data, I can’t see them refunding people if they made a loss

 

[Darren S]

It's a good idea - just too ahead for its time.

Maybe in the next decade, Amazon Prime Gaming will try something similar - but I think it needs to support more generic rather than proprietary hardware. Literally, a Smart TV with app installed + mainstream controller + internet connection.

The upstream requirements and endpoint processing will be the difficulties. All streaming TV is 95% one way - a pushed out service that is received by the (largely) non-interactive viewer. With gaming - having to retrieve player inputs, process them and respond onscreen in a consistent and smooth manner is a considerable step-up in the tech requirements.

 

[Daz...]

I don’t have one of these but saw this and thought someone might find it useful.

Stadia Bluetooth mode

Switch your Stadia Controller to Bluetooth mode to keep gaming wirelessly on your favourite devices and services after Stadia shuts down

stadia.google.com

 

[Gally]

Very good idea, I actually bought an xbox controller a year or so ago for the ipad as I couldn't use the stadia one. I have 2 of them so happy days!

 

[Donny_Dog]

The controller is decent.
Nice one.

 

[Cookie]

You only have til the end of this year to do the controller update