The battle of cloud gaming supremacy is underway as Google Stadia is official now with 22 gaming titles. Back in March this year, Google introduced its game streaming service, Google Stadia, on the Game Developers Conference (GDC) 2019. Gamers across the globe have been waiting for the launch for a long time.Ready to know more? Let’s dive in!
How do Stadia work?
Stadia is a cloud gaming service, where the games you play will run on Google’s cloud server. Thanks to streaming technology. In this case, you can play Stadia games on TV, on smartphones and on computers. You need to buy the game you want to play from Google, then stream it right away.
There are limitations when it comes to devices, meaning Stadia can be accessed only in Google Pixel 3/3a series smartphones, a Chromecast and a smart TV, or a Google Chrome browser in the PC.
What about Internet connection?
Since Stadia is all about streaming, a good Internet connection is required to play. However, Google recommends that you have at least 10Mbps, which enables you to play in 720p at 60 FPS with stereo audio.
At 20 Mbps, things are bumped up to 1080p, HDR, and 5.1 surround sound. In case In the case of 4K, Google recommends having an Internet connection of at least 35Mbps. As per company claims, Google will stream games in 8K at 120FPS, which is as powerful as Xbox One.
Title collections
Moving on to the titles, gamers will have a total of 22 titles to choose from, with more games coming by the end of this year. It’s worth mentioning that gamers can claim both Destiny 2: The Collection and Samurai Shodown as part of the November Stadia Pro subscription. Other titles include:
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
- Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle
- Destiny 2: The Collection
- Farming Simulator 2019
- Final Fantasy XV
- Football Manager 2020
- Grid 2019
- Gylt
- Just Dance 2020
- Kine
- Metro Exodus
- Mortal Kombat 11
- NBA 2K20
- Rage 2
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Samurai Shodown
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
- Thumper
- Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
- Trials Rising
- Wolfenstein: Youngblood
You will have to pay a certain fee to subscribe to each gaming title that you choose. After purchasing a title, it shows up in your Stadia library within a matter of seconds.
As per the company claims, we can expect Borderlands 3, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, Dragon Ball: Xenoverse 2, and Darksiders Genesis will be playable on Stadia over the next six weeks. And in 2020, more games will come to Stadia, including Doom: Eternal, WatchDogs: Legion, Gods & Monsters, and Cyberpunk 2077.
Pricing in UK and EU!
In the UK, Google Stadia Founder’s edition costs around £119, the Stadia Pro costs £8.99, and the controller is priced at £59.00. In Europe, the Founder’s Edition is priced at €129 Stadia Pro at €9.99 and Stadia Controller at €69.
On the other hand, there will be a free version – Stadia Base, but you’ll have to wait until 2020. The Stadia Base offers gameplay at 1080p 60FPS with stereo sound.
Availability in Europe?
At present, Google Stadia will be available in 14 countries, including Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, besides the US and the UK. Notably, the company will roll out the gaming service to other countries in the upcoming months.
Main image credit: Google Stadia
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