Google Stadia: Industry Impact, Pricing, Specs, and Everything You Need to Know
It was gaming consoles that, in a sense, helped give birth to the gaming industry. You had the first gaming console ever released back in 1972 – the Magnavox Odyssey. Following this, you had other gaming milestones like the Fairchild Channel F, the very first gaming console to be equipped with a dedicated microprocessor! This allowed it to offer features like human vs computer gameplay and game pausing that had never been seen before at the time. It would also be the first console to allow the use of external cartridges as opposed to hard-programmed games.
After the Fairchild Channel F, a hailstorm of popular gaming consoles were released. Some of the most notable ones included the iconic Atari 2600, the Nintendo Entertainment System, and the Sega Genesis. Nintendo and Sega continued to dominate the market with devices such as the Sega Mega Drive II, the Super Nintendo and the Nintendo 64. Sony also entered the playing field with the Playstation, as did Microsoft with the Xbox. Simultaneously, PC gaming also began to trend and before we knew it, the gaming universe turned into a vast and dynamic landscape. In 2019, gaming platforms are abundant. You can play games on a console, your pc, your tablet, your phone, and now over the cloud!
Many of us have been fortunate enough to witness and experience firsthand, the evolution gaming from its early console centered beginnings to what it is today.
Big Changes in a Billion Dollar Industry
Currently, the gaming industry is a multibillion-dollar mammoth that banked an estimated USD 138.7 billion in the previous year according to sources and is estimated to grow steadily in the years to come. As stated by an article published by the Business Insider, companies like Apple and Google are doing their bit to cash into this massive market which is supported by a staggering two billion or more gamers. When it comes to cloud-based gaming services, Google Stadia is certainly drawing a lot of attention!
What is a Cloud-based Gaming Service?
If you’re someone from the gaming community or otherwise who is unfamiliar with the term cloud-based gaming service, allow us to elaborate. In order to understand what a cloud-based gaming service is, you need to understand cloud gaming. Simply put, cloud gaming is playing games that are stored on remote hard drives. The benefit of this, is that you don’t even require a fraction of the processor power that you would if you were, say, downloading a game of the same size and specs onto your system.
With advanced remote processors delivering and streaming gameplay experiences over the internet to desired consoles and devices, could gaming is most certainly a dominant part of the industry.
Cloud gaming services are simply those that allow you to access numerous games over the cloud under one umbrella or account.
What exactly is Google Stadia?
From what we know so far, Google Stadia is a state of the art cloud gaming service or game streaming platform that offers users access to a variety of popular video games with the health of the latest in streaming technology. But what exactly sets Google Stadia apart from any other game streaming platform? When is it due to be released? What is it going to cost, and what features should gamers look forward to? Let’s find out!
Where And When is Google Stadia Coming Out?
When making its initial announcement, Google did not mention the exact Google Stadia release date as well as other important information. According to sources, the Google Stadia release date was announced during the company’s October 15th event and set for the 19th of November 2019.
That’s right folks! Google stadia is due to be deployed in 14 regions which include:
- Belgium,
- Canada,
- Denmark,
- Finland,
- France,
- Germany,
- Ireland,
- Italy,
- Netherlands,
- Norway,
- Spain
- Sweden
- UK
- US
This said Google does intend to follow on by expanding the list of territories where Google Stadia can be accessed.
What is 4K Gaming?
4K gaming simply refers to the quality of pixelage associated with image quality for games played. 4K games offer the best visual resolution available on the market today.
What Games Can I Play on Google Stadia?
Another crucial piece of information Google had left out earlier was that of which games users would be able to play on Google Stadia. A Reuters report from earlier in the year already informed us that Google would be working with about twenty-one different game publishes to help develop over 30 games to be run on their servers.
We now know exactly what many of those games are and we’re pretty exciting. Among the most mentionable games that will be available on Google Stadia are:
- Windjammers 2
- Watch Dogs Legion
- Tomb Raider Definitive Edition
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- Samurai Shodown
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- NBA 2K20
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Marvel’s Avengers
- Final Fantasy XV
- Doom Eternal
- Destroy All Humans
- Darksiders Genesis
- Cyberpunk 2077
- Baldur’s Gate 3
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
Apart from these, other titles include games like Kine; an out of the box puzzle game, Thumper; a music-based rhythm game and Farming Simulator 19; a game counted among the best farming simulators available.
Can I Run Google Stadia?
As we mentioned earlier, Google Stadia will be compatible with a number of devices which include PCs, tablets, laptops, and some phone types for now. One of the only known prerequisites to be able to run Google Stadia is a strong Wi-Fi-connection. Remember, Google Stadia will not run on mobile internet connections unless you’re using 5G or a regular Wi-Fi connection. By way of connection specs here’s how we’re guessing it will go:
- Connections of 30Mbps or more will receive 4K streaming at 60fps
- Connections of between 29 and 25Mbps will receive 1080p streaming at 60fps
- Connections of 35Mpbs and above recommended for optimal streaming
When it comes to required Google Stadia hardware specs, if your computer can run the latest version of the Google Chrome browser, you should be okay.
On the other hand, if you’re looking for Google Stadia hardware specs on the Google server end, here is what we know so far:
- CPU Specs: Custom-2.7GHz, hyper-threaded x-86 CPU, including 9.5MB L2+L3 Cache and AVX2-SMD.
- GPU Specs: Custom AMD-type GPU containing HBM2-memory, as well as 56 compute-units with 10.7 teraflop capabilities.
- Ram Specs: 16GB RAM offering performance reaching 484GB/s.
- Additional Specs: SSD-type cloud storage, download minimum of 10Mbps, upload minimum of 1Mbps
Controller Questions
People also seem to be a little confused about how Google Stadia will work as the service does not involve the use of a dedicated Stadia console. The Google Company has however deployed a Google Stadia controller! So what’s all this about? Let’s answer some commonly asked questions.
Is Google Stadia Just a Controller?
No, it isn’t. As we have already mentioned, Google Stadia is a cloud-based gaming service. If you had to give Google stadia a physical shape or location, it would probably be the mainframes and servers located at Google’s designated facilities! The controller is simply a tool.
Do You Need the Google Stadia Controller?
Accessing google stadia involves subscribing to the service. Purchasing the Google Stadia controller alone does not give you access to the service. At the same time, if you have subscribed for the Google Stadia service, owning the Google Stadia Controller may be helpful as it will allow better and more direct streaming access between yourself and the Google servers.
What Does the Google Stadia Controller Look Like?
One source describes the Google Stadia controller as something that resembles a mix between the control device for the Xbox 1 and that used for the PS-4 (the Dual-Shock 4). The controller that works much like a dedicated Netflix remote also allows for voice control and activation functions, which if you ask us is pretty cool!
What Controllers work with Stadia?
You can use several different controller options to use with Google Stadia if you’re not keen on purchasing the dedicated model. Some of the Google Stadia compatible controller options include:
- Dual-Shock 4
- Standard Xbox 1 Type Controller
- Logitech F310 – USB Controller
- Steel Series Stratus Duo – Bluetooth Controller
Apart from these, there may also be other controllers that are Google Stadia compatible however the ones above are your best bet.
How much will Google Stadia Cost?
Of course, Google Stadia pricing is a point of concern for potential users and gamers. When it comes to Google Stadia Pricing, there could be two ways to look at it. Google Stadia Pricing without investing in the dedicated controller would basically be your monthly subscription costs.
A CNBC report referred to Google Stadia as the “Netflix for Games”. The same report also elaborates on pricing, stating that Google Stadia will be accessible at a basic monthly subscription rate of USD 9.99 per. On the other hand, those looking to buy the dedicated controller will need to put aside the sum of USD 69 for the same. Apart from this, Google is also offering users packages which include a subscription as well as a Comcast, valued at about USD 129.99.
Our Two Cents
There you have it folks! The ins and outs of Google Stadia, info on pricing, available games and about everything you might have wanted to know. The way we see it, Google Stadia is cheaper than Netflix, probably more feasible than investing in a gaming console and games and allows you access to a decent variety of gaming options.
Google Stadia also promises the kind of high-level gameplay that would otherwise require you to build quite a heavy system, and again spend a whole lot of money. Between price, access and gaming abilities, we feel subscribing to Google Stadia is probably worth it! We’ll be back with more updates relating to Google Stadia closer to the final release. Till next time folks!
