What Is Google Stadia? Should You Have One? [Complete Guide]

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Google rolled out a new product, Google Stadia, in late November last year and joined the virtual gaming world.

Since it’s backed by Google, we know a lot of thought went into the release of this new gaming service before they released it to the public.

But what is Google Stadia? How do you use it? Can you still play games with your friends?

We will answer all of those questions and more below all about Google Stadia.

What is Google Stadia?

Google Stadia is actually called Stadia, but most people refer to it as Google Stadia, which is a cloud gaming service.

Since everything is hosted in the cloud, there are no disks and no download wait time.

How Does it Work and What Does it Cost?

If you are a gamer or know a gamer you’ve probably seen a stacked pile of video game cases near the TV at some point in your life along with a headset and possibly a few controllers.

Stadia took the work of inserting a disc out of the steps to enjoying playtime and elevated it to the next level.

Now you can play your games on any screen, at any time, anywhere without any setup. Say goodbye to the days of bulky consoles.

You can access all the games via the cloud, saving you time and offering a mess-free gaming area.

This also means you can play any game on the go. Waiting for your partner to finish shopping? Cue up Destiny 2 to the time will fly by.

Devices Compatible with Stadia

Yes, it’s available to play on mobile phones, but you will have to have the right phone or browser installed.

Stadia is compatible with :

• Google Pixel 2, 3, 3a and 4
• Mac Tablets
• Computer (Laptop or Desktop)
• TV (with Chromecast Ultra)

Quality of Stadia Streaming

Subscribers get access to Stadia in 4K HDR, 60 FPS and 5.1 surround sound as long as you have a reliable internet connection. And like any service, the better the internet connection, the better the experience.

You can play Stadia with 4G LTE, but if you do not have an unlimited data plan we do not recommend it because it does suck up a lot of bandwidth.

Note, Chrome play isn’t equipped with 4K or surround sound, but you can still play your game while you are waiting for your partner to finish their errands, so we still think it’s a win-win as long as you have internet or good cell service.

How Much Does it Cost?

Right now Stadia comes as a bundle and costs $129. Your subscription comes with a white controller, Chromecast Pro and 3 months of Stadia Pro.

You can add on additional controllers for $69 in black, wasabi (sea foam color) or black.

Once your 3-month membership is up it costs $9.99 per month to continue gaming. You will have access to a large (and growing) number of free games as well as a discount on games to purchase like expansion packs and other add-ons.

Stadia will be rolling out another subscription model in 2020 called Stadia Base. This subscription will offer streaming in 1080P, 60FPS and stereo sound, which is different from their pro membership right now. In addition to the streaming quality, this subscription will require you to purchase all games. The price has not been announced yet for this upcoming subscriber rollout.

Where Can I Play It?

Stadia is available in 13 different countries as long as you have a solid WiFi connection.

Right now, Stadia is available in:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• Sweden
• Spain
• Norway
• Netherlands
• Italy
• Ireland
• Germany
• France
• Denmark
• Canada
• Belgium

Stadia will NOT be available in:

• Guam
• Hawaii

What Games are Available?

Google Stadia has plenty of games to choose from, despite being new to the market.

From fighting to racing and classics to expansions, Stadia covers a wide range of game play.

Games Available Now:

• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
• Attack on Titan2: Final Battle
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Borderlands 3
• Cyberpunk 2007
• Darksiders Genesis
• Destiny 2: The Collection
• Destroy All Humans!
• DOOM and DOOM Eternal
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
• Farming Simulator 19
• Final Fantasy XV
• Football Manager 2020
• Get Packed
• Ghost Recon Breakpoint
• God & Monsters
• GRID
• GYLT
• Just Dance 2020
• Kine
• Marvel’s Avengers
• Metro Exodus
• Mortal Kombat 11
• NBA 2K20
• Orcs Must Die! 3
• Rage 2
• Red Dead Redemption 2
• Rise of the Tomb Raider: 20 Year Celebration
• Samurai Showdown
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
• Supercross 3
• SUPERHOT
• The Crew2
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• Thumper
• Tom Clancy’s Division 2
• Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
• Trails Rising
• Watch Dogs Legion
• Windjammers 2
• Wolfenstein: Young Blood

Games on Deck:

Google announced on January 16, 2020, that they plan to release 120 games this year.

They plan to release at least 10 Stadia exclusive games within the first half of the year and also brought on Typhoon Studios to the Stadia family.

There are big plans for 2020 in the world of Stadia. Gamers be on the lookout!

Stadia Controller Compatibility

Good news, you don’t need the Google Stadia controller to be able to play all of your games on all devices. The TV, however, does require the Stadia controller.

Here is a breakdown of what controllers sync with Stadia on your computer or phone.

In addition to controllers syncing with Stadia, you can also set up a mouse and keyboard if that is more your jam.

Google does suggest if you want the full experience to use the controller made specifically for Stadia. The google controller is similar to Sony’s Dualshock 4 controller with its dual joystick, face button, D-pad and overall layout. But, the Stadia also has two more buttons for you to utilize Google Assistant.

Initial Feedback

The early reviews on the market for Stadia concluded that Google might not have been fully ready to release this new gaming product.

But, when it works, it’s amazing! The only downfall is when it doesn’t work, it’s worthless. Basically, if you have a solid and steady internet connection this gaming device is top-notch. But, if your internet is slow or inconsistent, Stadia might not be worth your money.

The feedback around Stadia syncing with Youtube and gameplay seems to be unmatched. Google has made it incredibly easy to record and share your gaming moments for others to see.

Another huge advantage is gamers can pop into games very easily if they are following along to someone’s live stream. Jumping in as a player or demo has never been easy with the Stadia and YouTube integration.

All you have to do is click a dedicated button on your controller and you can share, play or get help from a tutorial via gameplay.

All in all we think Google’s release of Stadia is visionary and elevates gaming to the next level. But, with any new tech on the market, they still have some kinks to work out.

If you are an avid gamer we recommend you keep your old systems, but maybe give Stadia later in 2020. If you are curious about the new system and want to try its on-the-go features, give it a shot. The price point won’t set you back as much as other systems.

Either way, the future of gaming is changing are we think it’s pretty exciting.