In the weeks leading up to GDC 2019, there were rumors Google would announce a gaming console of some sort that would allow users to stream games online. Today, the tech giant announced Stadia, a cloud gaming service which is not only for gamers but also for those who like to watch others play and also those who build games.
Stadia is a cloud gaming service that doesn’t require you to purchase new hardware. All you need is the hardware you already have such as tablets and phones (Pixel), Chromecast-enabled TV, or the Chrome browser on your PC (laptop or desktop). You also don’t need to download the game you wish to play.
At the event, Google demonstrated how Stadia works using a variety of devices including a desktop PC with basic specs. Not only did the games play seamlessly on all of these devices, but you can also start playing on one device and switch to another.
Stadia works with your existing controllers. It will even work with your keyboard or mouse. Or you could just purchase Google’s own Stadia Controller which doesn’t look very different from the controllers you are used to, though it does have some unique features of its own.
The Stadia Controller connects via Wi-Fi which should make switching from one device to the other easier. It has the usual XYAB action buttons, dual joysticks, D-pad, and shoulder buttons. It also has a Google Assistant button and a capture button that allows you live-stream your game to YouTube. The controller will come in three colors but Google didn’t reveal its price.
You might be wondering how Stadia will be able to run the games on its platform. All the work is handled by Google’s data centers which pack a lot of power. Google shared the specs of the data centers and the GPU is much more powerful than that of the Xbox One X and the PS4 Pro. Stadia will be able to stream at 1080p and 4K at 60fps when it launches but in the future, it will also support streaming in 8K and at up to 120fps. It will also support cross-platform play.
Stadia isn’t just for gamers but also for game developers. There are tools available for developers that will make it easy for developers to bring their design styles to games made for the platform. All developers have to do is drop an image with the preferred style and a machine learning tool applies the style all through.
There is also State Share for YouTube creators which allows them to share exact links to specifc parts of a game. Players will be able to call up the Google Assistant to get walkthroughs for games other players have completed. There is also a feature called Crowd Play which will let you play multiplayer games against your favorite content creators.
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Google will create its own game studio which is called Stadia Games and Entertainment and will also partner with others to develop content for the platform. Stadia will launch later this year first in the US, and then Canada, UK, and Europe. More details will be revealed at Google I/O in May.
