San Francisco, US, March 19, 2019 — As part of the Game Developers Conference (GDC) Google has now introduced its gaming platform publicly. The Google Stadia will focus on cloud-gaming and represents an early step of moving the gaming experience away from hardware-intensive platforms such as the Xbox One or PlayStation 4.
The gaming industry is a huge one but it does not see platform-level news every day. Milestones happen only every couple of years. Moves of the big players such as Nintendo, Microsoft, and Sony, have become predictable in a way. That’s why it’s significant news to hear that a huge company such as Google has introduced their intent to get a piece of the pie.
We have argued and predicted that gaming platforms could transform into a web-based model, but we did not see Google introducing their solution in 2019. So what is Google Stadia really about? What do we know?
What is Google Stadia about?
The term “stadia” is a variant of the plural form of “stadium”. Google positions the Google Stadia solution in the middle of people who like to play games and people who like to watch streamers play on platforms such as Twitch, Mixer, or Google’s own service, YouTube Gaming. You watch someone play a cool game such as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, hit the “play now” button and without delay, you’ll be able to play the game yourself.
The solution will require a “highspeed” Internet connection which is not defined in facts or figures. Google aims to provide you a gaming experience in 4K resolution with 60 frames per second, no matter if you’re only watching or playing yourself – on “virtually any screen” including tablets and smartphones. They also want to offer this service for AAA games and it’s not intended to be for Google-Only games that are developed specifically for this platform.
The Stadia controller looks a bit as if a PS4 and an Xbox One controller had a baby. It’s curved handle design also reminds a little bit of toys from another kind of industry. That being said, it’s a controller you won’t need much time getting used to. It’s not much unlike the controllers that you already know. It connects through Wi-Fi but as of now, it is unclear how the actual “console” would look like or if it is merely a Chromecast-esque video streaming dongle that connects to the controller.
What we don’t know
To us, it is currently unknown when the Google Stadia will arrive and in what regions it will be available. We don’t know if there will be a price to it or if it will be a subscription model that has to be monthly paid for. We don’t know how the console will look like or if it will be a console at all. To be updated and to get their newsletter, you can register with your email address at their product website.
YouTube: Introducing Stadia from Google
Photo credit: All material shown is owned by Google.
Source: Phil Harrison, Vice President, and GM, Google Stadia (The Keyword)
