At the GDC, Google presents its new gaming platform Stadia. It aims to connect playing, watching, and developing, and it is likely in competition with the PS4 Pro, Xbox One X, and PC. The release of the platform is planned for 2019.
What can Stadia do? This new platform Stadia is supposed to connect all gaming platforms together. This means that one can both play on Stadia and follow gameplay simultaneously.
To achieve this, Google is utilizing its data centers distributed all over the world. Thus, almost everyone in the world should have access to Stadia.
What is known about Google Stadia
This is how Stadia is accessible: The gaming platform is supposed to be reachable through any channels. This includes browsers, TVs, computers, and mobile devices.
The statement is: “The new generation of gaming is not a box.”
This is how it should work: Phil Harrison, an employee of Google, explains in the presentation that game developers will have access to Google’s data centers and can implement their games on Stadia.
The consumer can then, for example, see a trailer of the game and gain direct access to the game by clicking on a play button.
This should work without downloading the game.
In the presentation at GDC, Google made an example with Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. A YouTube video of the game was shown, and within seconds one could start the game, all thanks to the play button.
There is a controller: In addition to the new gaming platform, there is also a controller. This is supposed to access the desired game via Wi-Fi.
There are major partners: Google is not working alone on its platform. To provide a high resolution, it is working with Epic Games, Unity, Havoc, and Crytek.
Initially, a 4K resolution is planned, but this will be expanded to an 8K resolution through collaboration.
Google establishes its own studio: New generation of games
Own studio: To this end, Google is building its own studio that develops exclusive titles for Stadia.
Here, the head, Jade Raymond, says that they are on the edge of a new era of gaming. Now, with the data centers as the platform, the power is endless.
Before her job at Google, Raymond worked as a producer on titles in the “Assassin’s Creed” series for Ubisoft.
There will be cross-play: You do not have to commit to one platform on Stadia. You can easily switch between, for example, browser and smartphone. This was also demonstrated at the GDC.
Launch of Stadia still in 2019
When will Stadia be released? So far, Google has not announced any launch date. When this is known, we will of course update it.
The launch is expected to occur in 2019: first in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Europe.
This is the idea behind it: Google wants to remove any barriers between playing and watching with its gaming platform, explained Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google.
With the new generation of gaming, battle royales should emerge, in which not just a hundred players play against each other, but thousands.
Is there a catch? Initial critics have already pointed out that Google has not discussed what internet connection is needed to use Stadia. This could turn out to be a critical point.
