On November 19, 2019, Google Stadia will be released. By now, games, prices, and controllers are known, but some remain skeptical before the release. We explain why and look at what our community thinks.
This is Google Stadia: Google Stadia is Google’s new streaming service, which officially launches on November 19, 2019. Instead of installing or downloading games, they are streamed directly to a smartphone or TV screen via the cloud.
Users no longer need fast hardware; rather, “Google lends players high-performance technology” in the form of Google Cloud.
By now, there are many opinions around Stadia and the upcoming release. We have collected arguments from both sides from various forums and present them here.
These problems players see with Google Stadia
There are many critics and skeptics. We now present the most important opinions and thoughts in an organized manner.
No Cross-Play
Games like Destiny 2 will not offer cross-play with other platforms, but will have the cross-save feature. In the official FAQ for Destiny 2, it says “Crossplay will not be available on any platform in 2019.”
Games like Destiny 2 will not offer cross-play with other platforms. You cannot play together with different devices like PC and PS4.
However, Bungie did not want to comment further on whether this feature might come in the future.
Bungie also explained in an interview (via PCGamer) that Destiny 2 on Stadia will be a closed system, and cross-play is probably not possible.
This is criticized: Many users criticize the closed system. For example, Mein-MMO reader Hempelchen says that many users would not leave their existing platforms just for Stadia: “There is a risk that you will often stand alone in the Strike because the critical mass of players is not reached.”
Too few games at launch
Many complain about the limited selection of games. Only 12 games including Destiny 2 were originally planned for launch on Google Stadia. These include strong titles like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Rise of the Tomb Raider, or Red Dead Redemption 2, but many feel the current selection is insufficient.
Mein-MMO reader Luriup says he would not pre-order the Farming Simulator 2019 on Stadia, as he already owns the other games. Rather, “[Stadia] needs a flagship for me, like Rebel Assault was for the CD-ROM drive back in the day.”
Long-awaited titles like Borderlands 3 or Metro Exodus will still be released in 2019 for Google Stadia.
Meanwhile, the starting lineup of games has been increased. Google Stadia now launches with 22 titles instead of 12. This could improve the situation for potential players.
Few games in the Pro subscription
Other users criticize the limited offerings in the Google Stadia Pro subscription. Those who subscribe to Google Stadia Pro get access to a range of free games. However, only one free title is currently known: Destiny 2.
Many gamers expected a Netflix for gamers with Google Stadia, similar to PlayStation Plus or Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass.
Many prefer to buy games physically
Many Europeans especially prefer to buy their games physically. ISFE and Ipsos Mori’s GameTrack conducted a survey (via Gamesindustry) asking players in Spain, the UK, France, and Germany how and where they prefer to buy their games.
They found that about 75% of all AAA titles continue to be sold primarily through Amazon, Gamestop, and other specialty retailers. Only 23% of respondents would buy purely digital titles without a disc or other goodies.
Many wonder whether Google Stadia can really compete in an still strong retail market.
Online-DRM and always online
What happens if Google suddenly shuts down its system? The online magazine Wired points to the shutdown of Microsoft’s ebook store (via Wired.com). People who purchased their books or magazines digitally lost access and can no longer reach them. However, Microsoft fully reimbursed all purchases made in the ebook store.
On Reddit, users like davthom wish that Google Stadia would provide an offline option like Apple Arcade. With a streaming service like the one Google has announced, this is highly unlikely since Google promotes that nothing needs to be downloaded.
No mod support
If you have a game installed on your own hard drive, you usually have no trouble making mods or other changes to your game. However, on Google Stadia, the games are in Google Cloud and are streamed. Many fear that there will not be proper mod support.
The head editor of Eurogamer.de even sees the creativity of players at risk. He writes:
“What I am also worried about is that Stadia threatens the creativity of player communities. A quick glance at the Steam Workshop for Skyrim shows dozens of categories with tens of thousands of entries. (…) And then The Elder Scrolls 7 comes out, and the fans … well, the fans are then sitting there, playing through it, and that’s it.”
Benjamin Jakobs, Senior Editor of Eurogamer.de
Although Google promised to work with developers and the community on mod support, there is no set date for this yet.
Google shuts down unprofitable services
Microsoft is not the only developer shutting down services. On Reddit, user DarknessDragon88 notes that Google is known for shutting down old projects or services when they are not performing well or no longer fit the provider’s portfolio.
“Anything can fail. Google is known for just killing off services, so they may just decide to pull the plug at some point.”
Web developer Naeem Nur from Bahrain thus collects all dead Google projects on his website – which also includes hardware like Chromebooks or Nexus smartphones.
These concerns developers have: Developers also have similar thoughts. Gwen Frey, developer of Kine, explains in an interview with Gamesindustry.biz:
“The biggest concern most developers have with Stadia is that Google might just shut it down. No one claims that ‘it doesn’t work’ or ‘streaming has no future.'”
Gwen Frey, developer of Kine, interview with Gameindustry.biz.
Poor infrastructure, internet, and bad latency
Google describes the system as “negative latency”, addressing latency issues. Google anticipates latency proactively, assuming it exists even when it doesn’t.
How well this will work can only be determined at the launch of Google Stadia.
Thus, TNB from our Mein-MMO community says there will always be input lags; “This cannot be prevented at all, because even Google cannot defy the laws of physics. These are simply technical limitations that are exacerbated through streaming.”
How can I test my internet connection? Those who want to test whether their internet connection is sufficient for Google Stadia can do so on a special page from Google. There, one can see the quality at which they can play.
Buddy Pass and Google Assistant come much later
Google explained in a Q&A on Reddit that the Buddy Pass for friends will only be available several weeks after the launch of Google Stadia.
The promised Google Assistant, which is supposed to help players in-game, will also only be available later. At the launch of Stadia, Google Assistant will only be able to start games.
Google and data protection
Google tracks and collects data about users through various services. With Stadia, the company receives additional opportunities to analyze data or inputs from users that run through their servers.
Not everyone is pleased with this. Mein-MMO reader Frystrike criticizes: “With Stadia, Google gets everything they want… names, addresses, bank details, player profiles, and tons of terms and conditions which grant Google access to everything it can read from the machine you are playing on…”
What players like about Google Stadia
Despite the criticism, many believe in the success of Google’s new streaming platform.
Google establishes its own studio
With the announcement of Google Stadia, Google also founded a studio for Stadia games. Jade Raymond leads the studio. Raymond worked for Ubisoft Toronto and Motive Studios (a subsidiary of EA) and is primarily known for the Assassin’s Creed games. Since 2019, she has been at the forefront of Google’s new game studio.
This certainly shows that Google wants to provide long-term support for Stadia. Exclusive titles have also been a real draw on the Nintendo Switch.
Many developers are excited about Google Stadia
Many developers, including Swen Vincke, head of Larian Studios, are excited about Google Stadia and its possibilities. For Baldur’s Gate 3, he is working closely with Google Stadia and is accordingly impressed by its capabilities. He believes that many gamers cannot yet recognize its potential.
Destiny 2 is also an example of how closely a developer has worked with Google for Stadia. A lot of effort is being invested to ensure players end up with a great experience.
Independence from hardware
Google Stadia only requires a streaming-capable device. Users do not need a high-end PC to play games in high resolution, as Google “lends” players a PC in the form of the cloud. Many hope to avoid having to buy expensive PC hardware in the future.
Mein-MMO reader Peacebob calculates, for example, that if he buys a new graphics card for €250-500 every 3 to 5 years and a new processor every 5 years, he would spend between €500 and €900:
As a PC gamer, this would roughly translate to about €8.33-15 per month to maintain a decent gaming PC.
The €9 monthly fee for Stadia is thus a significantly smaller burden compared to constantly needing to buy a new graphics card or PC every two years.
No binding to an operating system
Google Stadia is intended to work everywhere. You should be able to play with Stadia on smartphones, Windows PCs, and even on Macs or Linux. Therefore, you are not tied to a specific operating system, as is often still the case.
No updates and short loading times
All games streamed via Google Stadia are up to date and do not require updates. Therefore, you do not need to install large updates and can start playing right away. Google promises gamers very short loading times.
Andrey Doronichev, Director of Product for Stadia explains on Reddit: “We offer all basic features at launch – play anywhere, no waiting for downloads or updates, social features, and the store. But not all promised features will be available from day one.”
The target audience is the broad mass, not hardcore gamers
There are proponents who believe that players are setting the wrong expectations for Stadia. Although Stadia initially does not offer many games, titles like Assassins Creed or Destiny 2 offer more than enough content. Reddit user ViveMind notes:
“Seriously, who plays more than 65 hours a month? That’s A LOT of gameplay. If you’re a hardcore gamer, then you’re probably not the target audience for Stadia.”
ViveMind, on Reddit.
Initial tests of Google Stadia
There are already initial complete reviews of Google Stadia. Nils Raettig from GameStar says:
Google Stadia is proving to be, in my experience, the technically best solution for cloud gaming so far. However, it still shows in all respects that it was designed more for the future than for the here and now.
This is particularly evident from the still limited selection of games and the long list of features that are expected to come next year, contributing to this impression. The initial launch phase should be seen more as a beta test that is meant to prepare Google for the release of the free variant Stadia Base. The technical foundation already presents a surprisingly good impression.
(…) The very low latency while playing Destiny 2 with mouse and keyboard, and Mortal Kombat 11 with the gamepad, convinced me in the test. In principle, you can have a lot of fun playing via the cloud.
Read more on GameStar: Google Stadia in Test – Surprisingly direct, but far from perfect
You can find more impressions and scenes in the test video from GameStar:
Editor Dennis Michel of GamePro is optimistic but doubts whether the target audience will bite right away:
Overall, we are very pleased with the launch of the new cloud gaming platform. We did not encounter significant problems with streaming quality or severe latency issues. The Stadia controller feels high-quality and fits well in the hand. The selection of games is also quite impressive.
However, we see the biggest problem in the lack of exclusives, which poses a challenge for the target audience that Google is currently addressing at Stadia’s launch.
Read more on GamePro: Google Stadia in Test – A solid foundation for the future
Do you believe in the success of Google Stadia or are you one of the critics? Let us know in the comments!
