Google is set to shake up the gaming world like never before this year when it launches its game streaming Stadia platform into the world. It's doing things like they've been done before, only bigger, so this time maybe it won't fail like OnLike and Gaikai before it. Maybe it can truly offer the universal game playing experience that so many companies have promised before and never delivered.
Google hasn't told us much about Stadia to date, beyond a few broad details. But now we have a much greater insight into the game streaming service than ever before, thanks to a new AMA held by Stadia’s director of product Andey Doronichev. Here's the AMA in full, but let's take a look at some of the more intriguing details he let slip.
You're going to have to buy games
Dornichev confirmed that Stadia Pro, the $10 a month subscription version of Stadia, will still require you to buy a number of games. It won't be like Netflix, he said, but will give you access to a select pool of free games. It will increase by around one game per month and will start with Destiny 2, but that any other games you want to stream will require a purchase.
The Free version isn't coming until 2020
At launch this November, Stadia will only offer the pro tier. That means you'll need to pay the $10 a month free, and the full $130 if you want The Founders Edition which comes with a controller and three months free, as well as a few other perks. The free version will debut at some point in 2020, but Doronichev wasn't clear on when that would be.
Wireless audio won't work right at launch
If you're using a laptop or smartphone, you can use your own wireless headphones no problem. However, if you're using the Stadia controller of a Google Chromecast to play games through, you'll have to use a wired connection, as at launch the controller's Bluetooth functionality won't work exactly as intended.
If Stadia fails, you'll get to keep your games
Google is committed to making Stadia work, but if it doesn't, for whatever reason, Google has promised that any games people have bought will be downloadable and verified for that person's continued usage. Not only that, but saves, customizations, and any DLC, will also be linked to players and able to be downloaded. It's not clear how that would work, but Doronichev was pretty clear that they'd do everything they could to make it happen.
That's about it for this AMA. What other questions would you have liked to have had answered?
