Google launched Stadia streaming service - modern games work even on phones 🎮

Journalists are impressed by the technology, but the launch itself turned into a failure

What Google promised

On November 19, Google launched one of its most ambitious and important products - Stadia streaming service, first presented at a game conference in March 2019. The service allows you to launch games with high system requirements on phones, tablets, computers and TVs from the clouds. All calculations are made on Google servers, only a picture is transmitted to the devices. Accordingly, Stadia users do not need to download and install anything. In Stadia, the game can be started to be held on the phone, and then switch to the TV and continue from the same place. Just as it works with TV shows and films on Netflix.

At the presentation, Google promised that users will be able to instantly get into the game directly from the trailer on YouTube - that is, start from the same moment that was shown in the commercial. Then the company said other opportunities. For example, support for a voice assistant who will give tips to players who do not understand how to advance further.

How does this work

Google described the Stadia as a game platform, which, unlike the PS4 and Xbox One consoles, does not need a physical device and a place under the TV. But now the service is available only in the Premiere Edition version for $ 130. It includes:

• corporate gamepad;
• adapter for the Chromecast Ultra TV;
• Three months of the so-called PRO subscription to the service (provides access to streaming and a set of free games).

Pro-subscription to the service after three months received when buying Premiere Edition will cost $ 10 a month. At the same time, games need to be purchased separately - they cost from 20 to 60 dollars, that is, as on consoles. In the same Netflix, the subscription provides access to series and films without restrictions, you do not need to pay extra for content. In fact, Google released Stadia into the so -called early access. Now this is a product for those who are not tolerated to experience experimental technology. Nevertheless, this is still cheaper than buying a new powerful video card, home console or gaming computer.

What right now you need to play on TV via Stadia:

• Google account;
• pre -order Stadia or purchased Premiere Edition (or Stadia controller and invitation from a friend);
• STADIA mobile application for iOS and Android, through which the service is managed;
• Gampad Stadia and Chromecast Ultra (if you do not buy Premiere Edition);
• Fast Internet, from 10 megabits per second - the faster, the better.

On computers, in addition to the Google account, a mobile application and access to the service at the invitation of a friend or with a paid subscription, you will need a Google Chrome browser. It is in it that Stadia works. Instead of a corporate gamepad, you can use your own mouse and keyboard, as well as gamepads for PS4 and Xbox One - or any other supported by the service. In addition, now Stadia only works on Google Pixel phones through a mobile application. Although some claim that they managed to launch the service on other phones through the Google Chrome browser. Phones are attached to the controller and serve as a small screen.

Wired journalist calls the real date of launching the service February 2020. According to his assumption, only in February, Stadia will approach the product that the company showed at the conference. Then a free version of the subscription will appear - users will not need to immediately give $ 130. Games in it will go in a resolution of 1080p and at 60 frames per second.

A paid pro-version will allow you to play the same games with 60 frames per second and in 4K resolution using HDR technology. And also paying users will have volume sound support in 5.1 format. Pro subscribers also get discounts and access to a free set of games. Therefore, journalists advise not to rush or buy an expensive version of Premiere Edition, but to wait for February next year.

That's why Stadia is praised

The Verge journalist calls Stadia the best streaming service for games from all that he experienced. The analyst of Eurogamer, the leading blog, agrees with him on the technical side of the Digital Foundry games. He considers technology and service “impressive”. The journalist was struck that Stadia, albeit with reservations, copes with the basic needs of players without any problems. According to him, for only the developing culture of playing games, this is a real achievement.

Games running in Stadia look beautiful, although observers claim that the difference is compared to games launched on consoles or computers is still noticeable. In the Google service, the picture is more “soapy”, as if you watch YouTube in very high quality - this is written off on the effect of striming the video. But many are quickly used to it. At the same time, Digital Foundry notes that the games look best on small telephone screens. Moreover, the switch between the platforms was made as smooth and painless as possible.

The Verge journalist also praised the service for the fact that in Stadia games work relatively smoothly and at the Internet speed of 10-15 megabits per second, even if they are dynamic. However, for complete comfort, you still need to correctly configure the router.

The most important thing: in Stadia, levels are loaded much faster than on consoles or computers. In the case of the Destiny 2 online player, loads in the Google service are several times faster compared to the most powerful market on the market-the Xbox One X from Microsoft. On Stadia, the load lasts about 23 seconds, and on the Xbox One X - as many as 116 seconds. According to Digital Foundry, the same Shadow of the Tomb Raider almost surpasses the version for the Xbox One X, from the frequency of personnel to resolution, it is very comfortable to play.

It is no less important that you have to download the game on home consoles, and in some cases also installed. For example, Red Dead Redemption 2 on Xbox One X weighs 117 gigabytes. On Stadia, you just need to start the game - and that’s it.

But why Stadia is criticized

But many journalists still remained unhappy:

• Now only 22 games are available (among them Assassinʼs Creed Odyssey, Red Dead Redemption 2, Final Fantasy XV and others);
• Journalists complain of a significant delay between clicking on the buttons and the response of the game - this is especially critical in shooters and inchings;
• There are no things that are familiar to players like a system of achievements, a list of friends, family access;
• The platform interface is very, very raw - for example, streaming quality settings were hidden in a mobile application;
• There are many functions declared at the presentation (that is, you can’t go from trailer to the game);
• on iPhones not yet officially played;
• Now Stadia works in only 14 countries, which is very small (Russia is not included in this list).

With the games themselves, too, not everything is so unambiguous. Despite the stable 60 frames per second, Destiny 2 operates in a 1080p resolution, which is artificially stretched to 4K. This is not quite what they promised in the advertising of the service. Destiny 2 developers said the version of their shooter for Stadia is comparable to the average graphics settings on ordinary personal computers. Ultimately, according to Digital Foundry, the version for the Xbox One X still looks more beautiful than for Stadia.

The Verge calls the start of Stadia "Absolute Barde". The publication notes: Google stated that Stadia is "this is not a box." In fact, users who pre -order received an access code for the service a couple of days after they received boxes with the controller and Chromecast Ultra. That is, they could not play on the day of starting the service. Buyers of the Premiere Edition version will only receive their orders only next week. And this is not to mention reports on Reddit with complaints that their Chromecast adapters overheat when playing Stadia on a TV.

In general, journalists and players converge in one: Stadia really looks promising, these are really technologies of the future. But right now everything is too damp - and access to the service is too expensive.

Maxim Ivanov