Google Stadia Game Streaming Lands In November At $10/Month, Founder's Edition Bundle Announced
Google is on hand at E3 2019, and as promised, it is giving up all those important details we wanted to know about its Stadia game streaming service. Stadia faces serious competition in the game streaming market, and it may not be exactly what gamers were thinking it was going to be. If you were expecting the Netflix of games, that's not exactly what Stadia is, and it's not being labeled s a subscription service.
Stadia will launch this November and will require the purchase of hardware, with the "Founder's Edition" selling for $130 including three months of premium service. The service will cost $10 per month after that (there will be a free tier coming in 2020). Stadia does intend to offer gamers a back catalog of free games included with the monthly fee in the future.
The following games have been announced so far:
- DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2
- DOOM Eternal
- Wolfenstein: Youngblood
- Destiny 2
- Power Rangers: Battle For The Grid
- Baldur's Gate 3
- Metro Exodus
- Thumper
- GRID
- SAMURAI SHODOWN
- Football Manager 2020
- Get Packed
- The Elder Scrolls Online
- The Crew 2
- The Division 2
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey
- Ghost Recon Breakpoint
- Trials Rising
- NBA 2K
- Borderlands 3
- Farming Simulator 19
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Rage 2
- FINAL FANTASY XV
- Gylt
- Tomb Raider Trilogy
- Darksiders Genesis
- Just Dance 2020
There are several game studios onboard with Stadia as of now including 2K Games, THQ, Ubisoft, Capcom, Rockstar, EA, Bethesda, and more. The entire list of games that will be on the service will be announced next week during E3 and rounded out as November draws near. As for the Stadia hardware that is required to play, the Founder's Edition includes a Chromecast Ultra to plug into your TV and a limited edition dark blue Stadia controller. Separately, the Chromecast Ultra and controller sell for $70 each.
The big draw for gamers will be the ability to play your games wherever you want, including on a TV, in a Chrome browser, and on the Pixel 3 or Pixel 3a smartphones. Support for more smartphones will land later. The Stadia Pro service promises 4K resolution and 60 fps streaming with support for HDR and 5.1 surround sound. When the free tier does land, it will be limited to Full HD at 60 fps. You will need a broadband connection up to snuff, as streaming at 720p will require 10Mbps connectivity. You'll ned a 35Mbps connection for 4K 60 fps streaming.
The Founder's Edition can be ordered now at Stadia.com.
