On September 29, 2022, Google announced that it would shut down Stadia, citing its lack of traction with users. The service will shut down on January 18, 2023, and Google will refund all purchases for hardware and games made through the Google and Stadia stores.
The world is changing, and COVID-19 is making it change even faster. Gaming is changing. Game streaming services are becoming increasingly prominent, with major players entering the scene. The premiere platforms are Shadow, Nvidia Geforce Now, Sony Playstation Now, Amazon Luna, and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Google Stadia signifies Google's entrance to the scene of game streaming services. Stadia publicly launched on November 19, 2019, in select countries and received a mixed reception from reviewers.
On April 8, 2020, Google launched the no-cost base service of Stadia, which offers access to Full HD streaming for all games you have purchased on Google Stadia without a subscription. You lose the 4K streaming, HDR, and 5.1 Dolby Surround streaming without a subscription. And, of course, the catalog of free games available with Stadia Pro.
Stadia is a cloud gaming service and does not require additional computer hardware, only requiring the device to have an Internet connection and Google Chrome support.
What is Google Stadia–
Stadia is Google's gaming platform that lets you instantly play video games on your own screens. Stream games directly to your favorite compatible devices. All you need is an Internet connection, and Stadia streams your games directly to your desktop, laptop, compatible phone or tablet, or TV with Chromecast Ultra.
What is Stadia Pro–
Stadia Pro is a subscription that unlocks a growing collection of free games to play on Stadia. Stadia offers a one-month free trial to try Stadia Pro, allowing you to play any of the games available for free.
How much does Google Stadia cost–
Stadia offers a monthly subscription for $9.99/mo in the US, –8.99/mo in the UK, and 9.99€/mo in the supported EU countries.
You can also buy games individually in the Stadia store, even if you don't have an active Stadia Pro subscription. Check this post's “Games available on Google Stadia” section for Stadia game prices.
What devices is Google Stadia compatible with–
You can play Stadia on your computer using the latest Chrome browser, on your compatible–Android phone/tablet using the Stadia app, or on a TV using a Chromecast Ultra with the Stadia Controller.
iPhone users can experience Google Stadia using the Safari browser as it has been supported since the end of 2020.
Compatibility for most Android smartphones is provided in experimental mode, but the officially supported Android smartphones list includes:
Pixel 2, 2XL, 3, 3XL, 3a, 3a XL, 4, 4XL, 4a, 4a (5G), 5
Samsung S8, S8+, S8 Active, Note 8
Samsung S9, S9+, Note 9
Samsung S10, S10+, Note 10, Note 10+
Samsung S20, S20+, S20 Ultra
OnePlus 5, 6, 7, 7 Pro, 7 Pro 5G, 8, 8 Pro
OnePlus 5T, 6T, 7T, 7T Pro, 7T Pro 5G, 8T
OnePlus Nord, N10 5G, N100
Asus ROG Phones
Razer Phone, Razer Phone II
LG V50 ThinQ, V50S ThinQ, V60 ThinQ, G7 ThinQ, G8 ThinQ, Wing
All you need is a keyboard and mouse on your computer to start playing.
When playing on a smartphone, you can use the touch screen. Still, for more complex games, you will need either the Stadia Controller, which is compatible with TVs, desktops, laptops, and smartphones,s or another compatible gamepad like the Xbox One or Playstation Dualshock 4.
Support for the new generation console's controller is not there yet, but there seems to be a Google Chrome extension that may do the trick for you.
As for the Xbox X Series, when the Chromium-based Microsoft Edge browser is officially released, we might see Stadia running entirely on the console itself, but the controller isn't supported either. However, it has worked for some users.
Where is Stadia available–
Stadia is available in the following countries: the UK, the US, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
Getting Started with Stadia
To start playing, go to Stadia.com on your computer or open the Stadia app on a supported phone.
Then, go to the Stadia store and purchase a game to play. If you have a Stadia Pro subscription, claim your free Pro games at no additional cost. Afterward, go to Home and click the play button on the game you want.
Google Stadia required Google Chrome, but in December 2020, Google released an iOS browser-based progressive web application for Stadia, enabling gameplay in the Safari browser.
Stadia Bandwidth Requirements
An internet connection speed of 10 megabits per second (Mbps) or more significant is the minimum recommended to use Stadia.
For the best experience – 4K HDR at 60fps and 5.1 sound – you need a recommended speed of 35Mbps. However, games will still run from a recommended minimum speed of 10Mbps. You will likely be restricted to 720p and stereo but should get 60fps.
You can check your speed using a dedicated online test here.
Games Currently Available on Stadia Google Stadia
There are about 100 Stadia games, and several have special editions with additional content. We've listed all the games below, the date they were added, and their prices. Note that Stadia Pro subscribers gain access to special discounts, which are not reflected below.
- Ary and the Secret of Seasons – $39.99
- Assassin's Creed Origins – $29.99
- Assassin's Creed Syndicate – $29.99
- Assassin's Creed Unity – $29.99
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey – $59.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey Stadia Ultimate Edition – $119
- Assassin's Creed Valhalla – $59.99
- Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle – $59.99 (November 19, 2020)
- Baldur's Gate 3 (Early Access) – $59.99
- Borderlands 3 – $59.99 (December 17, 2019)
- Borderlands 3 Deluxe Edition – $79.99
- Borderlands 3 Super Deluxe Edition – $99.99
- Cake Bash – $19.99
- Celeste – $19.99
- Cthulhu Saves Christmas – Free
- Crayta – $24.99 (Exclusive to Stadia)
- Crayta Premium Edition – $39.99 (Exclusive to Stadia – Free with Stadia Pro)
- Crayta Deluxe Edition – $54.99 (Exclusive to Stadia)
- Chronos: Before The Ashes – $39.99
- The Crew 2 – $49.99 or $15 with Stadia Pro discount
- The Crew 2 Deluxe Edition – $69.99, or $18 with Stadia Pro discount
- The Crew 2 Gold Edition – $99.99, or $27 with Stadia Pro discount
- The Crew 2 Season Pass: – $39.99, or $20 with Stadia Pro discount
- Cyberpunk 2077 – $59.99
- Darksiders Genesis – $39.99 (December 5, 2019)
- Dead by Daylight – (Free for Stadia Pro members)
- Destroy All Humans – $31.99
- Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 – $49.99 (December 17, 2019)
- Destiny 2 – Free for all Stadia users
- Destiny 2: The Collection – $39.99
- Destiny 2: Beyond Light – $39.99
- Doom – $19.99
- Doom Eternal Standard Edition + Rip and Tear Pack – $59.99
- DOOM Eternal Deluxe Edition + Rip and Tear Pack – $89.99
- Doom 64 – $4.99
- El Hijo – $19.99
- Elder Scrolls Online Standard Edition – $19.99
- Elder Scrolls Online Greymoor Edition – $59.99
- Elder Scrolls Online Greymoor Collector's Edition – $79.99
- Embr – $19.99
- Enter the Gungeon – $19.99
- Everspace – (Free with Stadia Pro)
- Family Feud – $19.99
- Far Cry 5 – $23.99
- Far Cry: New Dawn – $17.99
- Farming Simulator 19 – $39.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Farming Simulator 19 Platinum Edition – $49.99
- Figment – $11.99
- Final Fantasy XV – $39.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Get Packed – $49.99 (April 28, 2020)
- GRID – $59.99 (November 19, 2019)
- GRID Ultimate Edition – $84.99
- Gods Will Fall – $24.99
- Gunsport – $19.99 (Free for Stadia Pro members)
- GYLT – $29.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Hello Neighbor – $29.99 (Free for Stadia Pro members)
- Hitman – Game of the Year Edition – $59.99
- Hitman 2 – $35.99 ($29.99 for Stadia Pro members)
- Hitman 3 – $59.99
- Hotline Miami – $9.99
- Hotline Miami 2 – $14.99
- Human Fall Flat – (free for Stadia Pro members)
- Immortals: Fenyx Rising – $59.99
- Jotun: Valhalla Edition – $14.99
- Just Dance 2020 – $49.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Just Dance 2021 – $49.99
- Just Shapes & Beat – $19.99
- Kine – $19.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Lara Croft and the Guardian of Light – $19.99
- Little Big Workshop – $19.99
- Little Nightmares – $29.99
- Little Nightmares Secrets of The Maw Expansion Pass – $9.99
- Lost Words: Beyond the Page – $14.99 (March 27, 2020)
- Madden NFL 2021 – $29.99
- Marvel's Avengers – $59.99
- Marvel's Avengers Deluxe Edition – $79.99
- Metro 2033 Redux – $19.99
- Metro Exodus – $39.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Metro Exodus Gold Edition – $64.99
- Metro: Last Light Redux – $19.99
- Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom – $29.99
- Monster Energy Supercross – The Official Videogame 3 – $59.99 (February 4, 2020)
- Monster Jam Steel Titans – (Free with Stadia Pro)
- Mortal Kombat 11 – $49.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Mortal Kombat 11 Premium Edition – $89.99
- Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath Edition – $59.99
- Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate Edition – $59.99
- MotoGP 20 – $49.99
- NBA 2K20 – $59.99 (November 19, 2019)
- NBA 2K20 Digital Deluxe – $79.99
- NBA 2K20 Legend Edition – $99.99
- NBA 2K21 – $59.99
- NBA 2K21 – Mamba Forever Edition Bundle – $99.99
- One Hand Clapping – $29.99
- Octopath Traveler – $59.99 (April 28, 2020)
- Orcs Must Die 3 – (Free with Stadia Pro)
- Outcasters – (Free with Stadia Pro)
- Outward – $39.99
- Pac-Mac Mega Tunnel Battle – $19.99
- Phoenix Point – $59.99
- Phogs! – $29.99
- Panzer Dragoon Remake – $24.99
- Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid – $19.99
- Rage 2 – $59.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Rage 2: Deluxe Edition – $79.99
- PUBG: Pioneer Edition – $39.99 (Free with Stadia Pro)
- Red Dead Redemption 2 – $59.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Special Edition – $79.99
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Ultimate Edition – $99.99
- Reigns – $19.99
- Relicta – $19.99
- République – $9.99
- Rise of the Tomb Raider – $29.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Risk of Rain 2 – $19.99
- Rock of Ages 3: Make and Break – $29.99 (Free for Stadia Pro subscribers)
- Samurai Shodown – $59.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game – Complete Edition – $14.99
- Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice – $39.99
- Secret Neighbor – (Free with stadia Pro)
- Serious Sam Collection – $29.99 (March 3, 2020)
- Serious Sam 4 – $39.99
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider – $59.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Spitlings – $14.99 (February 25, 2020)
- SpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom – Rehydrated – $23.99
- Stacks On Stacks (On Stacks) – (April 1, 2020)
- Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order – $59.99
- Steamworld Dig – $9.99 (March 10, 2020)
- SteamWorld Dig 2 – (March 1, 2020)
- Steamworld Heist – $19.99 (March 10, 2020)
- SteamWorld Quest: Hand of Gilgamesh (March 1, 2020)
- Submerged: Hidden Depths – (Free with Stadia Pro)
- Sundered: Eldritch Edition – $19.99
- Super Bomberman R Online – (Free)
- Superhot – $24.99
- Superhot: Mind Control Delete – $24.99
- Thumper – $19.99 (November 19, 2019)
- TOHU – $14.99
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2 – $29.99 (March 17)
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2: Warlords of New York Edition – $59.99 (March 17)
- Tom Clancy's The Division 2: Warlords of New Ultimate Edition – $79.99 (March 17)
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint – $59.99 (December 18, 2019)
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint – Gold Edition – $99.99
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint – Ultimate Edition – $119.99
- Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Wildlands – $49.99
- Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition – $19.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Trials Rising – $24.99 (November 19, 2019)
- Trials Rising – Digital Gold Edition – $29.99
- UNO – $9.99
- Unto The End – $19.99
- Valkyria Chronicles 4: Complete Edition – $49.99
- Watch Dogs – $19.99
- Watch Dogs 2 – $17.49
- Watch Dogs: Legion – $59.99
- Wave Break – $29.99
- West of Loathing – $10.99
- Wolfenstein: Youngblood – $29.99 (November 19, 2019)
- WWE Battlegrounds – $39.99
Upcoming Google Stadia games
The Stadia team has announced various titles are coming soon to the platform, from big names like Baldur's Gate III and Cyberpunk 2077 to classic ports and indie exclusives. Here are all of the upcoming Stadia games that we know about so far:
- ARK: Survival Evolved
- Chorus
- Cris Tales
- Darkside Detective Season 1
- Darkside Detective Season 2
- Death Carnival
- Far Cry 6
- FIFA
- Figment: Creed Valley
- Kaze and the Wild Masks
- Mafia
- Mafia 2 Remastered
- Mafia 3 Remastered
- Nanotale – Typing Chronicles
- Outriders
- PGA Tour 2K21
- Riders Republic
- Windbound
- Windjammers 2
- Young Souls
Google Stadia's future
Google boldly claims that, sometime in the future, Stadia will be capable of streaming in up to 8K and at 120fps. For now, though, we are still very far away from that, and Google is just trying to ensure Stadia's long term survival, as it seems to have turned out to be a costly investment.
NOTE: The resolution of Stadia games is determined by the developers and publishers, not Google. So, while you may be a Pro member and have a Chromecast Ultra or compatible PC running the Chrome browser, a game might not be outputting native 4K HDR. And while you could be receiving 4K HDR video at your end, you might find that the game, such as Destiny 2, is locked to 1080p for performance.