google stadia
Latest
'Metro Exodus' and 'Gylt' are February's free Stadia Pro games
Google has revealed the next two games that'll be available for free to Stadia Pro members on February 1st: Metro Exodus and Gylt. Once you've claimed them, you'll continue to have access as long as you keep your subscription to the game streaming service's premium tier active.
Google Stadia plans to add over 120 games in 2020
When Google Stadia launched in November, it didn't garner an overwhelming reception, but it didn't exactly flop, either. It's a competent product that lets gamers play new titles with a modest investment in hardware. Just open up Chrome, an app or turn on your Chromecast and you're ready to play once you've logged in. Early adopters complained about lag, low-resolution visuals, missing features and a paltry selection of games, though. To address Stadia's growing pains, Google has drawn out a vague but promising roadmap for the year, with the addition of more than 120 games as a highlight.
Google Stadia achievements are live on the web, but not in the app
Google is slowly but surely expanding Stadia's feature set. The Stream Connect split-screen mode emerged with the release of Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon Breakpoint on the service this week, and now another aspect of the service is live: achievements. You'll receive notifications on your PC or TV (if you're playing on Chromecast) when you earn them. You can check out achievement lists on the web, but not the mobile apps just yet.
'Borderlands 3' and 'Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2' hit Google Stadia
Google is slowly but surely expanding the number of games available on Stadia, giving you and your friends (thanks to those buddy passes) more titles to play together. It emerged back in August that Borderlands 3 was coming to the game streaming platform, and today's the day you can hop into the looter-shooter on Stadia. Joining Gearbox's game on Stadia is fighting RPG Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2.
Google Stadia's Assistant button starts working in 'early access'
When Google unveiled Stadia, its cloud-based streaming games platform, it showed off a button on the controller that linked directly to its Google Assistant AI helper. The idea is that players will be able to easily pull up tips and relevant information without even losing their game, however it wasn't quite ready for the service's playable-but-fragile launch last month. In a community update the company confirmed that it has rolled out "some Google Assistant functionality for your Stadia Controller." On Twitter, @StadiaDaily and @theStadiaCrowd confirmed that the feature works for players who are using it via a Chromecast Ultra. However, at the moment it only works on the Stadia home screen and isn't usable in-game. On Reddit Google said that right now players can use it to launch games, and the videos posted show players using Assistant pretty much as normal to answer questions. Eventually Google Assistant may bring some exclusive experiences to gaming in the cloud, but right now it's less functional than the Xbox One integration that can turn the system on and off, launch games and take screenshots.
Stadia Pro members will get two more free games in December
Google Stadia players will get access to another pair of games as part of their Pro subscription next week. Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition and Farming Simulator 19 will join Destiny 2: The Collection and Samurai Shodown in the lineup at noon ET on December 1st. From then, you'll be able to play them at no extra cost as long as your Pro subscription is active.
'Gylt' hands-on: Stadia's first exclusive game is simply spooky
The developers at Tequila Works get bored easily. At least, that's how it seems after scrolling through a list of games the independent Spanish studio has released since 2012. It starts with Deadlight, a dark, side-scrolling action title set in a lonely zombie apocalypse. After that, Tequila Works released a murder mystery set inside a trippy mansion casino, a heartwarming platformer about a long-lost civilization, a narrative-driven VR title, a world-building app for iOS, and the official VR project for Sony Pictures' Groundhog Day.
Google Stadia hands-on: Shockingly playable
I barely expected Stadia to work. Stadia is Google's attempt to make cloud gaming happen, and the company has promised a lot: the ability to play basically any game at up to 4K on your TV, phone, tablet or laptop, with no lag and on existing internet infrastructure. And, based on these broad qualifiers, Stadia delivers.
Stadia hits Google's Play Store ahead of its debut this month
Google is set to flip the switch on its Stadia game streaming service this month. While you can play through Chrome or your TV (with Chromecast Ultra), you'll also be able to run games like Destiny 2 and Assassin's Creed: Odyssey on some Pixel devices. To help you get ready for the big day on November 19th, Google has added the Stadia app to the Google Play Store.
'Darksiders Genesis' is coming to PC and Stadia December 5th
THQ Nordic and Airship Syndicate are revamping the Darksiders series with Darksiders Genesis, and they've revealed when you'll be able to take command of two Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The latest Darksiders game will hit PC and Google Stadia December 5th. Players on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch will get to grips with it February 14th.
Recommended Reading: The Google Stadia controller prototypes
An exclusive look at how Google designed its Stadia game controller Stan Horaczek, Popular Science We've known for months that Google built its own controller for the upcoming Stadia game streaming service. But Popular Science recently got a behind-the-scenes look at the design process, including a glimpse of the "hundreds" of prototypes for the device. "We put out rigs of cameras and filmed roughly 6,000 hours of gaming time to observe how people were holding different controllers," Google design director Isabelle Olsson explains.
Google wants to reduce Stadia lag with 'negative latency'
Plenty of gamers are skeptical about cloud-based gaming. Fast internet connections just aren't prevalent enough, the argument goes, and lag will kill the gameplay experience. Google is diving in head first with Stadia, though. In an interview with Edge, Stadia's VP of Engineering Madj Bakar said the platform will eventually be more responsive than consoles. And while the technology to do so sounds silly, the underlying concepts may prove to be effective.
'Cyberpunk 2077' and 'Mortal Kombat 11' are coming to Google Stadia
Just before Gamescom's opening ceremony got underway, Google revealed a bunch more games that are coming to its Stadia streaming platform. One of the bigger titles is CD Projekt Red's Cyberpunk 2077. Google didn't say exactly when the game would be available on Stadia, but its release date on other platforms is April 16th, 2020.
'Baldur's Gate III' is real and it'll be on Google Stadia
Amid its wave of announcements for Stadia, Google confirmed several new games will be available on the platform. Darksiders Genesis emerged a few hours before Stadia Connect got underway, and there are some other notable upcoming titles too: Baldur's Gate III and Gylt.
Google Stadia launches this November with $130 Founder's Edition
On the eve of E3 (well, the night before EA's press conference, anyway), Google has revealed pricing and availability for Stadia, its highly anticipated game streaming service. The big date for your diary? November. The technology giant will launch a special Founder's Edition for $129.99 sometime that month. The pack, available to pre-order now, will come with a Chromecast Ultra puck, limited-edition Night Blue controller, "first dibs" on a Stadia username, and two three-month Stadia Pro subscriptions -- one for you and a friend. Stadia Pro will otherwise cost $9.99 per month and grants you access to Google's library at up to 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, with HDR and 5.1 surround sound.
'Darksiders Genesis' confirmed for Google Stadia, consoles and PC
THQ Nordic and Airship Syndicate have announced the latest entry in the Darksiders series following 2018's Darksiders III -- and it's one of the first games confirmed for Google's Stadia game streaming platform. Darksiders Genesis is a spinoff of the main series, according to IGN. It's said to be a Diablo-style top-down RPG, in which you'll hack and slash your way through dungeons and monsters, collecting loot along the way.
Watch Google's Stadia event here at 12PM ET
Google is hosting a Stadia event today, and it's set to reveal some big news for the game streaming platform, including pricing and launch details as well as some of the games you'll be able to play. Stadia Connect is taking place just ahead of E3, and less than three months after Google revealed the platform. You should find out details on when you can start playing games on Stadia and how much it'll cost when Stadia Connect starts at 12PM ET, and you can watch the stream right here.
The disc-free Xbox One S hits stores on May 7th for $250
A disc-free, completely digital Xbox One is no longer just a rumored pipe dream for cord cutters and the current generation of Fortnite fanatics who've never had to set foot inside of a GameStop. The Xbox One S All-Digital Edition will hit retailers on May 7th for $250 (that's $50 less than the Xbox One S) and it's available for pre-order today. The console comes with three popular, Microsoft-owned titles -- Sea of Thieves, Forza Horizon 3 and Minecraft -- and a special offer on Xbox Game Pass, the monthly subscription service that includes access to more than 100 games.
Watch Google's GDC 2019 event in 14 minutes
Earlier today at GDC 2019, Google officially revealed Stadia, a game-streaming service that will be available later this year in US, Canada, the UK and Europe. There's a lot Google didn't cover -- like pricing and an exact launch date -- but the company did show off a custom-built controller for the service that has a dedicated button for Google Assistant. It also demoed fancy style transfer tech that can use AI to change the look of a game in real time. Don't rely on my terse summary though, we've condensed all the highlights down to a 14-minute clip to get you caught up in a flash. And be sure to follow all of the latest news from GDC in San Francisco right here.
