Google Stadia

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Stadia
Logo for Stadia
Wordmark for Stadia
DeveloperGoogle
TypeSubscription gaming service
Launch date2019
Platform(s)Google Chrome web browser
Websitestadia.dev stadia.com

Stadia, known in development as Project Stream, is a cloud gaming service in development at Google. Since the game is hosted on Google's servers, only the visual feedback from the game is streamed to the player's computer, via the company's Chrome browser.[1]

Features

Stadia is a subscription-based cloud gaming service, and requires no additional computer hardware, only requiring the device to have an Internet connection and support for Google Chrome. Stadia works atop YouTube's functionality in streaming media to the user, as game streaming is seen as an extension of watching video game live streams, according to Google's Phil Harrison; the name "Stadia", plural of "stadium", is meant to reflect that it will be a collection of entertainment, of which the viewer can choose to sit back and watch, or take an active part in.[2]

As Google had built out a large number of data centers across the globe, the company believes that Stadia is in a better position for cloud gaming compared to past endevours like OnLive, PlayStation Now, and Gaikai, as most players would be geographically close to a data center. Stadia supports the streaming of games in HDR at 60 frames per second with 4K resolution, and anticipates eventually reaching 120 frames per second at 8K resolution.[2] Once subscribed to the service, players can start games without having to download new content to their personal device. Players can opt to record or stream their sessions onto YouTube through Stadia. Viewers of such streams, subscribed to the service, can launch the games directly from the stream with the same save state that they were just watching.[2] While Stadia can use any HID-class USB controller, Google developed its own controller which connects via Wi-Fi directly to the Google datacenter in which the game is running, to reduce input latency.[2] During its GDC 2019 keynote reveal, Google confirmed that the controller would also feature Google Assistant, which will automatically search YouTube for relevant, helpful videos related to the game they are currently playing at the touch of a key.[3]

Development

Google Stadia was formally revealed during the 2019 Game Developers Conference.

Project Stream was Google's first announced sign of interest in video gaming products. The company had previously been rumored as working on a service called Project Yeti since at least 2016. Google had also hired gaming industry executive Phil Harrison and was seen recruiting developers during industry events in 2018.[4] Project Stream's main differentiator from past services, such as OnLive, GeForce Now, and PlayStation Now, is its ability to run in any desktop Chrome browser, rather than specific gaming platforms.[1] The service uses AMD Radeon graphics hardware.[5]

Google announced the service in October 2018[6] and soon after, opened invitations to beta testers with access to Assassin's Creed Odyssey. Players could apply for access and those who met an Internet speed minimum could run the game in their Chrome browsers.[7] Those who participated received a free copy of the game when the beta expired.[8]

Stadia was formally announced during Google's keynote address at the 2019 Game Developers Conference in March 2019.[9] To support Stadia, Google also announced the formation of Stadia Games and Entertainment, with Jade Raymond as its lead. Besides developing their own games, Stadia Games and Entertainment will help support the transition of third-party titles to the Stadia service.[10]

Reception

Pre-release

During its beta, the service received positive initial impressions from reviewers, exceeding expectations[7][6][1] and making game streaming appear as a viable alternative to PC gaming.[7][6] Reviewers reported that the streaming service had low latency and felt as if the game was being played locally.[7][6] Depending on Wi-Fi speeds, however, the game sometimes compressed its screen resolution or lagged.[7] A test by The Verge found no lag issues over a wired ethernet connection, and occasional stuttering on a shared Wi-Fi connection.[7] However, even on a wired connection, the stream did not output at 4K resolution and occasionally went fuzzy with compression artifacting. The reviewer reported the best experience on Google's Chromebook Pixel.[7] Polygon found the service's audio compression noticeable.[6]

Ars Technica remarked that Project Stream's login sequence was far simpler than that of other services.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Machkovech, Sam (October 9, 2018). "Google's Project Stream: That's really a full Assassin's Creed in my browser". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on October 11, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c d Leadbetter, Richard (March 19, 2019). "The big interview: Phil Harrison and Majd Bakar on Google Stadia". Eurogamer. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  3. ^ Bowers, Quintlyn (March 19, 2019). "Stadia's Wi-Fi Controller Looks Familiar, But Features Google Assistant". GameSkinny. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  4. ^ Amadeo, Ron (October 1, 2018). "Google announces 'Project Stream'—a 'test' of game streaming in Chrome". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on December 25, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ Takahashi, Dean (January 9, 2019). "Google's Project Stream cloud gaming will use AMD Radeon Graphics". VentureBeat. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
  6. ^ a b c d e Goslin, Austen (October 8, 2018). "Streaming Assassin's Creed Odyssey in Google Chrome is surprisingly great". Polygon. Archived from the original on December 17, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Etienne, Stefan (October 8, 2018). "Google's Project Stream is a working preview of the future of game streaming". The Verge. Archived from the original on December 26, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Good, Owen S. (December 15, 2018). "Get free Assassin's Creed Odyssey on PC for testing Google's Project Stream". Polygon. Archived from the original on December 23, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2019. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Wilde, Tyler (March 19, 2019). "Google announces Stadia, a game streaming service 'for everyone'". PC Gamer. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
  10. ^ Chalk, Andy (March 19, 2019). "Jade Raymond is heading Google's first-party game studio". PC Gamer. Retrieved March 19, 2019.
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Further reading

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