Stadia - Google's game streaming service

Anything to do with games at all.
jawa2
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by jawa2 » Tue Mar 02, 2021 9:35 am

more heat than light wrote:...Are there any benefits of Stadia over Game Pass? I guess maybe the permanence of the games on Pro? I can't think of many.

Digital Trends recently did a comparison between Stadia and xCloud/Game Pass. In their view, Stadia emerged on top in most areas (supported platforms, controller options, streaming quality, features) whilst xCloud was top on range of games.

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more heat than light
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by more heat than light » Tue Mar 02, 2021 10:59 am

jawa2 wrote:
more heat than light wrote:...Are there any benefits of Stadia over Game Pass? I guess maybe the permanence of the games on Pro? I can't think of many.

Digital Trends recently did a comparison between Stadia and xCloud/Game Pass. In their view, Stadia emerged on top in most areas (supported platforms, controller options, streaming quality, features) whilst xCloud was top on range of games.


That's xCloud though, I meant more Game Pass. I usually consider xCloud as more an added bonus.

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jawa2
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by jawa2 » Tue Mar 02, 2021 11:14 am

more heat than light wrote:
jawa2 wrote:
more heat than light wrote:...Are there any benefits of Stadia over Game Pass? I guess maybe the permanence of the games on Pro? I can't think of many.

Digital Trends recently did a comparison between Stadia and xCloud/Game Pass. In their view, Stadia emerged on top in most areas (supported platforms, controller options, streaming quality, features) whilst xCloud was top on range of games.


That's xCloud though, I meant more Game Pass. I usually consider xCloud as more an added bonus.

Comparing Game Pass to Stadia without including the xCloud streaming aspects means comparing two different approaches, really. Both have their good points but to really seek out the benefits of Stadia you'd need to compare more like-for-like, imho.

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Abacus
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Abacus » Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:35 pm

more heat than light wrote:
Abacus wrote:Sometimes, I play a game for 5 minutes, realise I don't like it, and want it to go away. But I can't make it; it stays there forever, no way to remove or even hide it.


What?! :lol:

Are there any benefits of Stadia over Game Pass? I guess maybe the permanence of the games on Pro? I can't think of many.



It's mad, isn't it?

From what I understand, being able to hide / delete / unclaim or even just sort games in some way is one of the longest standing and most requested updates by users, but nope, they can't or won't do it.

As for the Gamepass comparison, I'm aware there are cheaper ways to get GP, but the basic monthly charge of £8.99 on Pro is at least £2 cheaper.

But for that £2, the sheer range and quality of what is available software wise mean there is absolutely no comparison at all. Gamepass would win hands down, and it should be as simple as that.

However, as Jawa rightly says, it's not actually so easy to compare the two in terms of what they are offering. I think the fact that most people won't see that shows just how badly Google have gotten across the idea of Stadia and also of Pro.

It's a bit like comparing a lemon with a cat because the software experience is so tied up with the hardware. But hey, had a glass of wine, so I'll give it a go. Batten down the hatches, spam haters.

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Abacus
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Abacus » Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:36 pm

First off, all of this comes with the almighty caveat that we have no idea whether, or for how long, Google will continue supporting Stadia. Shutting down their internal game development was either just an almighty PR blunder as they genuinely try to change direction to work with 3rd parties instead, or a really ominous sign that they're about to bail altogether. Take your pick.

That also does affect one of Pro's advantages too. I.e. a claimed game is always permanently there for you whenever you're subscribed, a bit like Games with Gold rather than GP (Pro is kind of a weird mix of both). But then again, that's no use at all if they shut the whole thing down in 12 months anyway.

And if they do shut it down, what happens to the games you've actually bought? If they shut down Gamepass, you'd still have your bought games for as long as own the hardware. Here, the hardware is out of your hands.

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Abacus
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Abacus » Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:38 pm

Software. This is, in theory, a no contest win for Gamepass and Xbox. If you look at the games available to buy on Stadia, or come free with Pro, there's almost nothing exclusive. There are some different games being offered free I suppose, even if there's a lot of overlap, so you could have both at once.

That said, many of the games have been out for years, aren't exclusive and there's not a single one where you'd say to a friend "you have to get Stadia because...".

With Xbox and the first party stuff with Gamepass, there are loads of reasons you could say that.

Yes, games do leave Gamepass, but you get warning and there are often discounts to buy them. Besides which, there are discounts on other games to own in the store if you have GP.

On Stadia, the price of games to own in their store isn't usually competitive, though there are sales. But like with GP, if you have Pro you do get additional discount offers. And, while there aren't that many, some of these are excellent, cheaper than I found on XBox, and containing loads of bundled extra content.

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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Abacus » Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:41 pm

Then there's the software experience itself. Cyberpunk was a rare Stadia win. In theory, having dedicated superpowered computers allowing you to stream the latest, best patched version of games should make it come out on top in the long run.

But in practice, I can't think of any other example than that, and whether that becomes an advantage really depends how much Google are prepared to throw at supporting and upgrading their hardware. Again, the long term future of the service hangs heavily over this.

The other part of the gaming experience is multiplayer games. If that's a big part of your gaming, the Stadia lobbies are usually pretty quiet to say the least. Though, I think I'm right in saying I can play games I own online without a subscription. Not that it matters, if there's noone there anyway, I guess.

So, why bother with Stadia or Pro at all then?

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Abacus
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Abacus » Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:42 pm

Here's one reason. If I want a game, I claim it and it straight away on my phone. Sure, like XCloud. The difference is, I can also switch on the TV and play it straight away there too. No download, no patches, it's just there, right that minute. I'm playing in seconds, I can pick up and drop off any time.

Next, I can claim as many games as I like. No need to worry about storage space for either the game, or your saves etc. So, it's not so much the value of Pro vs GP, and more about how convenient it is to just play.

And the convenience of it is incredible. It's why I use it far more than I thought I would.

I've cancelled my Pro subscription just now, but expect I'll fire it up every few months or so when interesting things come up, or there are good discounts to buy things with it.

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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Abacus » Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:43 pm

It's OK everyone, my typing finger is tired now.

And so then, finally, price. I got my Series S for £250, absolutely love it, and think that is one of the biggest bargains in gaming right now. But, I then need to buy games, or subscribe to Live to play online, or GP to get access to other games without buying them.

For slightly less than that, including 3 months of Pro subscription costs, I've played a couple of dozen games on this with no delay or hassle. I also now have about ten or eleven full fat games I've bought with Pro discounts - e.g. Assassin's Creed origins plus all the dlc, likewise Hitman 1&2.

I.e. older stuff, but even if I don't pay another penny to Stadia, there's a few hundred hours of gaming right there, and I can always resubscribe and access loads more. If they cancel Stadia, I probably lose those, but that's the gamble.

At least I'd still have a Chromecast Ultra.

And, again, the contradiction with this; I really like using it, have had a lot of fun with it, but I've just cancelled my Pro sub (for now at least) and would really hate to recommend it to others all at the same time.

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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by jawa2 » Tue Mar 02, 2021 8:54 pm

Abacus wrote:It's OK everyone, my typing finger is tired now...

Abacus, dude :lol: . I really llike your analysis of Stadia. Tbh, if cash wasn't an issue right now I'd probs pick it up - I increasingly like the idea behind it, even though some of the implementation may not quite match that vision.

I hope it does undergo a phoenix type resurrection / continuation. And, in the meantime, I'll read your updates :toot: .

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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Zaichik » Wed Mar 03, 2021 9:45 am

I am thinking about jumping on board Stadia to play Baldur's Gate 3 and Humankind because I don't have a decent gaming PC. However, I've read that Baldur's Gate looks worse on Stadia than even a modest PC. And then, of course, you have to subscribe to Pro to play in 4K, which is another big negative for me because I pretty much only game on my big OLED TV.

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Abacus
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Abacus » Thu Mar 04, 2021 8:36 pm

Yeah, it doesn't sound like an answer for you Zaichik. I checked the Stadia store, and Baldurs Gate 3 was £49.99 as it's not free with Pro, then £8.99 a month to play in 4K on your TV, plus if you're playing on your TV you'd have to pay for the premiere edition too.

Anyhow, I've been playing Submerged, in an effort to clear through my claimed games before my Pro subscription expires. I really like it and it's atmosphere, even if it's a bit easy so far.

Love floating about on the sea and probably wouldn't have experienced it without it being on a subscription service (Stadia or not) like Pro, Gamepass etc. It's the sort of thing that's nice and relaxing to play, even if you wouldn't normally take a risk and buy it.

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Abacus
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Abacus » Thu Mar 04, 2021 10:56 pm

And cheers Jawa, appreciate it.

jawa2
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by jawa2 » Mon Mar 22, 2021 4:52 pm

Get a free Stadia Premier Edition (controller, Chromecast Ultra) when you buy Resident Evil Village for Stadia.

Google wrote:...everything you'll need to thwart Lady Dimitrescu for just the cost of the game ($59.99/€69.99 on Stadia for the game's Standard Edition or $69.99/€79.99 for Deluxe Edition.) We'll do our best to promptly deliver your Stadia Premiere Edition. Please allow several weeks for shipping.


Note: "While stocks last". The simlar Cyberpunk 2077 offer lasted minutes!

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aayl1
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by aayl1 » Mon Mar 22, 2021 6:25 pm

Well it lasted days a while but ended about 3 days before it was supposed to.

I guess 144, 000 minutes is still minutes though.

That's a v good deal btw. If anyone is interested you should do the free stadia Pro trial and see how it runs on your connection. If you were going to buy Resi Village anyway and don't care about trophies etc. you may as well get a free chromecast and controllerr out the deal!

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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by HaruKazuhira » Mon Mar 22, 2021 6:47 pm

I have £10 discount offer that expires end of the month but no idea what to use it on >,> Nothing really grabbing me atm. Might wait for any new releases that come this week and make a last minute cop lol.

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Abacus
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Abacus » Mon Mar 22, 2021 7:15 pm

Having only recently said on a different thread that I had enough games, and wanted to play fewer but in a more concentrated way, I nearly just impulse purchased a second one of these due to that Resi offer :fp:

I suppose, after all the recent negativity, you could look at this as a good thing since I'd guess they're trying to expand the user base again, knowing how well the Cyberpunk one took off, which maybe means all the headlines about Google 'abandoning Stadia' altogether were a bit premature.

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Abacus
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Abacus » Mon Mar 22, 2021 10:32 pm

Aaaaand, I've cracked and pre-ordered this already.

I wanted another Chromecast Ultra that supports Stadia for my bedroom TV so I can wander about with the controller and play on any screen in the house, that's my excuse.

Plus, if they do patch the other Chromecast that I already have (Chromecast with Google TV, which is great but still inexplicably doesn't support Stadia yet), I plan to give the premiere edition to a friend, so we can play stuff co-op.

And, if she doesn't like Stadia, she'll have a chromecast anyway, and I'll have a spare controller for couch co-op on my own one. Plus Resi.

Yes. Yes, that all makes sense.

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aayl1
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by aayl1 » Tue Mar 23, 2021 10:04 am

Hey its a great deal and if you wanted Resi already the freedom of insta tly switching rooms is a great bonus!

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Lagamorph
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PostRe: Stadia - Google's game streaming service
by Lagamorph » Tue Mar 23, 2021 12:14 pm

I think Google shuttered their studios at the wrong time.

The shortage of high end GPUs, PS5 and Xbox Series consoles looks set to continue for a good while yet due to chip shortages so devices/services like Stadia and GeForce Now are likely going to appeal more and more.

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