The game streaming service Stadia launched last autumn with great ambitions, but so far it has more or less disappointed. One reason for this is the still manageable range of games. But why is that? Developers have a clear opinion in this regard.
Technology giant Google almost wanted to revolutionize the game industry last fall with the game streaming service Stadia and dig players from the big consoles. However, the streaming service has by no means been able to attract larger numbers of players – and one reason for this is surely the manageable number of available games.
In a report, the colleagues go from Business insider now get to the bottom of the lack of supplies and also talked to developers themselves. The service currently has 28 titles, of which only a few are as well-known as Red Dead Redemption 2 or Destiny 2. By the end of 2020, around 120 additional games are planned follow, including prominent blockbusters such as Cyberpunk 2077 or Baldur's Gate III. But is that enough?
According to the developers, Google does not seem to be able to lure them seriously to Stadia. The problem is that Google, especially smaller studios, virtually does not guarantee any separate remuneration or financial support to publish a title on Stadia. According to a developer, such support is "virtually non-existent", a manager of a publisher added that corresponding offers from Google "are so low that they are not even part of a conversation".
Detached from this financial aspect, most developers and publishers act cautiously because they doubt the durability and long-term competitiveness of the streaming service. "In the past, you have had to accept numerous failures and have simply dropped large services," said another publisher employee.
It remains to be seen whether Google can solve these long-term concerns in the developer series, because otherwise Stadia – as of now – could ultimately become one of Google's failed major projects.