Google Stadia was launched on November 19th. The games service promises carefree gambling on almost all devices: it only needs Chrome browser and Internet connection. In theory, cloud gaming sounds tempting, but what about in practice? We clarify everything about setup, operation, costs and feel.
This is Stadia
Google Stadia is a cloud gaming service. All games are streamed, making installation and downloads unnecessary. Another advantage is the ability to play on many computers and mobile devices. Due to the streaming technology it does not matter which hardware is available. It only needs Chrome browser, smartphone app or Chromecast along with Internet connection for the fun. This allows even technically demanding titles to be played anytime, anywhere. At the same time, the purchase of expensive hardware is therefore superfluous.
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Purchase and subscription
Access to Google Stadia is linked to the purchase of Premiere Edition. Priced at € 129, you'll receive a Chromecast Ultra, a white Stadia controller, and a three-month subscription to Stadia Pro. The latter is necessary to experience games in 4K and HDR with 5.1 sound. This is only possible on Chromecast Ultra for the time being (more on this under "Playing with Stadia"). Plus, like PlayStation Plus and Xbox Live Gold, you'll get a certain number of free games each month. Starting with the Destiny 2: The Collection and Samurai Shodown.
After the trial period, Stadia Pro costs 9.99 euros per month. The subscription automatically renews after the initial setup, but you can disable it in your Google Account. Next year Stadia Base will also be offering a free version. Thus, the games offer a maximum of 1080p resolution, 60 fps and stereo sound. An appointment for Stadia Base has not yet been announced.
Games offer
The games you get in the Stadia Store. You will be billed via your credit card, PayPal and similar services. Immediately after the purchase you can access the game. The following 22 titles are currently available:
- Assassin's Creed Odyssey — 69.99 euros
- Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle — 69.99 Euro
- Destiny 2: The Collection — included in Stadia Pro
- Farming Simulator 2019 — 39,99 Euro
- Final Fantasy 15 — 39.99 euros
- Football Manager 2020 — 54.99 euros
- GRID (2019) — 69.99 euros
- Gylt — 29,99 Euro
- Just Dance 2020 — 49.99 euros
- Kine — 19.99 euros
- Metro Exodus — 39.99 euros
- Mortal Kombat 11 — 69.99 euros
- NBA 2K20 — 49,99 Euro
- RAGE 2 — 59.99 euros
- Red Dead Redemption 2 — 59.99 euros
- Rise of the Tomb Raider — 29,99 Euro
- Samurai Shodown (2019) — included in Stadia Pro
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider – Definitive Edition — 59.99 euros
- Thumper — 19,99 Euro
- Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition — 19.99 Euro
- Trials Rising — 24,99 Euro
- Wolfenstein: Youngblood — 29,99 Euro
In addition to the standard versions listed, you can sometimes buy more expensive Special Editions, for example, from NBA 2K20 or Red Dead Redemption 2. The Pro subscription gives you a discount on some titles. Nevertheless, the prices are clearly too high. Almost all titles are several months or years old and on other platforms either cheaper or even free to have, for example, the Xbox Game Pass.
If you cancel your subscription, you lose access to the unlocked games. If you renew the membership at a later date, you can use these games and memory levels again. All purchased games, whether with discount or without, you may even gamble without Pro subscription.
By the way, Destiny 2 uses the cross-save feature, so you can take over your guardian from the PS4, Xbox One or PC version.
Stadia controllers & features
The Stadia controller is part of the Premiere package, individually it costs 69 euros. In our test model, nothing rattles and rattles, all keys have a clear pressure point. Just like the inwardly curved sticks with a good relationship between range of motion and precision. The upward-facing triggers, on the other hand, seem a bit wobbly and smooth.
The biggest criticism of our blue model is the scratch-prone surface. In particular, the included, tight-fitting smartphone holder left her tracks on the case immediately after the first attachment and removal. Speaking of connection: The controller has a jack output for headphones.
The pad has a home button that gives you a menu that provides rudimentary game volume and chat settings and lets you know the current connection quality. There is also a button for the Google Assistant, but it is not yet supported. <A href = "https://img.gameswelt.de/public/images/201906/8f932e2620ca4929484f061ecc378037.png" data-title = "Google Stadia Picture 1
Date: 06.06.2019 "data-lightbox =" 8f932e2620ca4929484f061ecc378037.png ">There is also a share button that works similar to the PS4 pad: a short press takes a screenshot, a longer one backs up a 1080p video of the last 30 seconds. Pro subscribers currently store 500 clips and unlimited screenshots. The content can be accessed via the Stadia App, but nothing more: Exporting or uploading is not yet possible.
Of course you can also create a friends list at Stadia and chat in a party. The latter works but currently only via Chromecast and PC. Mobile devices will receive the feature with a future update. The text chat is still not possible and will also be redelivered. The same applies to the integration of YouTube, which you also have to wait until the beginning of 2020.
platforms
Chrome browser
Log in to Chrome with your Google Account and go to stadia.google.com. On the home page you will find the purchased games and you can start immediately. The mouse and keyboard as well as various controllers via USB connection are supported. The only requirement: Your operating system must be at least Windows 7 or macOS 10.9. So far, no 4K resolution, no HDR and no 5.1 sound are transmitted via the browser.
Stadia app
The Stadia app is available for many iOS and Android devices. Actually, you can only play on the following Google smartphones at the moment: Pixel 4, Pixel 3 (3a, 3a XL, 3, 3 XL) and Pixel 2. This requires an HID-compliant controller that is connected via cable or Bluetooth , The Stadia pad currently works only with a cable connection. On the smartphones and tablets of other manufacturers are currently only the purchase of games and some account settings possible. Support for gaming is expected next year, as will the Bluetooth support provided by the Stadia controller.
Chromecast Ultra
For now, you can only use Stadia on the Chromecast Ultra model. Also here only the combination of 4K, HDR and 5.1 sound is possible. Also, only Chromecast Ultra currently enables wireless use of the Stadia controller. The HDMI port connects the device to your monitor or TV. The Internet connection is set up via the Google Home app. The Stadia controller must be on the same network because it requires a direct connection to the Google servers to play. For this and to manage your account and games you need the Stadia App. All this was a bit awkward – it would have been more sensible to bundle all relevant functions in one app.
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Some problems arose when we wanted to move from the editorial to the domestic connection. Chromecast Ultra always dials into the previously saved network. It is not possible to create several profiles in order to be able to use the device directly, for example with a friend or friend. If you want to use the part in another network, all settings must be made again. In operation, Stadia on the Chromecast Ultra works fine and simple. Thanks to a LAN port on the power plug, you can also go to the Internet via a cable connecti on.
The score is stored in the cloud, so you can continue playing exactly where you left off at any given time. However, you can only be active on one platform at the same time: For example, if you switch from the browser to the smartphone in the middle of the game, your session will be terminated on the PC.
Internet connection
The playing experience with Stadia depends largely on your internet connection. Google mentions the following minimum requirements for streaming the games:
Minimum:
10 Mbps: 720p, 60 fps, stereo sound
Recommended:
from 20 Mbit / s: 1080p, 60 fps, 5.1 sound
Optimal:
from 35 Mbit / s: 4K, HDR, 60 fps, 5.1 sound
Via the Stadia app for iOS and Android, you can choose between three different graphics settings under the menu item "Data usage and performance":
Limited data usage:
Data usage is limited to 4.5 GB / hr. at a 720p resolution.
Balanced:
The graphic resolution is determined by the available Internet speed.
Best quality (only with Stadia Pro):
4K, HDR, 60 fps and 5.1 sound are possible. Data usage can be up to 20 GB / hr. be.
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gaming experience
We tried Stadia both in the editorial office and at home, and with different good connections. At home, a 50-Mbit line was available via Wi-Fi. 4K resolution was possible and provided a crisp picture on Red Dead Redemption 2, Destiny 2 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider. Add to that HDR and surround sound. However, it was not quite consistent: in the meantime, there were always short breaks in resolution and frame rate, in addition to small lags in the controller.
In the editorial office, we first used a slow Wi-Fi network with just 10 Mbit: The games either did not start at all or stopped quickly because the connection was not enough. According to Google, at least a 720p resolution should flicker across the screen. Over the 1000 Mbit line we had then in the WLAN as well as LAN a very clean play experience. But once again regular, short dropouts did not last.
Red Dead Redemption 2, Destiny 2, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Mortal Kombat 11, Samurai Shodown, Kine and the Stadia Exclusive title Gylt were played. A separate test for this creepy action adventure follows next week. The conclusion is similar for all games: With a strong connection we felt and saw mostly hardly a difference to the respective PC or console version, All entries were implemented with a very small delay, which could disturb at most absolute hardcore gamers.
Even on small displays like a smartphone (we tested with the Pixel 3a XL) and laptop, Stadia offered a compelling gaming experience. Mobile gambling via LTE is not possible. In view of the relatively high consumption, this is understandable, otherwise many users would be depleted of the monthly data volume within a very short time.
Overall, we have the impression that Google's minimum Internet connection requirements are set too low. Under 20 Mbit is expected to frequent and severe impairments. On the other hand, if you want the maximum resolution and a largely interference-free gambling, we think it needs at least 50 Mbit. If the connection breaks once, the progress is saved for a few minutes – as soon as you are back online, it continues at this point.