Except, it wasn’t really. In fact, Google Stadia has been playing catchup since launch. Save for a period in early 2020 when it appeared things were shifting in its favor, Google Stadia has stalled.
But that’s not the only reason I’ve cancelled my subscription to Stadia.
Why I Chose Google Stadia in the First Place
My reason for subscribing to Stadia was simple. I had no intention of buying a next-gen PlayStation or Xbox when they were released. Breaking the upgrade cycle seemed like a smart option, not just economically, but ecologically, too.
Powerful gaming servers streaming AAA titles across the internet to your home, without the need for specialist hardware. What is not to like?
Back in July 2019 I pre-ordered the Stadia Founders Edition. Early ordering ensured some early bonuses such as two free games and username selection. Some free subscription months were also included, which when completed would continue at $9.99/month.
It’s worth pointing out that despite no requirement for specialist hardware, playing Stadia titles on a TV does need peripherals. The Stadia Founders Edition included a Google Chromecast Ultra and a single Stadia controller. For family gaming, I added a second controller to my order.
Early on, the Stadia impressed. But its shortcomings were all too obvious. These included (but were not limited to):
A narrow library of games Controller input lag Frustratingly non-intuitive and frankly brain-dead approach to sharing clips Initial inability for Founders Edition subscribers to activate their subscription
As a subscriber to fiber broadband, most connection issues didn’t affect me personally. But they certainly impacted many others and made the minimum requirement of a 10MB/s connection completely erroneous.
While most of these issues were resolved, 18 months on, Google Stadia is still far from perfect. Various announcements from Google since mid-2020, meanwhile, suggest that they’ve lost confidence. It’s hardly a surprise—so have I. Here’s why…
1. Google Stadia Is Expensive
No one expects to be able to stream games across the internet for free. But when you’re paying a regular monthly subscription of $9.99, you expect a certain level of quality.
For the (still limited) game library, streaming stability, and latency, not to mention the limited features, Stadia is expensive. Sure, you get HDR and Dolby 5.1, but compared to Xbox Live, Stadia Store is disappointing. It’s not like Google doesn’t have the resources to compete.
The free trial is useful, for sure. It gives you a great opportunity to see what Stadia is about. But you’re more likely to retain the subscription by forgetting to cancel than because you’re so into Stadia.
From my point of view as a Stadia Founder Edition owner, I got a Chromecast Ultra out of it. On the other hand, I got to play Farm Simulator for free, so, meh.
2. Console-Free Gaming Is Not as Good as It Sounds
All you need to play games on Stadia is an internet connection, a PC or mobile device, and a controller.
It sounds amazing, but in truth, console free gaming isn’t as seamless and easy as it should be.
Switching on a TV/opening a browser to start playing a game should be easy. For some reason it invariably seems more difficult than switching on a console, waiting, inserting a disc, waiting…
Google Stadia can be played on any TV that you can connect the Chromecast Ultra to. It even works on a budget Chromebook, or a modest Raspberry Pi computer. Despite what seems to be a perfect gaming offering, Stadia just feels like a chore to use.
3. Google Stadia Controllers Are Weird
It’s not entirely due to the streaming experience, or the simple loading procedure. Stadia’s controller is, frankly, uninspiring. Workmanlike at best, the controllers are just the right side of ergonomic, but miss the responsiveness you expect from PlayStation and Xbox controllers. While I have no doubt that they share almost all of the same key parts, that’s just the internals.
Outside, Stadia controllers feel cheap and flimsy. While USB Type-C charging is welcome, these controllers don’t feel sturdy enough to survive a drop or be slammed down in anger.
4. The Games Remain Expensive
With a Google Stadia subscription, you get to add a bunch of games to your library every month. However, these titles aren’t yours to keep. Rather, they remain playable for as long as your subscription continues. Only the games you spend actual money on remain accessible if you cancel.
Overall, however, games are expensive.
Example: Monster Jam Steel Titans 2 is $39.99 on Stadia and just $29.99 on Steam. While this is only one title, it is demonstrative of the inflated pricing across the Stadia store. Indie games are more affordable, but Google Stadia was supposed to be about AAA gaming. You can play many of the same indie games on Android.
To make matters worse, Google has now stopped internal development of Stadia games. With the closure of Stadia Gaming & Entertainment (SG&E) Studios, only third-party games will arrive on the platform.
Not a disaster on its own, of course. However, this decision betrays a lack of confidence in a platform that has stuttered since the get-go. Oh, and SG&E failed to release a single game on Stadia.
5. Google Doesn’t Understand Gamers
Clearly digital products should cost less than the physical release. The growth in steelbooks and metal cases for special edition releases of AAA titles proves there is still a need for gamers to enjoy the tactile experience of receiving a new game.
The thing is, very few of those gamers are likely to be using Stadia.
Meanwhile, Google Stadia was touted as a solution to the cyclical hardware upgrade of consoles every five years or so. This should make it an attractive option to casual gamers.
The thing is, Stadia seems complicated and slow. Very few of those gamers are likely to use it.
And with a library of games that remains on the empty side, Google Stadia has struggled to gain a foothold with either audience. As of early 2021, just 179 games have been released on Stadia. Of that number, almost a quarter have been withdrawn.
6. There Is a Google-Wide Lack of Confidence in Stadia
Sure, there is mounting evidence that Google has been having second thoughts about Stadia for quite some time. Happily, this time, I’m ahead of them. Me and Stadia are done, and I’m saving over $100 a year. That should buy at least a couple of physical games on a platform that understands gamers.
Google Stadia: An Expensive Alternative to Inserting a Disc
Sure, a $500 console with $50-60 games is more expensive than $120 a year. But with a console you own, you at least get to choose the platform and the games you buy. You’re not limited to a narrow library and substandard features.
The writing has been on the wall for Stadia almost since launch. Without a considerable change in public attitude to the service, its best chance of survival is incorporation into Android or the Play Store.
So, I’m out. Stadia is cancelled, just the two games that I bought remain available, and I probably won’t play them.
“The Netflix of Gaming”? Google Stadia is more like Blockbuster Video.
