Google Stadia Cloud Game Service to Launch in November for $10 Per Month

Google announced the pricing and the game titles for its Stadia streaming service. Stadia will launch this year November with support from major game developers. Stadia’s library of games will cost $9.99 a month, while a free version will let people buy games outright and play them through the system.

Google has released more details about its future streaming service in a live stream today. There will be a free and a paid subscription and for the most part games can be purchased separately. Stadia is offered as a paid version of Stadia Pro, which requires 9.99 euros monthly fee. At this price, streaming in 4K resolution with 60 FPS and HDR is promised, if your own Internet line is fast enough. Google recommends between 30 and 35 Mbps for this quality level. 

Google shared that the following games will be available on Stadia, which isn't a long list to be brutally honest:

• DRAGON BALL XENOVERSE 2
• DOOM Eternal
• Wolfenstein: Youngblood
• Destiny 2
• Power Rangers: Battle For The Grid
• Baldur's Gate 3
• Metro Exodus
• Thumper
• GRID
• SAMURAI SHODOWN
• Football Manager 2020
• Get Packed
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• The Crew 2
• The Division 2
• Assassin's Creed Odyssey
• Ghost Recon Breakpoint
• Trials Rising
• NBA 2K
• Borderlands 3
• Farming Simulator 19
• Mortal Kombat 11
• Rage 2
• FINAL FANTASY XV
• Gylt
• Tomb Raider Trilogy
• Darksiders Genesis
• Just Dance 2020

Consumers who already own some of the titles on Stadia will have to buy them again through Google to play them on the service. It’s also only available through Chrome or on Google devices, meaning iPhone owners won’t be able to take advantage of playing Stadia on their phones.  Google's Stadia is runing on the company's global network of lightning-fast internet cables and data centers. They allow the company to run games in the cloud and stream them out to peoples’ computers, TVs and phones reports cdrinfo:

Note that purchasing an individual Stadia Controller does not entitle you to Stadia access. To access Stadia in 2019, you’ll need to purchase a bundle. You can now pre-order the Stadia Founder’s Edition at the Google Store. Google is offering the Founder’s Edition packs -a nearly $300 of value into $129.99 - which includes:

• A Chromecast Ultra
• A limited-edition Night Blue Stadia Controller
• Three months of Stadia Pro (more on that below)
• A three month Buddy Pass to bring one friend along for the ride
• Dibs on selecting a Stadia Name

The Founder’s Edition gives the first set of fans the Stadia Pro and the ability to play games across multiple screens (users with a 4K TV and Stadia Pro will get up to 4K HDR resolution at 60 frames per second with 5.1 surround sound). Stadia Pro will include free content, as well as discounts on titles users buy. The first free title is “Destiny 2,” and it comes with the base game, all previous add-ons, the upcoming Shadowkeep expansion and the annual pass. And after a free 3-month subscription ends, Stadia Pro is $9.99 per month.

Stadia Founder's Edition tech specs

Stadia Controller

• Dimensions:163 mm (6.42 in) x 105 mm (4.13 in) x 65 mm (2.56 in)
• Weight: 268g (9.45 oz)
• Wi-Fi: Dual-band (2.4GHz / 5GHz) IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac connectivity
• Bluetooth: luetooth Low Energy 4.2 (BLE)
• Headset jack:3.5mm headset jack for headsets with or without microphone
• USB: USB-C port for charging, wired gameplay, and accessories such as USB-C headsets. HID-compliant
• Google Assistant button and microphone: Google Assistant button to trigger microphone
• Capture button: Quick access to image and video capture
• Battery: Internal rechargeable Li-Ion battery
• Colors: Night Blue

Google Chromecast Ultra

• Dimensions: 58.20 mm (2.29 in) x 13.70 mm (0.53 in) x 58.20 mm (2.29 in)
• Weight: Device: 1.6 oz (47 g), Adapter: 3.5 oz (101 g)
• Resolution: Supports all resolutions up to 4K Ultra HD and high dynamic range (HDR)
• Wireless: 802.11ac (2.4GHz/5Ghz) 1x2 MISO Wi-Fi for high-performance streaming
• Power: Power supply required and included
• Ports & Connectors:
• HDMI plugs directly into the TV
• Micro-USB for power and data
• Ethernet port on the power adapter for hard-to-reach Wi-Fi spots in your home
• Supported Operating Systems
• Android 4.2 and higher
• iOS 9.1 and higher
• macOS X 10.9 and higher
• Windows 7 and higher
• Colors: Black

What's in the box

• Stadia Controller (Night Blue)
• USB-C to A cable
• Power Adapter
• Google Chromecast Ultra (Black)
• Power adapter with integrated cable (required)

Extra controllers for multiplayer games or laptops come in three colors—Just Black, Clearly White or Wasabi—for $69.99.

Those who don’t need 4K quality resolution can still play games on virtually any screen with instant access and no downloads, updates, or patches. Coming in 2020, Stadia Base is how users will play games they purchase in up to 1080p resolution and 60 frames per second without an active subscription to Stadia Pro. Stadia Founder’s Edition is the first way to get Stadia in November, and Google will be announcing even more games later this summer.

Stadia Pro

• Three months included in Founder's Edition.
• Part of Founder's Edition
• Resolution: Up to 4K
• Frame rate: 60 FPS
• Sound: 5.1 surround sound
• Buy games whenever you want: Yes
• Additional free games released regularly: Yes, starting with Destiny 2: The Collection 
• Stadia Pro-exclusive discounts on select game purchases: Yes
• $9.99 / mo

Stadia Base

• Coming next year
• Resolution: Up to 1080p
• Frame rate: 60 FPS
• Sound: Stereo
• Buy games whenever you want: Yes
• Additional free games released regularly: No
• Stadia Pro-exclusive discounts on select game purchases: No

Phil Harrison, an industry veteran who now runs Google’s gaming division, said the company has developed technology to make streaming work even with middling connections. Multiplayer -- which requires even more bandwidth -- will be as fast as single player, Google said.

“We will surprise people with how low the bandwidth requirements are,” Harrison said. Hardcore gamers generally already have strong connections, and those are the people Google is going for first, Harrison said. “We want to get to as many people as possible, but it’s not possible to reach everyone at the same time, so we start with the more core enthusiast gamers.”

Google recommends an internet speed of at least 10 mbps for a 720p experience on Stadia. Faster connections can experience up to 4k streaming, dependent on connection speed.

If you happen to lose connection during gameplay, Stadia will maintain the game where it got cut off for several minutes so that you can quickly get back online without losing progress. Also, if the bandwidth fluctuates, Stadia will adjust to deliver the best possible visual quality at all times.