A brighter Stages Google announced this year, the new gaming platform of the major search giant. Stages must change the way of gaming as we know it today. With Google Stages you no longer need a console to play high-quality games. The cloud gaming service will start this summer. The first hands-on tests are now available online, what can you expect from Stadia and how is the new game streaming platform received by gamers?
Stream games via cloud gaming service
Google Stadia is the first gaming platform where everything takes place in the cloud, both developing and playing the games. This gives gamers access to their entire game collection anytime, anywhere. All they need is a device that supports the Google Chrome browser, such as a computer or laptop, and a smartphone or TV.
The new cloud game streaming platform offers another important advantage because there will never be any more installations, updates or downloads to take place via your console. So you can always start playing immediately, ideal!
Google’s popular video service YouTube is also integrated. So you can watch a YouTube tutorial and immediately start playing the game. A special Play Now button is provided on the controller for this purpose. Because although you no longer need a physical console, Google has developed a beautiful controller for Stages. This is basically very similar to that of the Xbox and PS4. In addition, some extra buttons have been added, such as a so-called capture button, to make print screens of the gameplay, and a button to activate the Google Assistant.
Streaming high-quality games were impossible for a long time. Although there are of course already several streaming services, such as PlayStation Now, this is not comparable to Stadia. After all, no console is needed. If it’s up to Google, the consoles can only be admired in the game console museum in the future.
The controller makes a direct connection to a Google data center. The disadvantage of this is that the input stroke, also called latency, becomes larger. This results in a less good gaming experience, especially in action games. But the technological possibilities do not stand still, with Stadia you should at least be bothered by this.
Google Stages specs
Google Stadia has a 2.7 GHz x86 CPU and a composite AMD GPU with 10.7 teraflops. In addition, there is 16GB of RAM available and an infinite amount of SSD storage. Games must be able to start within five seconds and also in-game loading times will be drastically shortened.
With Stadia it is possible to stream games in Full HD 1080p @ 60fps, for which you need an internet speed of 25 Mbit / s. For 4K gaming speed of 30 Mbit / s is required, this is also possible in 60fps with beautiful HDR images. In the future, it should even be possible to play games via Stadia 8K, with an amazing frame rate of 120fps. With Google’s gaming solution, your internet speed determines the gaming experience. This is all the more true for multiplayer games requiring an even higher upload and download speed.
The new gaming service should also make it easier for game developers. When everyone starts playing games via the cloud, developers no longer have to optimize their game per console. For the time being, however, this will remain the future, and finally, the Nintendo Switch, the Sony PS4, and the Xbox One X are still in full use.
In fact, it is well known that a Nintendo Switch 2, a Sony PS5 and an Xbox Two are also being developed. Although Microsoft is also developing a cheap Xbox streaming console, several powerful consoles are in development. So for the time being there will still be enough alternatives available, at least an exciting time is coming for gamers.
Advantages and disadvantages of gaming in the cloud
Google wants to launch Stadia in the summer of 2019. For the time being it is unclear what this new way of gaming should cost. It is possible that Google will create certain subscriptions or that gamers can pay per game. There are certainly a lot of questions, especially about multiplayer games and live streaming of games.
Nevertheless, the initial reactions from gamers who have already been able to test Stadia are predominantly positive. After all, you never have to replace expensive hardware, you no longer have to download updates and games are accessible on many more devices. All pluses. Of course there are also disadvantages, the time will have to show whether Google’s cloud game streaming platform has the future.
