Google shared several Stadia details last month, including pricing, launch titles, and more. Now, it has revealed more details on its upcoming gaming service, including about the controller, local multiplayer, sign-in process, supported phones and more.
Google has updated Stadia’s FAQ section, answering several crucial questions. Talking about the sign-up process for the gaming service when it launches in November, the search giant says users will get the redemption code on their account that they used to purchase the Founder’s Edition.
After they receive the code, it can be used on a “different email account.” This means that if you want to gift Stadia to anyone you can easily do so. “You can then use a different email account when redeeming your Stadia redemption code,” the FAQ page says.
Talking of the how long the games will remain available to the users, Google says a game purchased on the gaming service will always remain with the gamer. “Once you purchase the game, you own the right to play it,” Google says.
Also, even if the game is no longer available to purchase or the publisher pulls support from Stadia, “existing players will still be able to play the game.”
This will come as a big relief to the users who were planning on subscribing to the service. Publishers pulling out games are a rare thing, but it is possible. Cloud gaming is a relatively new thing with an unproven distribution model.
So, it is not yet known how beneficial it will be for the publishers, who may initially join Stadia but leave it later. It could also happen that any other cloud gaming provider could force exclusivity resulting in the publisher pulling it off the Stadia platform. In such a situation, Stadia users will lose games that they have paid for.
However, with Google now assuring that they won’t let users lose the games, it would play a crucial role in helping users’ decide if they want to go for Stadia or not. “Outside of unforeseen circumstances, Stadia will aim to keep any previously purchased title available for gameplay,” the FAQ page reads.
Detailing about the multiplayer gaming, the FAQ page says the number of gamers will depend on the game. However, the Stadia account will support a maximum of four Stadia controllers during local multiplayer game play.
Talking further about the Stadia Controller, the FAQ page says a user can easily plug the controller into a PC, phone or tablet via USB-C. One can also use Bluetooth for a direct connection between controllers and phones. Speaking of Wi-Fi, the search giant says the “Stadia Controller uses BLE for setup and then connects via Wi-Fi for gameplay.”
Speaking of the supported mobile devices, at launch, the gameplay will be limited to the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a (3a, 3a XL, 3, 3XL). Users, however, will be able to purchase and manage content from any device running iOS 11 (or higher) or Android M (or higher). Google says any tablet running the Chrome OS will be able to enjoy Stadia in the future.
This should come as disappointing news for the iPhone users, who would have been planning to play the games on the go or picking up the game from where they left off on the TV. As of now, there is no information when Stadia will get iOS support, but Google has assured that “more devices will be made available in the future.”
Google also talked about whether Stadia would support Daydream or other VR headsets. Though the company gave no definite answer, its response did open up the possibility of support arriving in the future. “At this time, we have no news to share regarding VR support on Stadia,” the search giant said.
More Stadia details that the company shared is that the first-party content from its Entertainment studio and in-house Stadia games will be available on the platform. Also, if you are playing a game and the Internet connection is lost, the progress you made will be held intact for a few minutes. There is no cross-platform support for now, but Google says it would work with developers on this.
Google Stadia will be available in the U.S. and 13 more countries in November. The Founders Edition program costs $130. At the launch, users will get access to 31 games, such as Doom Eternal, GRID, Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey, Wolfenstein: Youngblood, The Division 2 and more.
