Google Stadia: Subscription cost, Games List, Requirements, and more

In this post, we are going to give you a brief review of the Google Stadia along with necessary details like the subscription cost, games list, free games, compatibility requirements and much more.

In 2019, Google launched the Stadia platform to provide users access to games without any dedicated gaming hardware. And since launch, it is quite popular among gaming enthusiasts.

So, Let’s Check it Out…

What is Google Stadia?

In short, Stadia is a cloud gaming platform from Google.

Basically in cloud gaming, all the dedicated gaming hardware is located on an offshore server and you can play games on them with your basic computer or TV through the internet.

This is similar to streaming videos on YouTube. But here you can control the video feed through the stadia in real-time.

Stadia Performance and Gameplay

In our testing, Stadia worked really well on a stable internet connection. But, this was not the case with unreliable internet or bad Wi-Fi.

Also, the Stadia is not as responsive or graphically better as that of running the game locally on your own high-end PC. And, there is some extra latency you can feel with the Stadia. Although, this extra latency is much less than what you get with the Xbox One X.

Now, these experiences may vary from person to person. Some of the users have reported an unplayable input lag.

See, there are various factors that can affect your Stadia experience. The data speeds and quality of the internet, your Wi-Fi router, local interference, location of nearby Stadia data center are only some of them.

You can check your internet connection speed for stadia from this Google’s official speed test website.

Stadia Connection Requirements and Compatibility

For Stadia, you don’t need a very high-speed internet connection. Google recommends a minimum of 10 Megabits per second to play in 720p at 60 frames per second.

To play in 4K, the internet download speed has to be at least greater than 35 Megabits per second. The highest quality will consume at about 20 Gigabits of data per hour, so it can be an issue with someone with a limited data plan.

Google Stadia can run on any modern smartphone, laptop or TV. On Windows, Mac and Chromebooks, Stadia can run on their Chrome browsers.

If you a smartphone, you can install the Stadia mobile app on your device and play on it using the official touch controls. Also, if you want to play games on mobile data connection i.e 4G or 5G, you can do so by enabling the options in the Stadia app settings.

Now, all the modern controllers like the DualShock 4 and Nintendo Switch Pro Controller are compatible with the Stadia on the Mobile as well as the Laptop. You can also use the keyboard and mouse to play games on the laptops.

But, to use Stadia on TV, you will need a Chromecast Ultra and an official Stadia controller.

Google Stadia’s Graphics Quality

Now, Stadia can run games in 4K at 60 frames per second but, all the games don’t do so. Also, the stream is upscaled to 4K, which means the stream look notably better than its native resolution. It is not a true 4K experience.

This means the games on Stadia does not look graphically better than a high-end gaming PC. Google has already provided the tools for 4K streams, but it’s up to the developers to implement on their games. Also, Graphics quality and performance will increase with time as more and more developers will start to optimize their games for the Stadia platform.

Google Stadia Subscription Cost

All the new users who sign up for the Stadia Pro subscription will get their first month as a trial. And, you will be allowed to access the library of free games.

After a trial month, you are required to pay $10 per month to keep using the Stadia Pro which includes perks like 4K gaming, free games, game discounts, and 5.1 surround sound. If you will cancel the subscription, you can still purchase the games and play it on any device at 1080p for free. You will lose access to the free games library but all the purchased games will be accessible.

You can use Stadia on your laptop or mobile without any additional hardware, but to use it on TV. You will need to buy a Chromecast Ultra and a Stadia controller and you can grab this bundle at a price of $100. A standalone Stadia Controller will cost you around $69.

Google Stadia Games List

Added and Upcoming Titles