Google Stadia Premiere Edition
"Google Stadia has immense potential, but a confusing interface and small library sell it briefly."
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Excellent picture quality
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Plays excellently on TV and on the phone
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1080p animal is free
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Poor PC performance
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Latency can be an issue
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Too few games at the start
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Subscription is not a good value
This review was updated by Matthew S. Smith on 03/04/2020.
I picked up Death Stranding when it was released. Not a download, but a real, physical CD. I took it home and put it on my PlayStation 4 Pro.
You think that would be the end, but it was not. An installation bar crawled across my screen at an agonizing pace. When it was done, I checked the time on my phone. An hour and a half had passed since I touched the game for the first time; 40 minutes since I put it in the console.
Google wants to fix this with Stadia.
What is Stadia?
Stadia is Google's cloud gaming service. You need an internet connection and a Google account. If you have this, starting a game is easy. No expensive console or gaming rig is required. There is no need to install from a disc or cassette. There is nothing to download. Just buy, play, and off you go.
That is the dream anyway. It is big and that means big obstacles. Errors, a lean library and confusing interface decisions bring Stadia's cloud gaming future to the ground.
Stadia basics
Google relies on the simplicity of Stadia, but it is not easy. Misunderstandings about the service have increased since its announcement. It was called "Netflix for games". It was called a console replacement. It was referred to as a switch competitor.
Here is the summary: Stadia is a cloud service that runs games on Google's servers and then transfers them to your device. You can play on a TV, phone, or PC.
Stadia is not an all-in-one game library like Xbox Game Pass, so the comparison "Netflix for games" falls apart.
Stadia has two levels of service. The basic level offers 1080p quality with stereo sound. Unfortunately it is not yet available. The Stadia Pro tier costs $ 10 a month, offers 4K HDR quality, 5.1 surround sound, and benefits like free games and game discounts.
This isn't an all-in-one game library like Xbox Game Pass, so the Netflix for Games comparison falls apart. Aside from a handful of "free" games included in Stadia Pro, you need to buy the Stadia version of every game you want to play in the Stadia store.
Rich Shibley / Digital Trends
Confusion comes in the small print. You can play on your TV, but you'll need a Google Chromecast Ultra to launch it. You can play on a phone, but you need a supporting Android phone. You can play on your PC, but only in the Chrome browser.
There is more. PC users can play on startup, but they cannot play in 4K with HDR. That will not come until 2020. There is a whole table that lists the different ways in which Stadia devices and game controllers work together (or do not work together). You cannot buy games on TV. This is only possible in the Stadia app on your phone.
Stadia has a limitation for every situation.
Access is also confusing. Stadia was launched, but only if you either ordered the $ 129 Founder's Edition or bought the Premiere Edition for a similar price. This includes a Chromecast Ultra, a controller and three months of Stadia Pro. Don't you want the hardware? Then you won't be able to play for now, even if you're ready to pay for Stadia Pro.
It goes on and on and on. Stadia has a limitation for every situation that undermines the simplicity promised by Google.
No, I don't have to wait for a game to be installed like I did when I brought Death Stranding home. But Stadia still gives me a lot to fear.
The controller is overpriced
The founders edition I received for this review includes the Chromecast Ultra and the Stadia controller. We have tested the Chromecast Ultra in the past and it is a simple streaming puck so I don’t spend time describing it. The Stadia Controller, new and unique in Stadia, is more fascinating.
OK, I lied. It is not. It is a generic controller. The design has a lot in common with the Nintendo Switch Pro controller, while the Thumbstick layout is similar to PlayStation's DualShock4.
The Stadia controller feels good in the hand and works well, but is not comparable to the controllers from Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony. The triggers feel a bit loose and the D-Pad is vague compared to the DualShock 4 or Nintendo Switch Pro controller.
Rich Shibley / Digital Trends
The only unique features are two buttons that are located above the "Stadiums" button (which brings up the "Stadiums" menu) and below the "Select" and "Start" buttons. One calls Google Assistant, the other takes screenshots. Technically, these add more features, but I found them confusing. I have pressed the wrong key many times because I am used to having only two keys in this area. However, I assume that I will familiarize myself with the time.
The Stadia Controller can be purchased individually for $ 69. This is the Nintendo Prize and the Stadia Controller doesn't deserve it. An Xbox wireless controller costs $ 60 at MSRP and is often available for far less.
Some good news? The controller works with other games and services. It even works with other cloud gaming services like GeForce Now and Shadow from Nvidia.
You do not have to buy the Stadia controller if you wait until the service is generally available next year. Alternative controllers, including the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One controllers, can be used to play Stadia on a phone or PC. However, they don't work with Chromecast Ultra.
Stadiums fulfill the dream …
It's not looking good for Stadia, is it? The start of Google was half-hearted. Many functions are missing or confusing.
Here's the good news: Stadia works. The dream of seamless, patch-free, download-free and high quality games is true.
I spent most of my time playing Stadia on TV. My home has the luxury of gigabit internet, so I wasn't surprised to see smooth gameplay on my TV. Still, it's an impressive technical feat. The picture quality was excellent. Blur, banding and stuttering were rarely visible, but the image quality was comparable to a console most of the time.
As confirmation, I switched between Destiny 2 in Stadia and Destiny 2 in my PlayStation 4 Pro and found little difference. Details appeared the same on everyone. In dark scenes, the stadiums lacked contrast, but otherwise there were few flaws.
Rich Shibley / Digital Trends
The mobile experience (via WiFi) was even more breathtaking. Destiny 2 looked fantastic on the small, sharp display of the Pixel 3a. Stuttering and delay were rare annoyances that didn't stop me from playing the game.
I am still amazed at how smooth it felt. Stadia sets new standards for graphics quality on mobile devices. This is the full experience running in console quality on a smartphone. The phone doesn't even heat up and the battery life is reasonable as games are run in the cloud. I used less than half of the battery on the Pixel 3a during a two-hour session of Destiny 2.
Google promised to deliver a console-quality gaming experience over the Internet. At this point, Stadia delivers the goods. I couldn't tell the difference between Stadia and my PlayStation 4 Pro. Unlike my PlayStation, Stadia never asked to install, patch or update a game.
As an added bonus, Stadia's loading times are fantastic. Levels are usually loaded in just a few seconds. This is a big leap over the PlayStation 4 Pro, where charging times over 30 seconds are the norm.
… but you have to wake up at some point
At best, Stadia delivers what was promised. This is a technical achievement that deserves recognition. But I think you know what's next. It's time to talk about the shortcomings.
The latency was a companion on all devices that I tried. Google tried to downplay the latency in its marketing, but made no mistake. It is there.
The problem was the worst in Mortal Kombat 11, which like all fighting games requires accurate timing. After less than half an hour, I stopped playing in frustration. I was consistently hit shortly after I pressed the D-pad to dodge while my attacks wielded the space my opponent was just a moment before. I'm the first to admit I'm bad at fighting games, but I've played Mortal Kombat 11 on both the PC and the console. The game felt appealing to both.
Rich Shibley / Digital Trends
In Destiny 2, the latency was bearable thanks to the slow pace of action, but I found that I often missed over-corrected and melee attacks that I should have hit. It didn't make the game more difficult, but it lacked the crisp, snappy feeling I'm used to from playing Destiny 2 on a PC.
The problem was temporary and came and went like the tide. In the worst case, I turned 360 degrees in Destiny 2, as if I had suddenly teleported into a session from Tony Hawk. In other cases, the latency was absent, so even Mortal Kombat 11 felt smooth for a few minutes. Latency often correlated with reduced image quality and stuttering, but not always.
The picture quality can be excellent, but it can be neglected depending on the available bandwidth and the device you are playing with. As you'd expect, you'll have the best experience if you have a great ISP and can connect directly to a router via Ethernet. However, if you cannot do this, you can expect blurriness in the image. The level of softness depends on the resolution you want to play with and the quality of your connection. If you're using Wi-Fi, you can expect the picture quality to vary significantly during your gaming session.
How important that is depends on what you're playing. It didn't affect my experience in Destiny 2 as the game's strong art style shines through even when Stadia's image quality leaps. Shadow of the Tomb Raider, on the other hand, tries a sharp and realistic look. If you are on a PC or TV, you will find that the bandwidth forces the stream to a resolution well below that of the screen.
About this game library
Stadia's technical achievements and shortcomings are worth discussing. It is a revolutionary platform with immense potential and serious problems. However, all of this may not matter since there is not much to play.
The platform offers a slim selection of games. The list includes several popular peculiarities, including Destiny 2, Red Dead Redemption 2, Metro Exodus, NBA 2K20, and the recent Tomb Raider trilogy.
Rich Shibley / Digital Trends
These are good games, nothing will lure players to Stadia from other platforms. Even Apple Arcade started with a strong selection of exclusive games.
I'm also deeply upset with Google's decision to create its own platform. This hurts Destiny 2 deeply, where you can only play with other Stadia players (but your profile is cross-save compatible). Want to show a friend a success in Red Dead Redemption 2? You need to take a photo of it on your phone because your friend may not have used Stadia and may not even have heard of it.
Google's game prices don't look good either. Many games are sold at their original MSRP. Mortal Kombat 11 for PlayStation 4 costs $ 25 on Amazon and $ 59.99 on Stadia. This pattern is repeated throughout the cast. Occasional sales lower the prices of selected titles, but the offers have not yet impressed.
The limited library makes Stadia Pro subscription difficult to bear. Why should you pay $ 60 for Mortal Kombat 11 in Stadia and get a monthly subscription of $ 10? This is only useful if you do not have a current generation console and a playable PC, but want to play modern games with 4K resolution and HDR switched on.
This is the most serious problem for stadiums. It's faster and more convenient than my PlayStation 4 Pro, but I can't play Death Stranding in Stadia. I also can't play Control, Civilization VI, The Witcher 3, Final Fantasy XIV and many other games that I enjoy. Patches and system updates are annoying, but I would rather deal with occasional patches or installations than just play the handful of titles on Stadia.
Use all the data
Streaming can use a lot of data, and Stadia is no exception. In fact, it is one of the data hungry services you can use today.
I tested the data usage when playing Destiny 2 on the Pixel 3a via WiFi. After three test runs, each lasting five minutes, the average data usage was approximately 830 megabytes per test. Do the math and Stadia consumes an incredible 10 gigabytes every hour.
Stadia consumes an incredible 10 gigabytes every hour.
Playing at this speed is not possible on the go, even if you have a data connection that is reliable enough to make it possible. You will quickly use up your data limit. Remember that even unlimited plans are not really unlimited. Heavy players may encounter their data limits when connected to the internet at home, although I assume that this will be rare.
Our opinion
The Stadia from Google is an amazing technical feat. I am honestly impressed with its quality and performance. I was skeptical, but I came out as a convert. Cloud gaming works. Home consoles will last at least another generation, but Stadia proves that the cloud can really replace a console – at least if you have an excellent internet connection.
That makes it a shame that the execution of Google Stadia has turned into a labyrinth with no exit and with many dead ends. The functions do not work the same on all devices. PC performance is a disaster. And the limited game library will not win Stadia fans.
Maybe one day I'll leave my consoles to the cloud, but I'll keep them for now. Stadia is not worth the price of the $ 129 Premium Edition or the $ 10 monthly subscription.
Is there a better alternative?
Alternatives include GeForce Now from Nvidia, Shadow, PlayStation Now and Microsoft’s Project xCloud, which is still being tested. Shadow is arguably the most mature of them, and since it mimics a PC, it can play almost anything a PC can play. The downside is pricing; With an annual commitment, it is at least $ 12.99 per month. Nvidia's GeForce Now is the budget option and even offers a free tier with a session limit of one hour, but limited to a resolution of 1080p.
Should you buy it
Stadia has potential. However, you cannot play potential games.
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