Stadia will have free online multiplayer, publisher subscriptions, and won't work on Android TVs

by ShawnDex

"A few more tidbits from Stadia head Phil Harrison.

What you need to know

Stadia Base will support online multiplayer games for free.

Publishers will have the option to create subscription-based plans to access a library of its games.

At launch, Stadia will not support Android TVs.

Google Stadia has been causing a lot of excitement at E3 about the future of gaming. Recently, Stadia head Phil Harrison sat down for an interview and revealed some more details https://9to5google.com/2019/06/09/harrison-stadia-e3-interview .

First thing's first, Stadia Base will include online multiplayer for free as long as the publisher doesn't require a subscription. In contrast, you would have to pay up to $9.99 per month for Xbox Live or PlayStation Plus in order to enjoy most multiplayer online games.

Next, we found out a little more about the future of buying games through the service. When Stadia was first announced, we learned that you'd be able to purchase games or play some select free games with your Stadia Pro subscription. Now, we're learning that Stadia will also support publisher subscriptions.

Prime examples of this would be EA Access or Xbox Game Pass, both of which give you access to a collection of games for one monthly fee. In the future, it is likely we could see something similar on Stadia, but it is up to each individual publisher to make it available or not.

Finally, we have some bad news for Android TV owners. At launch, Google Stadia will not have support for Android TVs with Chromecast built in. This update comes in response to a question on Reddit https://www.reddit.com/r/Stadia/comments/bxk05t/stadia_connect_summer_2019_roundup/eq8h0y1/?context=3 from the Stadia community manager who said, "at launch, you'll need to use a Chromecast Ultra to play Stadia on your TV. We're starting with Chromecast Ultra and will continue to add more compatible options."

There was no word on when or if Android TV support would come, so if you're looking to use Stadia on your TV, it looks like you're going to need a Chromecast Ultra. If you don't already have a Chromecast Ultra, then picking up the Stadia Founder's Edition is probably your best bet.

For $129, you'll get the limited edition Night Blue controller, a Chromecast Ultra, Destiny 2, and three months of Stadia Pro for you and a friend.

Stadia Founder's Edition https://store.google.com/product/stadia_founders_edition

A good way to start

This bundle includes everything you need to get started with Google Stadia. It includes the controller, Chromecast Ultra, Destiny 2, and three months of the Stadia Pro subscription for you and a friend. It's a great way to begin your game streaming journey"

https://www.androidcentral.com/stadia-will-have-free-online-multiplayer-publisher-subscriptions-and-wont-work-android-tvs

reiji_tamashii

At launch, Stadia will not support Android TVs.

Google must have a TON of extra Chromecast Ultras that they're trying to unload as part of the Founders bundle.

Wouldn't Android TV devices be ideal for Stadia? I don't have any facts to back it up, but it seems to me that using an app on the TV or Chromecast Built-in on your TV would have less latency than and HDMI-connected Chromecast.

sevenumb

If it doesn't even come to the shield tv then oh god lol

serpentxx

this news doesnt shock me really, its a soft launch anyway, the early adopters are guinea pigs.

by the time it launches in Australia for ms it will be either tried and tested and have an app on almost every device.

Or, one of the other streaming services will take dominance, looking at you valve for a suprise "steam stream", as they have the massive game library to back it up

nolesfan2011

This product will be abandoned within 6 months

WazWaz

This is sensible. They want to launch on a completely known system that they control the updates on, not 5 random systems of various ages, each with a set of fanboys ready to get angry at them if it doesn't work well.

FrankLucas347

Why not just access Stadia via a multiplatform Android application like Shadow for example?

The funny thing about all this is that it is likely that Microsoft will take better care of google OS with Xcloud than Google itself.

OldStyleCubFan

I thought I had already bought a 'new kind of game counsel'. Does anyone want to buy an OUYA?

goodBEan

At launch, Stadia will not support Android TVs.

Ok then. I can wait. I wasn't going to jump on it to early.

asng

My main worry about Stadia is Phil Harrison being in charge. PlayStation was in a horrible, horrible state during his time at Sony.

spurdosparade

Stadia will have free online multiplayer, publisher subscriptions, and won't work on Android TVs at launch

Fix'd for you.

EDIT: fix'd for me lol

CrabbitJambo

Casing a lot of excitement? Not for me it hasn’t!

Tr3v0r

Canceled pre-order. Shield support or bust.

mashturbo

Ok I've got a problem with this. All of my android tvs has casting built in and Ethernet ports. I can stream YouTube tv with no issues on wifi and i can cast anything with no drop in resolution. Making me use up another hdmi port just to cast is awful because all my ports are taken up by what? other game consoles.

JimboLodisC

Shit, guess I won't be gifting that CC Ultra to my parents after all.

SpiderDice

Not working on Shield at launch? No thanks Google..

akisnet

Clearly Stadia and Chromecast teams are giving middle finger to Android TV team. We saw previous wars between Google Plus team vs all...

Even Mi box 3 is capable with 2 GB RAM and since the controller connects directly to Google's servers through WiFi. Android TV hasn't good name, sluggish Sony and Philips Tvs it was their problem but who cares about truth. Android TV 8.0 improved and slimmed down very much, it gave me back 600mb and far far better RAM management. I use Android TV since 6.0 on Nexus Player Xiaomi Box 3 and Shield TV.

Piracy and sideloading of apps is another reason according to my opinion. Still digital trends reviewer throw stones to Android TV for example. It is 2019 and still refers to sluggish 2016 Sony models. Many reviewers prefer webOS kindergarten.

Journalist at Verge writing for Stadia in his articles hopes/wants to see in Apple TV, Fire TV, more phones iPads. He mentions all the platforms that Google should support or his f@&$ iPhone but zero reference to the physical TV platform of Google. Even now they review media platforms zero mention to Android TV.

TheRealSilverBlade

why the hell would I want to introduce lag by using a chromecast, which adds lag because it's only wifi?