Being aware of the advantages and disadvantages, I declare myself a defender of the game via streaming. I have been using GeForce Now for months and now, taking advantage of the fact that Google opened the platform for everyone and gave two months for free, I started testing Stadia Pro . And yes, I admit that the experience is being good, but there are things that must change or this does not end well.
Stadia’s strength: Google technology
Talking about Stadia and explaining what it is and how it works I don’t think it’s really necessary. At this point in the film, it was presented in 2019 and launched at the end of the year, most already know that it is a streaming game service that you can run on phones, tablets, computers and even televisions with Android TV or a Chromecast Ultra. Oh, and that is Google who is behind, good and bad news at the same time.
So knowing all this, that Stadia offers the possibility of playing all kinds of titles without the need for a high-performance console or PC Gaming, the only requirement is to have a compatible device where you can run the official app or with the possibility to run the latest versions of the Chrome browser. If you meet and have a good internet connection, the service works great from minute one.
That technological capacity of Google is what adds value and strength to Stadia as a service. Because it allows you to forget about everything and focus solely and exclusively on the gaming experience. The control responds perfectly to your actions and the delay between pressing the command button and seeing the action reflected on the screen is minimal. But the big problem comes when you go to play, especially if you compare it to what GeForce Now offers.
The catalog of games: the great enemy of Stadia
Despite the fact that today we are still arguing to see which is the best mobile or desktop operating system, the best gaming platform, etc., in the end it all comes down to a simple question: catalog. Whoever has the best and greatest variety of applications and / or games will be the one who manages to get the user’s attention (and the money). The rest of the components, such as design, power, etc., are important, but they quickly lose weight. And if not, let them tell Nintendo.
Well, in the case of the Stadia catalog I admit that it is not bad, but it is insufficient. It does not become what it was initially expected to be. There are interesting titles like DOOM Eternal, Metro Exodus, The Division 2, Red Read Redemption 2 and many others, there is also indie -very interesting is Gylt- and when Cyberpunk 2077 is released it will also be playable. But … free or with access to Stadia Pro (9.99 euros per month) the offer is very small.
When you enter Stadia the offer of titles that you can play is very limited . And I am not talking about the free plan, I am also referring to the Pro. That takes away many points. But it is that the catalog of games to buy is not very extensive either.
In that sense, as much as other flaws can be found, the GeForce Now option I still consider to be the most attractive today. It is true that its catalog has been reduced, but still there are many games that you can play and that you have not had to buy from Nvidia in a unique way. You can also play the ones you have on platforms like Steam or other digital stores like Epic or Ubisoft. And that is interesting compared to Stadia.
In addition, the big problem for Stadia would not be having to buy the games, although there would always be the question of what would happen if Google gets tired of the project, but having to return to pay practically the same price or more than what you currently have. Those games for PC or consoles would cost. So, if you add the little catalog and having to pay again for the games, the most lovers of video games will see little appeal. And the casual player will surely think about it if he is not going to play much.
Stadia needs a strong push
If I rely solely and exclusively on platform technology, Stadia is a blast. Even in these moments in which the quality has been reduced so as not to overload the network, the games are fluid and the experience is so close to that of playing locally that you easily forget that you are doing it through the internet.
And yes, all you need is a computer or any other device capable of running Chrome on its desktop version and a minimum of power, but nothing out of the ordinary. So much so that with only your smartphone or Chromebook you could already access it and enjoy it as if you were doing it from a powerful gaming computer.
But that’s the good part, the friendly face of the service. Side B is that not all mobile devices are supported yet. It is true that many Android terminals can be accessed just by starting via Chrome and forcing the desktop view, but a great endorsement could be iPhone or iPad users. But Apple does not allow Stadia to reach its App Store. If we add to this their reduced catalog of games and the price they ask to play quality titles, but they have almost completed their cycle on consoles and PCs, the story becomes complicated.
During the two months that Google offers Stadia Pro I will continue testing and playing it, maybe it will encourage me to buy a game, but I will think about it a lot. The same that I will think if after that time I pay or not the 9.99 euros per month.
How to use Stadia on any Android smartphone
Before I mentioned it, Stadia is only compatible with Pixel family phones and some other high-end smartphones. They are models where Google guarantees a 100% experience. But if you want to play Stadia on any Android phone , you have to know that you can just do the following:
- Open Chrome and access the Stadia website
- When you do, tap the three dot Chrome icon and select Force desktop view
- You will load the web as if you did it from a computer and Stadia will interpret it, so it will let you play
It is true that this trick or way to force access to Stadia from an Android smartphone is not optimal, but once you avoid some problems because of how everything is displayed and you have started the game, the experience will be the same, only with a diagonal of smaller screen. Remember, you will need a controller to play and do it optimally.
