History of video games/Platforms/Google Stadia

__NOTOC__ History Development thumb|The Googleplex in Mountain View, California. Rumors of projects that would become Stadia date back to as early as 2016.Hindy Joe RIP Google Stadia, the gaming service aimed at no one https://www.androidauthority.com/rip-google-stadia-3267642/ 4 September 2023 Android Authority 18 January 2023 en Around 2018 and 2019 rumors spread of a "Project Yeti" game console made by Google, and associated with Project Stream.Pennington Dean Google expected to announce 'Yeti' game streaming console at GDC 2019 https://www.techspot.com/news/78885-google-expected-announce-yeti-game-streaming-console-gdc.html 4 September 2023 TechSpot 22 February 2019Roettgers Janko Google’s Gaming Service: Patents, Code Snippets and Other Clues Suggest Chromecast Link https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/google-gaming-service-device-chromecast-yeti-1203164633/ 4 September 2023 Variety 15 March 2019Haselton Todd Google is about to reveal its plan to take on the $140 billion gaming industry, but experts are skeptical it has a chance https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/17/google-yeti-gaming-announcement-expectations.html 4 September 2023 CNBC 17 March 2019 enAmadeo Ron Google’s “Yeti” is reportedly a gaming hardware, streaming service beast https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2018/02/report-google-considering-a-game-streaming-service-console-hardware/ 4 September 2023 Ars Technica 7 February 2018 en-us Stadia Games and Entertainment was revealed as a first party studio for the Stadia at GDC 2019.Webster Andrew Google created its own studio for Stadia-exclusive games https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/19/18272996/google-stadia-studio-games-entertainment-exclusives-gdc-2019 The Verge 3 November 2020 en 19 March 2019 Several employees leading development on Stadia had previously worked on Gaikai or PlayStation Now.Hollister Sean The writing’s on the wall for Google Stadia https://www.theverge.com/22260994/google-stadia-platform-white-label-option 2 February 2021 The Verge 1 February 2021 en Launch thumb|Stadia logo. Just prior to the announcement of the Stadia at GDC San Francisco in March of 2019 a gaming history exhibit featuring a number of products owned by the Video Game History Foundation was placed on display. This display included important retro gaming gear on pedestals with an empty pedestal for the new product coming soon, which would be Stadia.Stadia's issues were clear from the start This Week in Business https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-02-05-stadias-issues-were-clear-from-the-start-this-week-in-business 8 February 2021 GamesIndustry.biz en Though this generated important revenue from the foundation,@frankcifaldi https://twitter.com/frankcifaldi/status/1196880617369145362 8 February 2021 as all the other pedestal items were commercial failures, some saw this mix up as a bad omen. Google Stadia launched on November 19th, 2019.Hollister Sean Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service is coming November 19th: Everything you need to know https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/6/18654632/google-stadia-price-release-date-games-bethesda-ea-doom-ubisoft-e3-2019 The Verge 3 November 2020 en 6 June 2019Hollister Sean Google Stadia review: the best of cloud gaming is still just a beta https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/18/20970297/google-stadia-review-gaming-streaming-cloud-price-specs-features-chrome-pixel The Verge 3 November 2020 en 18 November 2019 There were a number of issues on launch day, though many remained hopeful for the future of the service.Noonan Keith Google Fumbled the Launch of Its Stadia Gaming Platform, but It Might Not Matter https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/11/26/google-fumbled-launch-of-stadia-gaming-platform.aspx 8 February 2021 The Motley Fool 26 November 2019 enHall Stephen Google needs to allay Stadia concerns — its launch does not https://9to5google.com/2019/11/19/google-stadia-concerns-launch/ 8 February 2021 9to5Google 19 November 2019 Reportedly, the service would severely underperform expectations in the following year.Peters Jay Two new reports reveal the depths of Stadia’s struggles https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/26/22303496/google-stadia-struggle-wired-bloomberg-reports-studios 28 February 2021 The Verge 26 February 2021 en In late 2019 and early 2020 many developers expressed doubts about the Stadia, including a lack of incentives to port games, small user base, and the concern that Stadia might simply be discontinued.Gilbert Ben Google's ambitious push into gaming is floundering, and it's due largely to too few games on its Stadia platform — here's why developers have held back https://www.businessinsider.com/why-are-so-few-games-on-google-stadia-2020-2 Business Insider 13 November 2020Even game developers are nervous Google could kill Stadia https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/11/14/google-stadia-cemetary-cancel-dead/ Android Police 13 November 2020 14 November 2019 Reportedly major financial incentives were required to gain the support of major publishers. Adoption & Struggles In April of 2020 the requirement to own a $129.99 kit to play Stadia was removed to help people stay at home during COVID-19.Schiesel Seth Google Makes Stadia Gaming Service Free https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/08/technology/google-stadia-free-virus.html The New York Times 3 November 2020 8 April 2020 On October 1st, 2020 Stadia launched Crowd Choice, a feature allowing stream audiences to vote on the game roles of streamers.Lyles Taylor One of Google Stadia’s most interesting features, Crowd Choice, is finally coming this week https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/30/21495804/google-stadia-crowd-choice-feature-baldurs-gate-3 The Verge 5 November 2020 en 30 September 2020 Later that October, Google tried offering free demos of Stadia games to build interest in the program.Warren Tom Google launches free Stadia game demos to entice people into cloud gaming https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/20/21525074/google-stadia-free-game-demos-cloud-gaming The Verge 5 November 2020 en 20 October 2020Orland Kyle Google Stadia’s free demos could prove the value of game streaming https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/10/google-stadias-free-demos-could-prove-the-value-of-game-streaming/ Ars Technica 5 November 2020 en-us 20 October 2020 In November of 2020 Google began allowing for cloud games to be shared between family members.Statt Nick You can borrow a friend’s Google Stadia library with new family sharing feature https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/5/21546194/google-stadia-family-sharing-digital-games-purchase-share The Verge 5 November 2020 en 5 November 2020 Due to app store policies, the launch of Stadia for iOS devices was delayed to December 16th, 2020 and launched in the form of a web app instead of a native app.Google's Stadia game streaming service is now available on iOS via web app https://www.macworld.com/article/3601730/googles-stadia-game-streaming-service-is-now-available-on-ios-via-web-app.html 8 February 2021 Macworld 16 December 2020 enGoogle Stadia Cloud Gaming Platform Now Available on iPhone and iPad Through Safari https://www.macrumors.com/2020/12/16/google-stadia-ios-launch/ 8 February 2021 MacRumors enGoogle Stadia Is Now Playable on iPhone and iPad - IGN https://www.ign.com/articles/google-stadia-ios-now-available 8 February 2021 en As iPhone marketshare in the USA, Japan, and Canada was very high in 2020 this was an important market for mobile gaming.iOS More Popular in Japan and US, Android Dominates in China and India https://www.pcmag.com/news/ios-more-popular-in-japan-and-us-android-dominates-in-china-and-india 8 February 2021 PCMAG en In January 2021 some Google employees formed a union, becoming one of the few companies in the gaming industry with a union.Conger Kate Hundreds of Google Employees Unionize, Culminating Years of Activism https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/04/technology/google-employees-union.html 6 January 2021 The New York Times 4 January 2021 The union had existed in secret for a year prior.Sumagaysay Levi What can a small union for well-paid Google workers accomplish? Quite a bit, experts say https://www.marketwatch.com/story/what-can-a-small-union-for-well-paid-google-workers-accomplish-quite-a-bit-experts-say-11610140175 27 February 2021 MarketWatch On February 1st, 2021 Google announced they were winding down their Stadia Games & Entertainment (SG&E) division to focus on supporting third party games only.Focusing on Stadia’s future as a platform, and winding down SG&E https://blog.google/products/stadia/focusing-on-stadias-future-as-a-platform-and-winding-down-sge/ 2 February 2021 Google 1 February 2021 enGartenberg Chaim Google is shutting down its in-house Stadia game development studios https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/1/22260803/google-stadia-game-development-studio-shut-down-jade-raymond 2 February 2021 The Verge 1 February 2021 en This also included noted game producer Jade Raymond, the producer of the first few Assassins Creed games as well as the first Watchdogs game, also leaving Google. A notable struggle to retain Terraria as a Stadia game followed just days later for unrelated reasons, though it was ultimately retained by the end of the month.Lyles Taylor Stadia version of Terraria is back in production after developer reconciles with Google https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/26/22303868/terria-stadia-version-back-development-canceled-google 27 February 2021 The Verge 26 February 2021 enLyles Taylor Terraria co-creator says Stadia version is canceled after losing access to Google accounts https://www.theverge.com/2021/2/8/22272502/terraria-google-stadia-port-canceled-deceloper-locked-out 27 February 2021 The Verge 8 February 2021 enWales Matt Terraria dev says Stadia launch will now proceed after resolving spat with Google https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2021-02-26-terraria-dev-says-stadia-launch-will-now-proceed-after-resolving-spat-with-google 27 February 2021 Eurogamer 26 February 2021 en In February 2022 it was widely reported that the service would switch focus from being a consumer focused service to become an enterprise focused service.Langley Hugh EXCLUSIVE: Google is trying to salvage its failing Stadia game service with a new focus on striking deals with Peloton, Bungie, and others under the brand 'Google Stream' https://www.businessinsider.com/google-stadia-stream-plan-partnerships-peloton-bungie-gaming-service-2022-2 6 February 2022 Business InsiderHollister Sean Google Stadia has reportedly been demoted, but it might show up in your Peloton https://www.theverge.com/2022/2/4/22917999/google-stadia-white-label-peloton-bungie-capcom 6 February 2022 The Verge 4 February 2022 enReport: Google Quietly Ditching Stadia https://kotaku.com/google-stadia-streaming-failing-shutdown-report-stream-1848487185 6 February 2022 Kotaku en-usGoogle Stadia May Not Be Long for This World https://gizmodo.com/google-stadia-may-not-be-long-for-this-world-1848485015 6 February 2022 Gizmodo en-us Discontinuation On September 29, 2022 it was announced that Google Stadia would be shuttered on January 18, 2023, and that refunds would be issued to all official Stadia related purchases.Gach Ethan Google Kills Stadia, Its Cloud Gaming Service, Refunding Everyone https://kotaku.com/stadia-google-refund-cloud-streaming-assassins-creed-1849597014 30 September 2022 Kotaku 29 September 2022 en-usCranz Alex Peters Jay Google is shutting down Stadia https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/29/23378713/google-stadia-shutting-down-game-streaming-january-2023 30 September 2022 The Verge 29 September 2022 At the time there was some concern among the gaming press about the preservation of Stadia exclusives.Zwiezen Zack All The Games We Might Lose Forever When Google Stadia Dies https://kotaku.com/google-stadia-exclusive-games-pac-man-gylt-pixeljunk-1849599091 30 September 2022 Kotaku 29 September 2022 en-us There was also concerns over e-waste generated by the discontinuation of the service, as the wireless controllers did not support an open standard for wireless communication.Purdy Kevin Stadia controllers could become e-waste unless Google issues Bluetooth update https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2022/09/stadia-controllers-could-become-e-waste-unless-google-issues-bluetooth-update/ 1 October 2022 Ars Technica 30 September 2022 en-us After Discontinuation Some saw the YouTube Playables platform as a successor to Stadia.Hornby Rael Stadia 2.0? Google may let you play games on YouTube soon https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/stadia-2-0-google-may-124906372.html 4 September 2023 Yahoo Life 27 June 2023 As of September 2023 improved support for the Stadia controller rumble was being added to Linux kernel 6.6.Larabel Michael Stadia Controller Rumbles & New Gaming Peripherals Supported By Linux 6.6 https://www.phoronix.com/news/Linux-6.6-HID 4 September 2023 www.phoronix.com 3 September 2023 en Technology thumb|A Google Data Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa. This photo was taken in 2017, two years before the launch of Google Stadia. Launch specs Note that the following specifications are per Stadia instance at launch. At launch each Stadia server blade contained a dedicated custom x86 CPU clocked at 2.7 gigahertz with hyperthreading, AVX2, and 9.5 megabytes of L2 and L3 cache.Hollister Sean Google Stadia uses a custom AMD chip to offer 10.7 teraflops of cloud gaming power https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/19/18272809/google-stadia-specs-amd-teraflops-cloud-gaming The Verge 3 November 2020 en 19 March 2019Leadbetter Richard Google Stadia specs: is this our first taste of next-gen? https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digitalfoundry-2019-google-stadia-spec-and-analysis Eurogamer 3 November 2020 en 19 March 2019 Stadia instances used a dedicated custom AMD GPU with 56 compute units clocked at roughly 1495 megahertz to produce a performance of 10.7 teraflops. Stadia server blades have 16 gigabytes of HBM2 RAM with 484 gigabytes per second of throughput.Google scores a custom AMD GPU to power its Stadia cloud gaming hardware https://techcrunch.com/2019/03/19/google-scores-a-custom-amd-gpu-to-power-its-stadia-cloud-gaming-hardware/ TechCrunch 3 November 2020 Stadia servers ran a Linux based operating system. The Vulkan graphics API was used.Stadia Is Google's Cloud Gaming Service Using Linux, Vulkan & A Custom AMD GPU - Phoronix https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Google-Stadia-Vulkan-Linux www.phoronix.com 3 November 2020 Notable Games Major Ports Most Google Stadia games were ports of existing titles, rather then original or exclusive games. Human Fall Flat Panzer Dragoon SUPERHOT Borderlands 3 Doom64 Octopath Traveler Sekiro Red Dead Redemption 2 Celeste Crayta Final Fantasy XV Destiny 2Stadia - Play for Free across your favorite devices https://stadia.google.com/games stadia.google.com 3 November 2020 en Baldur's Gate 3 - Did not launch while Stadia was on the market.Franzese Tomas Baldur's Gate 3 could have saved Google Stadia https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/baldurs-gate-3-couldve-saved-google-stadia/ 4 September 2023 Digital Trends 8 August 2023 enSchoon Ben Baldur's Gate 3 gets its full release, four years after Stadia first revealed it https://9to5google.com/2023/08/03/baldurs-gate-3-release/ 4 September 2023 9to5Google 3 August 2023 Exclusive Titles Hello Engineer Gallery Stadia Promotion Stadia Hardware External Resources Google Stadia Google Stadia Google Stadia - Official website. References 2 100% __NOTOC__