Google Stadia - Pricing and More Revealed

Hot and Streamy

At the Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, Google have shared details on Stadia’s pricing and what early adopters can expect at launch.

For those lagging behind, Stadia is Google’s upcoming video game platform that enables subscribers to stream games to compatible devices. These devices include Google’s own Chromecast Ultra and any device capable of running Google Chrome. However, smartphone functionality will be temporarily limited to the Google Pixel 3 and 3a.

All devices great and small will be capable of using Stadia.

Stadia is launching with one pricing model, dubbed Stadia Pro, with a freemium tier coming in 2020. The features of both subscription tiers can be found below:

● Stadia Pro (£8.99 per month): ​4K Resolution, HDR, 60fps, 5.1 surround sound, discount on game purchases and regular free additions to user libraries (starting with Destiny 2 and all post-launch content including the upcoming Shadowkeep expansion)

● Stadia Base (Free, due in 2020): ​1080p resolution, 60fps, stereo sound.

Users can also purchase the Stadia Founder’s Edition for £119, which on top of a three month’s subscription to Stadia Pro comes with an exclusive Night Blue Stadia controller (pictured), a Chromecast Ultra, and an additional three month’s subscription to Stadia Pro which can be gifted to a friend. This package essentially provides buyers with two subscriptions to Stadia free of charge, with a £10 saving on the hardware combo.

The Night Blue Stadia controller and Chromecast Ultra available via the Stadia Founder’s Edition.

So, armed with a Stadia subscription and compatible device, what kind of internet speed do you need in order to use the service? Google have stated that they recommend a minimum internet speed of 10Mbps for 720p resolution at 60 frames per second with stereo sound, with the highest fidelity visuals and audios described previously requiring 35Mbps.

It is unclear what exact games will be available on the service at launch and how many of them there will be. However, Google have provided a ​continuously updating list of titles that will be available at some point and, with the founding of their own first-party studio Stadia Games and Entertainment, we can expect further details in the coming months.

Stadia launches in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, Italy, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Spain, France, Sweden, Germany, United States, and Canada in November 2019.