Today, at Game Developers Conference 2019, Google unveiled “Stadia,” a cloud gaming service. Using this service, you can play AAA games on multiple devices without the need for a dedicated graphics card. All the processing is done on Google’s servers and you can simply stream the gameplay right onto a laptop, desktop, tablet, phone, or even a Chromecast.
Stadia
Each instance of Stadia will get a custom 2.7GHz x86 CPU, custom AMD GPUs rated at a whopping 10.7 teraflops (slightly more than an RTX 2080), 16GB of RAM, and SSD cloud storage. Google says that the Stadia hardware is around twice as fast as current game consoles, and it can further scale to multiple GPUs for enhanced performance.
Stadia provides instant access to a game in as little as 5 seconds, with no updates, downloads, or an installation process. Google hasn’t launched the service yet, but when it does, it’ll support 4K, HDR, 60fps, and surround sound. Later on, they’ll even support resolutions of up to 8K and framerates of up to 120fps.
You can stream to YouTube directly, and creators will be able to capture, highlight, and share their gameplay directly from Stadia. Google is also going to use the help of YouTube to promote the service. If you watch a video of gameplay, there will be an option to hit “play now” and instantly stream the same game.
We don’t know what games will be supported, but we do know that Doom Eternal (which hasn’t released yet) and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey will be available in (up to) 4K HDR at 60fps. Stadia will launch sometime this year and will be available first in the US, UK, Canada, and some parts of Europe. We have no word on pricing either.
Stadia controller
Google also revealed a controller made specifically for Stadia. It uses WiFi to connect to Google’s servers directly. There isn’t much else we know about the Stadia controller, but it does have a capture and Google Assistant button. The example that Google gave for the Assistant button was that it can be used to ask for help on how to beat a stage in a game without leaving the game.
Stadia studio
Stadia is not only a cloud gaming service but also a game development platform called “Stadia Games and Entertainment.” It will provide developers with additional tools that can bring new and unique functionality to their games. They can include features like split-screen games with no performance loss and other multiple effective camera features for unique gameplay and game coordination. Google will also be offering developer resources and help for companies interested in making games for the platform.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsaenNSjclY
Our take
If Stadia is an improvement over Project Stream, then it definitely looks promising, as Project Stream was already surprisingly good. Depending on how good it is and what it’s priced at, this could very well be the future of gaming. Powerful gaming PCs might no longer be a necessity. In fact, Stadia’s technology could possibly even come to industries other than gaming. For example, imagine being able to stream desktop-class programs right on your Chromebook or cheap laptop. The possibilities are endless, really. Only time will tell how widespread Stadia becomes, but we’re rooting for it.
Via: Android Police, The Verge
