Google Stadia: Everything you need to know

One of the biggest valid criticisms of Google Stadia’s launch was its limited game selection. Over the course of the last year, the library has steadily expanded with AAA and indie titles alike. However, before 2020 comes to a close Stadia still has a few more tricks up its sleeve, with over 25 games slated to arrive by the end of the year. Here’s a preview of every game we know is coming to Stadia before the end of 2020.

The Stadia Controller is the only new piece of hardware that debuted with Google’s game streaming service. Since launch, the company has tweaked the triggers to click much louder than before.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Ahead of the new year, Google this morning revealed what Stadia Pro games will be available in January 2020. Like last month, two titles are coming, while three previous ones are remaining for a grand total of five included games with the $9.99/month subscription.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Stadia was criticized for missing and appending “coming 2020” to so many core features at launch. Precisely six weeks old at the end of 2019, Google’s game-streaming platform will truly grow up this year. Here’s a look at everything that’s yet to come.

Expand
Expanding
Close

One of the hallmarks of Google Stadia is the ability to game on traditional devices like computers and TVs along with more portable form factors like a Pixel phone. To make the most of playing Stadia on your Pixel, you’ll need a phone mount for your controller. But is the official Made for Google Stadia Controller CLAW from Power Support worth your money?

Expand
Expanding
Close

Stadia yesterday marked its one-month anniversary by recapping all the new developments. Google published a Community Round-Up this afternoon to close out the year and provide some new updates, including how Stadia achievements for mobile are coming in 2020.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google on Thursday marked Stadia’s 30-day anniversary by recapping recent additions through the new “Savepoint” series and announcing a studio acquisition. The service is now kicking off its second month by rolling out game achievements.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Along with the release of Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Breakpoint, Google added one of the most important and intriguing features unveiled earlier this year — Stadia Stream Connect.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Stadia’s cloud-based nature makes communicating about new features more difficult than a typical console where updates are quite apparent. So far, Google has used Twitter, Reddit, and forums, and is now bringing those announcements together with a monthly “Stadia Savepoint” recap series.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Google Stadia’s biggest issue right now comes down to the amount of content available. Not only is the list short, but there are no compelling exclusives yet. Stadia Games and Entertainment plans to fix that, and now, Google is bringing in Typhoon Studios to help in that endeavor.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Just before launch, Google was able to bring the total number of available Stadia games to 22 with a promise of more before year’s end. Stadia’s three more games — starting with Borderlands 3 and Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2 — are available today, while Ghost Recon Breakpoint is coming tomorrow.

Expand
Expanding
Close

A week before Stadia’s launch, we learned about a Made for Google phone clip for the Controller. According to manufacturer Power Support, the Stadia Controller Claw is expected to come mid-December.

Expand
Expanding
Close

One of the perks of pre-ordering Stadia Founder’s Edition was a Buddy Pass that allowed you to give three free months of Stadia Pro. Alongside the $129 Premiere Edition, that’s likely the only way to access the game streaming service until Stadia Base launches next year. Google is now sending all Founders a second Stadia Buddy Pass.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Following its web debut last week, the Stadia Store has been slightly reorganized to hide confusing add-ons from the main “All games” list. As a result of this change, it gives the incorrect impression that there’s only one Stadia Pro deal for December.

Expand
Expanding
Close

In addition to being live from Los Angeles, The Game Awards were streamed to Cinemark theaters around the country this evening. Each simulcast attendee walked out with a code to redeem a free Stadia Premiere Edition.

Expand
Expanding
Close

In not having its own retail presence, Google over the years has turned to pop-up shops, especially during the holidays. The latest is for Stadia and the demo experience for the up-and-coming game streaming service is more important than any other Google product that came before.

Expand
Expanding
Close

Our APK Insight into the new Google Home app this week revealed a new “Gaming preferred” setting for Google and Nest Wifi. Intended for Stadia, a support document now details what network prioritization will be occurring when this preference is enabled.

Expand
Expanding
Close