-
Ever wanted an RSS feed of all your favorite gaming news sites? Go check out our new Gaming Headlines feed! Read more about it here.
Are Google messing up the Stadia Launch?
- Thread starter UltraMagnanimous
- Start date
I think having a monthly subscription which then allows you to buy games, at launch at least, is going to be a really tough sell and only seems to exist to skim extra money off early adopters.
Presumably they'll eventually move to either a standard subscription service ala Netflix or scrap the premium tier altogether.
In terms of the launch it does feel like the hype is pretty much non-existent and that's probably because, with a lack of exclusive games, there's really no reason to be excited.
Presumably they'll eventually move to either a standard subscription service ala Netflix or scrap the premium tier altogether.
In terms of the launch it does feel like the hype is pretty much non-existent and that's probably because, with a lack of exclusive games, there's really no reason to be excited.
Stadia's biggest problem is that the initial launch apps are ridiculously limited. The Android app is limited to Google's Pixel phones for no reason and the only alternatives are a PC or Chromecast+Stadia Controller.
I'm still interested to use the free service on my PC and hopefully Android TV in the future. I'll buy any exclusive games that aren't on PC.
I'm still interested to use the free service on my PC and hopefully Android TV in the future. I'll buy any exclusive games that aren't on PC.
The minute they add the "jump in from youtube" functionality, I can see this taking off with or without big exclusive games. There must be millions of people watching Fortnite videos alone... imagine when they can jump right in to games.
Yes but also no...ultimately stadia will exist everywhere that chrome and YouTube do...so there isn't any real service or hardware to sell.
They have nothing to launch except a "play now" button next to every game based video.
Founders edition is a way to get cash from early adopters and maybe a bit of buzz. The real money will be in selling cheaper games to the mass market so that they can play along with their favourite streamer.
They have nothing to launch except a "play now" button next to every game based video.
Founders edition is a way to get cash from early adopters and maybe a bit of buzz. The real money will be in selling cheaper games to the mass market so that they can play along with their favourite streamer.
Yep, they're bungling it. There's no evidence that they've significantly invested in content, since there are no first-party games and they couldn't even pony up to get a package of games included for free with a paid subscription. So the value proposition is essentially "rent hardware" which is boring af for consumers.
The best value I see in Stadia is in combination with Uplay+ or whatever the fuck it's called. Will that be available at Stadia's launch?
Also, they should really look into providing hour or two free trials for every game on the service.
Also, they should really look into providing hour or two free trials for every game on the service.
Not just the USA, all the folks I know here in Canada love to own their games and have the option to sell/lend. We also have a chap from the UK who expressed the same feelings a couple of posts prior to this one, so I think your assumption may be a little bit on the generalizing side. And let's please not just say "Canada, USA and UK, so what?" because obviously there are a lot more countries out there with people wanting to own their games.
I dont see how its last gen ports when they have games like Avengers and Cyberpunk which are clearly next gen designed games.
Seeing last reports more than %60 use digital only i wouldnt count on that.Its only going to be smaller.
I think they should have a model like Amazon Prime video:
Older games available with subscription
Newer games available for rental or purchase
7-day free trial to see if the tech works for you
Older games available with subscription
Newer games available for rental or purchase
7-day free trial to see if the tech works for you
I think they're bungling it, sure. I've talked to a couple different people recently who play a fair amount of video games and they had never even heard of it. That's not good.
However, I think it will ultimately be fine and I think people are, for the most part, being pretty myopic about its chances for success. Anyone who thought they were going to pay $10/mo for an unlimited game library was being foolish. And I honestly don't understand at all why people are actively rooting for it to fail. In three years, I think the "It's DOA" and "Google will just kill it in a year or two" posts are going to look very silly.
However, I think it will ultimately be fine and I think people are, for the most part, being pretty myopic about its chances for success. Anyone who thought they were going to pay $10/mo for an unlimited game library was being foolish. And I honestly don't understand at all why people are actively rooting for it to fail. In three years, I think the "It's DOA" and "Google will just kill it in a year or two" posts are going to look very silly.
was listening to a podcast recently and they went on for like half an hour going on about how badly google was botching this. i felt like what they were getting wrong is i think this is supposed to be a soft launch of sorts. ultimate goal is to appeal to people not interested in hardware, and since current gen is currently running at a ~$200 entry people will probably stick with what they know and buy a 'game box', the more core/niche crowd will probably be inclined to use the service early and be guinea pigs of sorts ... not saying launch can be a total shitshow but i wouldn't read too much on it either
I'm interested in the tech, but by now I feel like the Starter Pack is a bad deal - I'll pay 120 Euro for a chromecast, a controller, an old game with a new add-on that's been everywhere for the last few years and doesn't need exceptional tech to run anyway - and will also have it's own player pool without the PC crowd. On top, I'll get 3 month of premium without any real games available and without the ability to even play Destiny 2 afterwards for free (if I didn't misunderstood).
None of this feels like a showcase for 120 bucks.
None of this feels like a showcase for 120 bucks.
Without a shadow of a doubt people will try it. The real question is will they stay? That I'm not so sure about.
OP is right, its a bit underwhelming so far alright. I bought the starter pack however. A decent controller and a chromecast ultra cost that amount anyway so I'm ok with paying it.
I like the idea of having the option of playing elsewhere in the house when it suits and bringing the chromecast around to play some destiny when visiting family / friends.
Also, i live within a few kilometers of a datacenter so I'm expecting a good service.
I like the idea of having the option of playing elsewhere in the house when it suits and bringing the chromecast around to play some destiny when visiting family / friends.
Also, i live within a few kilometers of a datacenter so I'm expecting a good service.
I think so. Google has the advantage of owning one of the world's biggest and most developed advertising networks. They know exactly who to target here. I think if Stadia delivers on performance, we're gonna see big things in the digital advertising sector. My prediction is they'll be striking deals with publishers to attach Stadia playables to as many game ads as possible, and at scale, a lot of people will bite.
There is close to 40 titles announced for Stadia, which is pretty unprecedented fire a new entrant
They need a controller. So that leaves out a lot of non gamers. And people with controllers, gamers, will most likely already have a console or PC, and be very well informed about this service and all its shortcomings. Youtube video quality, lag, online only, and 15€ a month just to stream + full price for the game.
You will not need to pay monthly to stream, that's for 4K. 1080p is free. People are already paying subscriptions to play full price games on console anyway (PS Plus and Live Gold).
Era is not the target market honestly. The target market will be mom's and dad's that see no upfront console cost. Them not having a Netflix model though will be tough to get over.
I fully expect playable demos to utilize a device's native input. It'd be pointless otherwise. So I expect Stadia mobile to eventually support touch controls, etc.
To be honest who really cares? It's a streaming platform. This isn't anything that's really going to have a mass appeal or last long right now.
If they fumble, it won't even matter. It's not a platform that was going to really last right now anyway.
If they fumble, it won't even matter. It's not a platform that was going to really last right now anyway.
The price is very different. You dont pay 15€ a month for Psplus. And while 1080p is "free", the future or near future is 4K in all consoles and PC. Paying full price 60 euros to stream at 1080p -online only- seems like a horrible deal.
Also, the actual monthly price of stadia is very different from your post! Its €10 per month
The sub complaint really pisses me off. It's total nonsense, just don't get the sub, then it's a place where literally all you have to do is buy the game. I fundamentally don't get why everyone is so butt hurt about the sub. It's a premium service, you don't have to get it full time. If PS4 had offered something similar this generation id have spent 4 months, 60 bucks, on having a PS4 to play the exclusives. It won't be a good everyday system, it will be an amazing complimentary service.
Are you seriously concerned about the tiny population of users that browses the internet on their TV without a gaming-capable input? Why would Google be targeting these people with ads?
Tiny population that doesnt own a controller? O_o Wut. It's gigantic.
I'm saying they're going after the hardcore gamer (Mobile phone takes care of casuals) And the hardcore dont care about this service.
I've been seeing some Stadia ads on YouTube and they are really bad. Doesn't look interesting at all. I think Stadia will actually need an old school "killer app" to garner attention. If there is a game that can release for free and has exciting connectivity features like 1000s simultaneously on the servers than maybe it can catch some much needed attention.
You're completely misunderstanding me.
Go reread my posts.
TVs will not be the targeted device for Stadia ads on YouTube. I don't know why you're so fixated on TVs.
I think it's a bit much to assume that it's going to be a failure. So much of gaming comes down to what influencers push, so if it's a good experience for people who work at IGN and Kotaku and kinda funny and YouTubers, it'll succeed.
Lastly there is a real chance 5G makes this all a stupid discussion within 2 years.
Lastly there is a real chance 5G makes this all a stupid discussion within 2 years.
Without meaning to sound like a drive-by post, I feel like they've messed up their launch and overall chances the moment the pricing and business model got revealed. Which is sad as the tech seems good.
Sadly, by the reactions of the people I talked to , this is going nowhere fast.
Sadly, by the reactions of the people I talked to , this is going nowhere fast.
Tbh they're probably looking at this as a soft launch. The worst thing Stadia could do is pay for exclusivity on a couple of big titles and have it shit the bed for millions of people excited to play at launch. Gradually rolling it out and making it more and more enticing over the next year and ramping up for next gen as an alternative to a $500 box is probably the best thing they can do.
I doubt hype is really on Google's mind. They'll have the biggest marketing platform when the time comes and the prospect of zero barrier for entry will certainly have people dip their toes.
I still fail to see who Stadia is for though, presently. ISP speeds across the western world aren't truly ready, add data caps to that too; I'm probably generalizing, but people who live in areas capable of these speeds, that are interested in purchasing videogames, probably already have ample hardware. That could change in the future though.
I still fail to see who Stadia is for though, presently. ISP speeds across the western world aren't truly ready, add data caps to that too; I'm probably generalizing, but people who live in areas capable of these speeds, that are interested in purchasing videogames, probably already have ample hardware. That could change in the future though.
Not going after TV's? So what then? Phones? Even harder, you need a controller and something to attach it to the phone. Becuase hardcore gamers are not going to use touch controls, and thats assuming the games will support touch. Would u play Destiny with touch?
I just dont see this service going anywhere.
Oh, they are investing a lot. Check:
Creating studios is slow. Making first party is slow.
The studio hasn't been around long enough for any games to be ready to show. It's only been 6 months since they announced that they were starting to form an internal game development studio for Stadia.
What they need to do is what Microsoft did: buy an existing studio with a hyped game pretty far along in development for another platform, and then make it exclusive (Halo in Microsoft's case).
Yes, phones. Gen Z are very comfortable with touch controls. Whether I would play Destiny with touch controls is completely irrelevant considering millions of people play Fortnite on mobile with no issue. Hardcore gamers aren't restricted to TV and PC.
As I've already said, I expect Stadia to add platform-level support for native touch controls.
i was hyped for its potential, but honestly, im buying my games on xbox. So there little incentive for me to buy games on there too. Plus, theres xcloud on xbox. I dont want a only online option. I want that as an option when im not home.
An Xbox 360 controller will do, but the main idea here is that compared to all of the current gen consoles, Stadia should give you better graphics settings for a demanding game like Cyberpunk. Image a Cyberpunk ad with the play now button on YouTube. A lot of people will try this and if the experience is good enough for someone, that person will now have to consider either buying the next gen consoles for US$400/500 + $60 for the game + $60 for online play every year or instead just pay $10 monthly for 4K or free for 1080P + $60 for game.
