Google Stadia is set to launch in just a few days—or November 19, to be precise. As it turns out, the company’s introduction into the video gaming market will be missing a number of games and essential features when customers first get their hands on it.
First of all, Stadia will launch with only twelve titles, with Google promising another fourteen before the end of the year. Some notable titles include Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Destiny 2, Red Dead Redemption 2, and all three Tomb Raider games. Here’s the full list:
- Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
- Destiny 2: The Collection
- Gult
- Just Dance 2020
- Kine
- Mortal Kombat 11
- Red Dead Redemption 2
- Rise of the Tomb Raider
- Samurai Shodown
- Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
- Thumper
- Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
In addition to only launching with twelve games, the service will also be missing some system features, as well. One of those potentially critical features is achievements. Stadia’s Andrey Doronichev admitted that the “platform UI for viewing your achievements” won’t be available at launch, although the system will still count them from day one.
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by u/StadiaOfficial from discussion Hi Reddit! Andrey from the Stadia team here and I’m back for another round of questions. Only this time, I’m bringing some friends along to help answer anything you may have before launch.
in Stadia
Audrey also noted that Family Sharing won’t be available before the end of the year, either. This means that each member in a family group will have to purchase their own games, and parents will still need to buy the games for each of their children separately. Audrey explained that Family Sharing is a “high priority” for the development team, and it should be available early next year.
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by u/StadiaOfficial from discussion Hi Reddit! Andrey from the Stadia team here and I’m back for another round of questions. Only this time, I’m bringing some friends along to help answer anything you may have before launch.
in Stadia
Device compatibility will also be pretty limited. We already knew that only Pixel phones would be the only mobile devices supported at launch. But as it turns out, the only Chromecast devices that will be supported at launch are the Ultras that ship with the Founder’s/Premiere Edition bundles, with support for other Chromecasts arriving later via a software upgrade. Additionally, for those on desktop computers, 4K HDR streaming and 5.1 surround sound won’t be immediately available due to its support on the Chromecast Ultras being a “top priority for launch”, according to Audrey.
If Stadia news seems pretty disappointing to you, we still have yet to hear new details about Project xCloud during the Inside Xbox livestream later today.
Do you think Google launched Stadia too early, or do you think an earlier launch would help it better compete with the potential aggressive competitors? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
