Google reveals Stadia launch date, details

Packing November with streaming bits

During their first Stadia Direct State of Play Showcase Connect in the lead up to E3, Google has fired their next salvo towards the Great Streaming Wars of 2019.

The streaming product will launch in November of this year, and carry a $9.99/month subscription cost for the “Pro” version. A special Founders Edition will launch at that time as well, of which preorders are now open for $129. That Founders Edition packs along a special Night Blue Stadia controller, a Chromecast Ultra, and 3 months of Stadia Pro and, most importantly, will actually be the only way to get going on Stadia until early 2020 when the program launches to the masses in a “Base” version. The Founders Edition will also contain a second Pro pass for users to give to friends, as well as full access to and ownership of the Destiny 2: The Collection on the service, which is the game and all of its DLC.

For the uninitiated, Stadia plans on being a streaming-first experience, available on computers, phones, tablets and devices like the Chromecast for instant access to game libraries. The monthly subscription Pro version will give access to all of Stadia’s features, while the Base version will be free to sign up for, but rely on owners to purchase games individually.

Both Pro and Base will allow for streaming play, as well as direct streaming to YouTube. The major differences focus on fidelity: 4K/60fps, HDR and 5.1 surround sound for the Pro vs 1080p/60fps and stereo sound for the Base. The Pro membership will also give discounts on purchases and an assortment of free games. Alone, the controllers themselves will cost about $69.

As for games, the company announced a slew of 3rd party support from companies like SquareEnix (Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy XV), Take Two (NBA 2K), Bethesda (DOOM) and others. Here’s the full announced list below:

• Assassin’s Creed Odyssey
• Baldur’s Gate 3
• Borderlands 3
• Darksiders Genesis
• Destiny 2
• DOOM
• DOOM Eternal
• Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
• Farming Simulator 19
• Final Fantasy XV
• Football Manager
• Get Packed
• GRID
• GYLT
• Just Dance
• Metro Exodus
• Mortal Kombat 11
• NBA 2K
• Rage 2
• Rise of the Tomb Raider
• Samurai Shodown
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider
• The Crew 2
• The Elder Scrolls Online
• Thumper
• Tomb Raider Definitive Edition
• Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint
• Tom Clancy’s The Division 2
• Trials Rising
• Wolfenstein: Youngblood

Stadia arrives November for Pro, 2020 for Base versions.

Source: Google Stadia