Google Stadia Premiere Edition - White

Product Information

At least, that’s the goal. In this Google Stadia review, we’re going to take a look at the Premiere Edition to see where the service delivers and where it falls behind. Great device 4k gaming on the go or at home. No big console just plug and play. No load times and great library of games. I have got 3 one at each of my family members so can all play together. I believe the input lag between the controller and Stadia when playing through a Chromecast Ultra is due to the wireless connection between the controller and the Chromecast itself. With every other available Stadia setup, the controller is connected to the Stadia device through a cable, so the entire process of streaming over the internet is performed through the phone or PC, with inputs sent through a fast wired connection. When playing with a Chromecast Ultra, the controller wirelessly syncs with the Chromecast, creating another network stepping point in the streaming process. What’s next for Stadia? Well, we’re eager to continue working on bringing the best games and new features to our community of players so that we can help build a bright future for cloud gaming. That means:

Stadia was announced with a long list of features, including family sharing, an in-depth achievement system and 4K/HDR gaming on PC. However, upon launch, most of those features are missing, making Stadia feel like it’s in beta rather than fully released.

Google needs to condense schedules down, combine communication, and deliver a clear message. The Stadia Community Blog does a good job of recapping what's in store for the coming week, but users should have awareness of things more than just a day or two in advance. Not only does it just build consumer confidence to know that things are in fact coming but it's just a smart idea to help build up excitement with marketing campaigns that stretch beyond launch day tweets. It's a major missed opportunity. Even if you do meet the speed requirements, you’ll need to be careful if you have a data cap. Cloud gaming chews through a lot of data, especially when gaming at 4K resolution. Here’s what you can expect: You can also play on any computer with a current version of Chrome. This includes Chromebooks, making Stadia very appealing for Chromebook users who want to play games without being limited to iffy Android app implementation. The service works in any Chrome tab.

Stadia on a smartphone with a good 5GHz Wi-Fi connection is fantastic. Controls felt responsive and graphics looked sharp on every game I tested. Playing Destiny 2 on a small screen is a particularly unique experience, and the fact that aiming was spot-on, with no discernible input lag, and the action looked and sounded consistently crisp is downright impressive.The Stadia Premiere Edition will cost €129.00 in Europe, with UK, US, and CAD pricing to be announced once the Founders Edition bundle sells out in those territories. To secure yourself the bundle, you'll want to head over to the Google Store. Under the right conditions, Google's Stadia service provides streamed video games with crisp, smooth graphics and responsive controls. Those conditions are easy to access on your compatible smartphone and reliable in a Chrome tab, but not through the Chromecast Ultra. And even when working optimally, Stadia doesn't rise above the performance you can get with Shadow or GeForce Now. The potential for 4K60 is there, but don't expect to see it with any consistency. You can overcome this problem with our best VPN or, better yet, our best VPN for gaming, but it’s a problem most cloud gaming services don’t have.