Google detailed its vision for the future of gaming last week, when it confirmed that its new game streaming service Stadia will be launched in November. A Founder's Edition pack went for pre-order immediately for $130, including a 3-month subscription, an exclusive controller, and a Buddy Pass to take someone along for the initiation ride. After that period, the price will be ten bucks a month for streams at up to 4K resolution at 60fps.
The added value of the Stadia service compared to the ubiquitous consoles is that you can play anywhere, from your Pixel 3 to your high-def TV and Google claims it has solved the latency problem that many such initiatives have faced. However, those console things that live in the past according to Google, come with one big advantage before Stadia - thousands of game titles, some exclusive for their platforms, against Stadia's thirty or so titles at launch.
As for the streaming aspect? Well, Microsoft just detailed its xCloud game streaming service on the hush-hush during its future of Xbox event yesterday. It even had an xCloud demo set up, and participants were able to play Halo, Hellblade and other staple titles on... the Samsung Galaxy S10+ with an Xbox One controller at that.
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While there were glitches due to some device poisoning the Wi-fi frequency and Microsoft had to reroute the connection, the games apparently played smooth and latency didn't get in the way.
Mum's the word on iOS support for xCloud when it lands in October, but Google's Stadia may have a hard time getting ahead if the Xbox and PlayStation franchises reorient towards cross-platform streaming as well.
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Daniel, a devoted tech writer at PhoneArena from 2010 to 2025, has been engrossed in mobile technology since the Windows Mobile era. His expertise spans mobile hardware, software, and carrier networks, and he's keenly interested in the future of digital health, car connectivity, and 5G. Beyond his professional pursuits, Daniel finds balance in travel, reading, and exploring new tech innovations, while contemplating the ethical and privacy implications of our digital future.
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