Google Stadia is a cloud gaming service launched in November 2019, which allows the streaming of games from a distant server. Its main selling point is that customers only need a single subscription and steady internet connection to experience 4K gaming on any device. Furthermore, the service offers an enormous library of games, ranging from small indie titles to the biggest titans like Red Dead Redemption 2 and select entries from the Assassin’s Creed series. Users can buy games with a free account or subscribe to a Pro plan and access many (but not all) games at no extra cost.
Widely considered a promising platform that was raising gaming standards, Stadia grew steadily for years. Then, almost out of the blue, Google announced in September 2022 that it would shut down its servers on January 18th, 2023. This is due to its failure to acquire a substantial player base. Specifically, it had an estimated 235,000 active users in 2022, a number that falls flat compared to those 25 million people using Xbox Game Pass. With the service closing, the handful of dedicated subscribers undoubtedly want answers to questions regarding refunds and their game library.
Refunds
Following the announcement, gamers started to raise alarms about the money they invested in the platform. After all, most users bought Stadia’s dedicated hardware, such as a Stadia controller and a Google Chromecast Pro with a remote. Unsurprisingly, they’re also worried about their Pro subscriptions and the games they’ve bought. Google eased the tension by offering a full refund for all video games and hardware purchased through the Stadia Store and Google Store, respectively. Not everyone is covered by this promise, though, as those who bought a Pro subscription before the announcement will not be refunded. However, anyone charged on September 29, 2022, or any date after, will have that money returned to them. It goes without saying that the company has ceased all sales for both games and hardware. To ask for a refund, you need to use the Stadia app or go to stadia's website, and do the following:
- Sign in to your account.
- Tap or click at your Stadia avatar.
- Look for ‘Purchases & Subscriptions’.
- Here, you can find your transaction history, where you have to choose the item you wish to ask for a refund.
- Tap or click Request Refund, and you’re done.
Note that this must be done for every single purchase. Also, if the ‘Request Refund’ option is unavailable, you can contact Google’s customer support to ask whether the item is eligible for a refund at all.
Availability of Games
Google has assured customers that the games will remain available until the shutdown. However, this doesn’t answer the question of what happens to their progress. Unfortunately, this is out of Google’s jurisdiction, and gamers have to turn to the respective game developers. The companies have generally shown compassion, as most of them, like Bungie and Ubisoft, reassure gamers that they can download save files to their PCs free of charge. Others, such as CD Projekt Red, are releasing guides on transferring their game’s data to other platforms.
Public concerns were soon raised about progression loss. Streamer ItsColourTV voiced his fear that his nearly 6,000 hours in Red Dead Redemption 2 on Google’s platform would be lost forever. Fortunately, the game’s developers, Rockstar Games, followed up with an answer shortly after. They claim that anyone who played Red Dead Redemption 2 in the 30 days prior to Google’s announcement can transfer their progress to other platforms. This is welcome news, even if it’s still a requirement to repurchase the game.
Usability of Hardware
Despite most Stadia hardware purchases being eligible for a refund, gamers can also keep it for other uses. For example, Stadia gamepads are compatible with PCs and Android mobile devices by connecting them via a USB cable. Alternatively, players can use a third-party app called StadiaWireless to link their controllers to these devices. Unfortunately, gaming consoles like Xbox and PlayStation aren’t supported.
Something similar happens to Chromecast Ultra, which is used to play Stadia games on Smart TVs. Since Chromecast isn’t a gaming device, it can be used for other streaming purposes, like watching movies, series, and videos. In fact, Chromecast is compatible with other game-streaming services as well. The same applies to the Stadia remote.
The Future of Google Cloud Gaming
Google Stadia closing up shop after merely three years could be a bad sign for cloud gaming. However, Google will continue to incorporate the main technology behind the platform – augmented reality – into other areas in its organization. This includes YouTube and Google Play as well. Moreover, the shutdown doesn’t mean that cloud gaming is dead, as players are still fascinated by this gaming mode, so it’s a shame that Google bit off more than it could chew. Those gamers with an active Stadia account are likely to flock toward one of the other services, such as Xbox Cloud Gaming, GeForce Now, the PlayStation Network, or a relative newcomer, Amazon Luna. In short, cloud gaming has a bright future, but it may be a while before it overtakes traditional methods of playing.
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