Stadia is up and running, changing the video gaming status quo with each passing month. Since its launch in 2019, it provides members with a selection of titles they can claim and play to their heart’s content. The platform functions much like Netflix in that you can stream entertainment from Google’s data centers, but the difference is that video games demand a lot more power than TV shows or movies to work properly.
Without a supported device and good internet connection, Stadia’s performance may underwhelm you. However, the technology is evolving in terms of content, capabilities and cross-platform accessibility. At the same time, it urges other online platforms sharing entertainment to up their game. Let’s look at the latest titles Stadia has to offer and how they help transform this new but rapidly improving gaming technology.
Present and Future Stadia Games
The list of available titles is infinite, so focusing on the newest and upcoming offerings will be handy. Borderlands 3 is a great blast of a first-person shooter RPG to enjoy on Stadia Pro, already having garnered mostly positive reviews. Then there’s Wave Break, which combines cute animals and vibrant urban landscapes with Tony Hawk-inspired skating boats and fun gameplay options. Finally, two video game instalments of the Metro franchise have arrived, 2033 Redux and Metro: Last Light. The series features first-person shooter action too but leans more towards post-apocalyptic horror.
Among July’s Stadia gaming experiences to look forward to are three interesting choices. SteamWorld is a happy steampunk platformer surprise following our BagoGames review of Dig 2, describing it as a natural and enjoyable sequel to the original 2013 title. But fans of unique role-playing creations may find West of Loathing far more exciting. It’s a hilarious stick-figure adventure set in the wild west but incorporating all kinds of fun stuff, from quirky hats to demon cows. Last but not least, Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom bring extra platform action-adventure to the table, involving a wonder boy’s quest to save everyone from being turned into animals.
Online Platforms Welcome Gamers
Google Stadia’s achievement has less to do with the number of games on its database and more with its system’s efficiency. Despite the demanding specs, the platform opens many doors to enhanced and accessible entertainment as it follows the same pricing and provision model as PlayStation Plus. For a $9.99 monthly subscription, you can play games for free and make good use of discounts on select products. Other expenses are likely, but the overall system aims to make gaming as affordable and shareable as possible.
Steam, another platform made to expand the boundaries of the gaming world, is more of a retailer, but still enables free membership, a huge social network and hefty discounts. You can even display achievements and trade collectable cards. Niche entertainment is just as accessible and interactive. The range of games on online casino domains like VegasSlots means that classic 3-reelers exist alongside VR slots like NetEnt’s Gonzo’s Quest. While not free either, such services give gamers plenty of options to choose from, including the device they’d rather play on. Even Sporcle, a trivia entertainment expert, is available on PC and mobile, not to mention its fine-tuned Party app. Cross-platform compatibility is, after all, a major strength of any digital system that means business.
Considering the streaming services and video game retailers already present, Stadia’s mechanics weren’t exactly a ground-breaking innovation. But instead they delivered on popular demands for greater performance, accessibility and value for money by combining the best elements of different sectors. Video game technologies, customer service, finance and even social networking all contribute in their own way. And the variety of entertainment-sharing platforms out there applying this smart and user-friendly strategy is earning more and more of the gaming communities’ approval.
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