Google Stadia: The console experience without the console
PCWorld|August 2022
Google Stadia stakes its claim as one of the best in cloud gaming.
KEVIN CASPER
Google Stadia: The console experience without the console

In recent years, the cloud gaming market has gained a number of new names, and none has been more hyped than Google Stadia. Launched in late 2019, it ran into a few stumbling blocks along the way, but its pivot to focusing on third-party game hosting has seen it flourish. Now a mainstay in the cloud streaming industry, Stadia has a lot to offer. We tested both the free and Pro versions of the service. Let’s see how it all stands up.

THE PLANS

Google Stadia comes in two forms: free and Pro. With the free access, you’re able to play a select few free games, such as Destiny 2, or games that you bought for Stadia at up to 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second, including any online multiplayer games. That’s it; you can fully play games that you buy without the need to purchase any expensive hardware—as long as your internet connection is up to handling it, which requires a minimum of 10Mbps.

Stadia Pro supports streaming games at up to 4K resolution, 60fps, with HDR and 5.1 surround support with connections of 35Mbps or greater. Additionally, Stadia Pro will provide a handful of free games that you can claim to your library to play as long as your Pro subscription is active. Most games, however, are neither free nor included in Stadia Pro, but instead have to be bought. Some games do have discounts for Pro members, though.

GAME LIBRARY

This story is from the August 2022 edition of PCWorld.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the August 2022 edition of PCWorld.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM PCWORLDView All
Facebook wants to use your posts to train Al. Here's how to object
PCWorld

Facebook wants to use your posts to train Al. Here's how to object

Facebook is changing its privacy policy and plans to use posts and images to train its Al. To prevent this, you need to object.

time-read
2 mins  |
July 2024
Windows 11's new AI feature could be a privacy nightmare
PCWorld

Windows 11's new AI feature could be a privacy nightmare

Your PC will be watching your every move by default.

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024
The future of Windows: Copilot+ PCs unleash practical AI tools
PCWorld

The future of Windows: Copilot+ PCs unleash practical AI tools

Microsoft is aligning AI with its Copilot brand.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
If you get a phone call from LastPass, it's a scam
PCWorld

If you get a phone call from LastPass, it's a scam

A new breed of sophisticated phishing scammers are targetting LastPass users with phone calls and emails.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2024
Sick of ads in Windows? This ingenious program eradicates them all
PCWorld

Sick of ads in Windows? This ingenious program eradicates them all

This clever free tool removes all the ads that Microsoft keeps stuffing into Windows 10 and 11.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2024
Controversial Windows 11 Start menu ads begin rolling out
PCWorld

Controversial Windows 11 Start menu ads begin rolling out

Microsoft has pushed “Promoted” apps from the Store to the Windows 11 wide build just a few weeks after they started appearing to Insiders.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2024
Ring of bogus web shops steals 850K credit card numbers
PCWorld

Ring of bogus web shops steals 850K credit card numbers

Fake online storefronts, which show up in great numbers in Google and other search engines, are becoming a big problem.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2024
This free, ancient Windows app will watch your laptop battery
PCWorld

This free, ancient Windows app will watch your laptop battery

BatteryInfoView gives you the laptop battery information you didn’t know you wanted.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2024
How to use your smartphone as a Windows 11 PC webcam
PCWorld

How to use your smartphone as a Windows 11 PC webcam

Windows 11 now allows the wireless connection of Android smartphones for use as a webcam.

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2024
How to digitize VHS tapes the cheap way
PCWorld

How to digitize VHS tapes the cheap way

Preserve your old video tapes with an inexpensive capture card and free software.

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2024