By launching Google Stadia, it looked like it could turn mobile gaming into a true competitor to console games, but we may have to wait for more information before we can wait. In the run-up to E3 2019, Google briefed us on the Stadia platform's game list and pricing structure, and we found out the scope of the bundle for smartphones and tablets. Google Stadia, or more precisely its absence. Still, Google Stadia has to face big problems before becoming the king of mobile gaming, as we thought.
The problem of pixels.
For portable devices, Google Stadia will only be available on Pixel phones, meaning the Pixels 3 and 3 XL, as well as recent and affordable alternatives, the 3a and 3a XL. Presumably, when the Pixel 4 and 4 XL launch in late 2019, they'll also be added to the list, meaning six phones will be equipped with Stadia. Stadia will work on other phones at some point, but at the moment, we don't know when this mystery date will take place. Google told us they were coming "in the near future," but that's all we've got.
The Google Pixel 3 isn't a huge phone. Image credit: TechRadar (Image credit: Future) Here's the rub: Pixel phones aren't ideal for complex smartphone gaming because they're too small. Even if you use the Stadia controller to play games so your hands don't cover the screen obscuring your view, you're looking at a small screen, which means all your information will be packed into a small, not ideal space. to play intensive games. The Pixel 3 XL has the largest screen among the four (although the Pixel 4 XL wins), with its 6.3-inch screen. There are plenty of phones out there with much bigger screens, like the Huawei Mate 20 X, with its 7.2-inch display it's a whopping 0.9-inches bigger. However, it doesn't look like the big screens you'll be using if you play Google Stadia on your TV or computer. Smartphones are getting bigger, and while it's nice that Pixel phones are largely bucking this trend, when you're playing games that aren't designed for phones, it's important to have as big a screen as possible. On top of that, there is the question of 5G. In theory, cloud gaming is the ideal testing ground for 5G because it allows users to stream intense games while on the go.
The Stadia controller is bigger than a smartphone. Image credit: TechRadar (Image credit: Future) However, Google doesn't have a 5G phone yet, and we have no reason to think it will release one in the Pixel 4 range; These rumors are generally very advanced. Unless Google surprises us with a Pixel 4 5G (which it certainly doesn't sound like), we may not be able to play Stadia on data for a while, which would cause the platform to lose some of its capacity. The most important features. . When we asked Google if it was considering creating a 5G phone or would allow Stadia to work with competitors' 5G phones, a spokesperson told us: "We're working to develop more phones in the near future." At the moment, it doesn't seem like Pixel phones are the ideal material for Google Stadia. Unless the Pixel 4 is a significant change from the Pixel 3, it may be worth waiting for Stadia to develop before it's considered a viable mobile device. game platform.
We give up
If you're a tablet gamer, you'll know how awesome these huge portable gaming devices are. However, the range of Google Stadia releases does not offer a wide variety of game genres. These are almost action games or shooting games, with some wildcards. There is no strategy, city builder, 4X games, in short, nothing that is particularly suitable for tablet games. Also, if, like phones, you need the Stadia controller to play on a tablet, the full touchscreen disappears, making these games harder to play on tablets, as they port games that rely on console controllers. They are often more tedious and annoying than on your native PC.
Google Stadia will run Assassin's Creed Odyssey, among other games. Image credit: TechRadar (Image credit: Future) When we asked Google about the limited number of games it introduced to Stadia when it launched, a spokesperson said: "We've shared the first game of upcoming games in our window launch and we'll have more content to announce later this summer. After that, we'll continue to work with publishers to announce and bring new content to Stadia." Plus, we'll have more gaming news to share with Gamescom (and) more titles will be added to our release lineup as publishers announce them in the future. We are committed to integrating all of your favorite games on the Stadia platform and will be announcing new titles on an ongoing basis. "It's possible that in the future all your favorite non-action games like Total War, Civilization, Anno and more could be played on tablets, but that doesn't give the impression that it will be at launch. Instead, the range it consists of games that play better on consoles, which won't be enough to keep gamers who love playing computers.
Tablets are the ideal display for portable gaming. Image credit: TechRadar (Image credit: Future) As Google has told us, you won't even be able to use many tablets as Stadia remote stations at launch. "Stadia will also work on Chrome OS tablets, including the Google Pixel Slate," so tablets running Android and iOS, most of which are, will be forgotten for Stadia's early life. It makes sense: Google has recently canceled its range of tablets. So it's obvious that tablets aren't as important as the mobile phone range, but it's still a shame for hardcore gamers who use tablets for their needs.