Google's video game streaming platform launches next week

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These are the 12 games you can play when Google's video game streaming platform launches next week

    Google has revealed the key details that were conspicuously missing from its March announcement of the new Stadia game streaming service. Namely, what the heck we’re going to be able to play, how much we’ll pay, and when we can get started with the exciting new service — which beams high-end console and PC games to any Chrome web browser, Chromecast Ultra TV dongle or Pixel 3 smartphone from beefy new Google servers.


The short version: Google Stadia will launch on November 19th, in 14 different territories including the US, UK and Canada, with at least 22 games at launch, for an initial price of $130 for a hardware starter kit with three months of premium service, and $10 a month afterwards. There’s a separate free tier coming in 2020, and 42 confirmed games in total so far.


                 Preorders for the “Founder’s Edition” have sold out, and I’ll explain what that is in a tad. If you’re hoping to play Stadia before the end of the year, your best bet now is the Premiere Edition, as it’s the only way to buy in. Google tells us both Founder’s Edition packs and Premiere Edition ones are shipping before the end of November, but Google is sending out Stadia kits based on when you placed your order, so not all at once.


                There’s something else you should know before you put in an order. While you’ve probably heard predictions that Google’s Stadia will be the “Netflix of games,” it turns out the analogy only goes so far. While Google intends to eventually have a back catalog of free games included for your $10 monthly fee, Stadia is not primarily a subscription service. The subscription only includes a single game as of today — Destiny 2. Primarily, Google tells us you should expect to buy, not rent cloud games for the same retail prices you’d find on other platforms like PlayStation Network, Xbox Live, and Steam.


So you’re probably wondering: which games and game studios are on board? I won’t leave you in suspense any longer.

Available at Launch (updated November 18th)

  1. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey

  2. Attack on Titan: Final Battle 2

  3. Destiny 2: The Collection (available in Stadia Pro)
  4. Farming Simulator 2019
  5. Final Fantasy XV
  6. Football Manager 2020
  7. Grid 2019
  8. Gylt
  9. Just Dance 2020
  10. Kine
  11. Metro Exodus
  12. Mortal Kombat 11
  13. NBA 2K20
  14. Rage 2
  15. Rise of the Tomb Raider
  16. Red Dead Redemption 2
  17. Samurai Shodown (available in Stadia Pro)
  18. Shadow of the Tomb Raider
  19. Thumper
  20. Tomb Raider 2013
  21. Trials Rising
  22. Wolfenstein: Youngblood


Coming in 2019:

  • 2K Games: Borderlands 3
  • Bandai Namco: Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
  • THQ: Darksiders Genesis
  • Ubisoft: Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Breakpoint

Coming in 2020:

  • Bethesda: Doom Eternal
  • CD Projekt Red: Cyberpunk 2077
  • Ubisoft: Gods and Monsters, Watch Dogs Legion

Release TBD:

  • Bethesda: Doom 2016, The Elder Scrolls Online
  • Capcom: TBD
  • Coatsink: Get Packed (Stadia exclusive)
  • DotEmu: Windjammers 2
  • Electronic Arts: TBD
  • Larian Studios: Baldur’s Gate 3
  • nWay Games: Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid
  • Robot Entertainment: Orcs Must Die 3!
  • Square Enix: Marvel’s Avengers
  • Superhot Team: Superhot Mind Control Delete
  • THQ: Destroy All Humans
  • Ubisoft: Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, The Crew 2
It looks like a who’s who of video game publishers are on board; some enough to bring new games from high-profile franchises like Borderlands, Wolfenstein, Doom, Darksiders and Ghost Recon to Stadia’s catalog.

 

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