Google Stadia brings the future, but Microsoft has the better cards
25.11.2019
Translation: machine translated
Google has entered the race for the future of game streaming. The response has been muted. Can Google capitalise on its head start or will Microsoft, Sony and Valve roll up the field from behind? An overview.
With Google Stadia, you can play games from any device that has Chrome. Whether on a PC, notebook, smartphone or TV. You don't need a console or expensive gaming PC. You can simply play the latest games in full graphic splendour without installation. At least that's the promise: The reality is different. This was demonstrated by the launch of Google Stadia this week.
Despite the false start, Google and co. are far from giving up faith in the future of gaming in the streaming business. Time to take a look at the status quo and venture a forecast.
Google Stadia presents itself
Google Stadia has been available in 14 countries since Tuesday. You probably already know this, but of course Switzerland is not one of them. The response from those who have already tested the service has been mixed. It's not that Google Stadia doesn't work - it's just that it has its drawbacks. With a stable internet connection, practically no input lag is noticeable. Even with the highly responsive fighting games such as "Mortal Kombat".
However, the image quality of the games tends to be lower than on a PC or console. The compression is clearly visible in dark scenes with a lot of black. Even the promised UHD at 60 fps is apparently not yet ready for the stage everywhere. "Destiny 2" is an upscaled 1080p stream and in "Red Dead Redemption 2" you get 1440p, but it doesn't look like that.
There are just 22 games, all of which you have to buy except "Destiny 2" and "Samurai Shodown" - in addition to the monthly subscription price. Google fulfils its promise in terms of cloud gaming, but fails in all other areas.
A beta in everything but the name
In addition to the technical shortcomings, there are a series of missing features that were announced but withdrawn a few weeks before launch.
A few examples:
- Achievements
- Stadia Connect, the interactive streaming feature
- Crowd Play. Viewers can game directly with their streamers
- Wifi functionality of the Stadia Controller (currently only works with Google Chromecast Ultra)
Sounds like a beta? It is one. Only that Google doesn't call it by its name and makes you pay for it: Only those who fork out 130 euros get access. I can only speculate as to whether those responsible deliberately wanted to limit the rush of users or whether something went wrong with the planning. A closed beta would have done just as well. The fact is that the launch is anything but smooth.
Has Google already lost the race for the future of cloud gaming?
Not at all. Google has founded several game studios that are working on exclusive Stadia titles. Google is not faxing. Google is here to stay. The running gag that Google is about to kill off Stadia - like many of their other products - I think is short-sighted. Google has a corporate culture that is designed to try out a lot of things. Much of this finds a new home in other products or services. But whether Allo, Inbox or Google Plus - they were all free, like most Google services. Stadia, on the other hand, costs money. And the way Google is presenting its cloud gaming service, with many specially hired veterans from the industry, they seem to mean business.
Google may be a stranger to the scene, but Microsoft was also ridiculed when they introduced the first Xbox. The Windows company had no idea about games, they said. And now Microsoft is one of the big three. Google is in a similar position. The company has plenty of cash and can either acquire the necessary expertise or buy it in. Time is not an issue. Google has long since succeeded in penetrating the market. Chrome is available on all kinds of devices. In an emergency, Chromecast will also do if you want to use Stadia.
The question is whether Google can capitalise on its head start over other competitors. Much depends on how quickly Stadia can be expanded into a fully functioning service with all the features that gamers expect these days. And it also remains to be seen whether the à la carte system is really the right one. Netflix, Spotify and co. have long since spoilt us with their all-you-can-eat model.
But there could also be many players who want to game Cyberpunk 2077 next April but don't yet have a console or PC that fulfils the necessary hardware requirements. If they are faced with the choice of buying a new device or simply paying for the game at Stadia and then being able to start playing directly on any existing device, Google Stadia's concept could work.
But if you want the best picture and sound quality when gaming, you'll have to wait: Cloud gaming does not yet trump traditional gaming methods. But that too will come. Convenience will win out in the end, and Stadia delivers. Or how many people do you know who still buy UHD Blu-rays because the quality is that little bit better?
Chances of success: High
Microsoft xCloud is in pole position
The biggest competition for Google is Microsoft. The Xbox manufacturer is currently in the best position for the cloud gaming crown. Its own service is called xCloud and is in beta in the USA, the UK and South Korea. xCloud costs nothing so far and you can play over 50 games. That's three advantages over Stadia.
- The expectations are lower
- It's free (for now)
- It has a larger selection of games
The big drawback: it only works on Android devices. However, Microsoft announced at the in-house trade fair X019 that the service will be extended to PC and iOS next year. Western Europe will also soon be able to test the service. Perhaps even Switzerland.
Microsoft also said that xCloud will be linked to Game Pass. Game Pass is Microsoft's equivalent to Netflix and will offer over 200 games in 2020. You pay a fixed monthly price and get unlimited access to an extensive games library. Depending on your plan, you can play the games on your Xbox, PC or smartphone with xCloud thanks to cross-platform savegames.
And unlike Stadia, you can also simply play a purchased game on your Xbox if you don't like xCloud. So you have a fallback option.
Microsoft's approach looks much more promising than Google's. They offer something for everyone and leave as many options open as possible. It also helps that Xbox is an established name. Of course, the decisive factor is where cloud gaming works best. But Microsoft is still the biggest player in the cloud computing business. This is probably one of the reasons why Sony has entered into a partnership with Microsoft for its own cloud gaming service.
Chances of success: very high
Playstation is still waiting
Little is known about Sony's future plans for cloud gaming. There is an existing service, Playstation Now, with a considerable selection of over 650 games. However, you won't find any new blockbusters there. What's more, the service only runs on PS4 and PC. However, the collaboration with Microsoft announced in May proves that Sony also wants to continue investing in streaming technology.
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It could be a backlash against Google's entry into the industry. According to the motto: The enemy of my enemy is my friend. On the other hand, Amazon AWS was probably not particularly attractive as an alternative. After all, Amazon is apparently also working on its own streaming service. The fact that Sony's endeavours are still quiet is probably due to the fact that they simply haven't got that far yet. Or that the Japanese company would like to combine the service with the PS5.
Chances of success: High
Nvidia Geforce Now remains a niche
Of the suppliers listed here, Nvidia has been in the streaming business the longest. Geforce Now has carried the beta label for years, but is already working quite well. Nvidia also offers something that xCloud and the like lack: the ability to access your existing game library from Steam, Uplay and the like. Geforce Now simply connects you to a virtual PC in a server centre where most popular games are pre-installed. You can download many more that you own.
Geforce Now, like Stadia, offers UHD resolution and HDR, but it's far from smooth or lag-free. The service is available on smartphones, PC or Android TV. However, the implementation is not yet really clean. What's more, Nvidia is simply too small to penetrate the mass market. The offering is likely to remain a niche market.
Chances of success: low
Shadow continues to lead a shadowy existence
Shadow is more or less the same as Geforce Now, only even more niche and cumbersome to use. The French supplier also gives you access to a virtual PC, but you have to install everything yourself. Unlike Geforce Now, however, everything is retained.
Chances of success: None
Steam makes steam
Recently, a reference was discovered in the code on the website for Valve's partners that the company is also working on a cloud gaming service. Partners are asked to agree to the "Steam Cloud Gaming Addendum". It would be something that many Steam users have wanted for years. Nowhere else are there more PC games and there is probably no other store where PC gamers have bought more games. So if you could suddenly stream your entire Steam library without a powerful PC or on the go, that would be pretty awesome.
Steam already offers the ability to stream from your own PC to your smartphone via the Steam Link app. However, a server infrastructure managed by Valve could be much more powerful and your PC wouldn't always have to be running. It is guaranteed to be a Herculean task to negotiate new deals with thousands of game publishers to make Steam streamable. But I am convinced that there is truth to the rumours.
Chances of success: High
Conclusion: The future is coming, but not today
It will be many years before streaming can completely replace physical consoles and PCs. However, this is not stopping many companies from actively working towards this goal. Google, Microsoft and Valve apparently believe that in the foreseeable future we will be able to game virtually anywhere and on any device. Google has officially started the race with Stadia. The race that is not a sprint, but a marathon; the finish line is still a long way off for everyone. <p
Philipp Rüegg
Senior Editor
Philipp.Rueegg@digitecgalaxus.chBeing the game and gadget geek that I am, working at digitec and Galaxus makes me feel like a kid in a candy shop – but it does take its toll on my wallet. I enjoy tinkering with my PC in Tim Taylor fashion and talking about games on my podcast http://www.onemorelevel.ch. To satisfy my need for speed, I get on my full suspension mountain bike and set out to find some nice trails. My thirst for culture is quenched by deep conversations over a couple of cold ones at the mostly frustrating games of FC Winterthur.
