Stadia has launched if you have the Founder Edition, our unit and code came a little late but it's here and surprisingly it all seems to be working well. Note: Our Founders Edition was a personal purchase.
This new game streaming service from Google is powered by Debian Linux and the Vulkan API, so I've been rather keen to see what it has to offer. Keep in mind you will need a good internet connection for it and you do always need to be online, although it's supposed to keep your place for 15 minutes to help with drop-outs and changing devices.
Quite a rough start, as they were clearly sending out codes slowly in batches. Something which wasn't explained properly. However, every Founder should now have access with them moving onto sending codes for those with the Premier Edition next week. I do hope Google learn to communicate better in future.
For now, Stadia is supported in these countries: United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands. As for games currently available, it's limited with only 22 available although more are supposed to be coming before the year is up. You can see a list in this previous Stadia article.
While Google state that you need Chrome to play Stadia, that's not quite true. Testing on Manjaro Linux, I've got it running with Destiny 2 working fine in Chrome, Chromium, Brave and Opera.
Pictured: Stadia with Chromium on Linux
Pictured: Stadia with Brave on Linux
However, for Opera, the Content Security Policy doesn't even let you click the Sign In link. I used a plugin to turn it off for testing (not recommended), which allowed me to get further but then Stadia tells you to install Chrome. However, in this case using a User Agent Switcher did then allow Opera to work!
Pictured: Stadia with Opera on Linux
I also tried it in Firefox with a User Agent Switcher, where I was able to at least get the store to load and interact with the very basic UI but games wouldn't load. No amount of tinkering and disabling things seemed to help for Firefox.
My main testing has been done on my desktop, attached directly to the router with a cable. With a Virgin Media internet connection that gives around 360Mbps down and about 36Mbps up (Speedtest - while in use it varies of course). You can see a video of it in action below:
Direct Link
Also slightly amusing that as I spawned into the game, there was someone I knew standing there (hi Marc).
So far, other people using the net to stream video and play online games all while I've been testing hasn't phased it. I had a single disconnection, which in the space of about 10 seconds sorted itself out. I've always been a huge streaming sceptic...but not so much right now.
What I'm perhaps just as impressed by is performance over wireless. Testing using a rubbish Kubuntu laptop, across the house and down a level right at the back. Wireless speed there gave me about 50Mbps down, so putting Stadia into the "Limited" mode for 720p, even there the experience was also very good. I was fully expecting there to have a ton of input lag, but it felt about the same as my PC hooked directly to the router. All while someone else was streaming video and playing an online game elsewhere in the house. You can see a poor quality quick video test of that here.
Onto the Stadia Controller, priced around £59 by itself it's not the cheapest. However, the build quality seems good and it does feel very nice. Far nicer than the Steam Controller or the Logitech F310. Perfect fit too, with a really nice finish. Smooth on the front, a little rough on the back for some grip. The Stadia Controller also has a dedicated button for the Google Assistant, although that's not actually online right now. You don't need it though! Mouse and Keyboard work great, the Steam Controller also works when paired with SC Controller, and the Logitech F310 was also plug and play. Simply no need to pay out for it.
I think it's important to understand what Google have achieved already with Stadia is quite significant. Load up a browser and play a AAA game on Linux, macOS and Windows with only a tiny amount of loading and no sitting and waiting for 50GB of updates. Compared to a lot of experiences with new games on Steam, it almost feels a little magic.
However, at least speaking for me personally, I don't think this will be replacing a locally installed game any time soon. While the input lag was somewhat minimal, playable and quite fun it was just enough to show me that it's not something I'm going to be spending lots of money on extra games. Barely though, I have been seriously impressed with it. If they manage to bring it down a little more, it would be ridiculously good.
The service offered currently is also incredibly basic. Most things outside of playing a game require the Stadia mobile application, as the in-browser UI is laughably bare-bones. Not only that, but they're going to need something big to really hook anyone in and keep them. There's no "killer app" for Stadia right now and their one exclusive game with Gylt isn't going to be turning any heads.
Stadia Pro also doesn't feel at all worth it. 4K that has already been shown elsewhere to not actually be fully 4K in some games, as it's down to the developer and only supported on the Chromecast Ultra, plus HDR and Surround Sound which aren't yet supported on PC as well. The amount of games you get with Stadia Pro is also going to be ridiculously limited when other services will be practically doing the "Netflix of games" style. Google will definitely need to give Stadia Pro a big boost.
From a standard user perspective, it does work fine on Linux. Shockingly well too for the most part. I fully expected there to be all sorts of issues and it's fun to see the normal Linux desktop sit alongside Windows and macOS as a supported gaming system for something so big. That's my main takeaway from the testing done.
Thinking specifically about Linux gamers for a moment there's multiple people who could enjoy this. There's likely going to be plenty of AAA games on Stadia, that will never be ported to the Linux desktop and also never work in Steam Play Proton. This includes those with extra layers of DRM, especially true right now for multiplayer titles with various different forms of anti-cheat. Stadia certainly could end up plugging a big gap for Linux gamers there.
That's only from a player perspective though, there's a ton of other issues that come with it I've mentioned in other articles. Games as a hosted service, with no ownership that can be taken away at any time is a genuine concern worth thinking on. As a pretty stark reminder of that, Destiny 2 went entirely offline today for multiple hours (all platforms). Not the fault of Stadia, sure, but it's making a point about relying on things in the cloud. Google sucking up even more data on you I'm sure plenty of people will be concerned about. Like the Stadia Controller with the built-in microphone to speak to Google—somewhat creepy or handy? You never do truly know if it's listening or not. That said, if you're like me and you have your Android/smart phone always by your side it's the same issue there so perhaps not quite as big a deal to certain people.
Bandwidth use is also a going to be a problem for plenty of people. Testing Stadia on the "Balanced" setting, which is supposed to give 1080p with an hour playtime using vnstat as the monitor it sucked away almost exactly 10GB. Let's say you play only 3 hours a day across a week, that's over 200GB. While I don't have a data cap, I've looked around and plenty really do and Stadia can easily blow through it.
Google also need to, rather badly, work on their communication and constant overselling of the service. It wasn't ready, clearly and still isn't in a lot of ways. They announced lots of shiny things, that just aren't there right now. We're talking Wireless controller on PC, 4K on PC, Google Assistant, State Share, Stream Connect, YouTube integration, Family Sharing, an almost nonexistent PC interface and even the Buddy Pass system isn't yet live. Stadia launched with the bare minimum to be called a service.
If Stadia does succeed, gaming will be massively different to what we see today. I can't even begin to imagine how indie games would adapt and you can bet more publishers would opt for their own subscription services to help counter it. They do have a lot of competition coming as well, even Amazon are said to be launching their own game streaming service next year. What of the Steam Cloud Gaming rumours too? Too early to get fully invested into Stadia when it's so limited.
Keep an eye on our Twitch Channel, as our streamer will be taking a look tomorrow.
If you’re interested in Stadia and want to see more about it here, or you would like something very specific tested do let me know in the comments.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Quoting: warrengbrnLiam, any notes on the image quality? I'm surprised the impressions on Stadia have been so varied from person to person. Some say its amazing and others say its laggy and blurry, which is are issues I've had with both Steam Remote Play in home and miles away from my house.Good question! The quality of it does seem quite good, not perfect mind you there's moments where you can see some extra blurr but it's not in the immediate area, I certainly haven't seen even a single bit of the kind of YouTube style degradation I was expecting. There's no blockyness to it, it's clear. However, Destiny 2 certainly isn't being streamed from Stadia on Max details, I believe Bungie said it's at Medium settings.
I tried out Bloodborne on PSNow but quit my playthrough after several hours. The input lag wasn't terrible but it wasn't great and the picture quality would become extremely blocky whenever turning the camera fast or looking at dark colors.
Quoting: SalvatosQuoting: TheSyldatThe steam controller only LOOKS girthy but when you take the time to assess button placement and spacing and overall shape of it all no actually the steam controller is one of if not the best designed controllers in the world, so using it as a your point of comparison isn't exactly the best of all ideas .Ironically, you say that like it’s universally better for everyone, as if we all had the same hands and experience with it. To me it was awkward to hold and the texture (especially the touch pad) chafed my skin to the point that I was eager to get rid of it.
There is no such a thing as "the perfect controller" only thoughtfully designed ones and I have said it multiple times both in the discord and in comments section when it was the subject of conversation.
Every controller can be improved upon especially for as long as we're gonna practice the "one size fits all" philosophy.
Yet when it comes to people with very short fingers and very tiny palms the steam controller LOOKS like a nightmare at first but using it you rapidly realize it's only deceiving looks.
As for the texture I do agree that it should be improved the steam controller is the controller I clean the most because my dead skin grime gets everywhere.
TL DR you know damn well what I meant don't play the fool here ...
Last edited by TheSyldat on 23 November 2019 at 10:40 pm UTC
Quoting: michaldybczakHow did they make Destiny 2 run if protondb shows it as borked? Everyone says that Stadia is on Linux but it looks like there are only Linux servers. The game is somehow streamed from Windows or am I missing something?
It means Destiny 2 developers made native Linux version.
Quoting: EikeQuoting: BotonoskiI really don't understand the appeal of game streaming, ain't really any savings for the consumer in the long run, especially considering how expensive internet tends to be in the US. My current PC cost me 2-3 months worth of a half decent internet plan
Germany is said to have bad internet conditions. I've got 50 Mbit/s for 30 bucks, no data cap. So my next PC will cost me 2-3 years(*) worth of the internet plan, and, way more important: I don't even need to pay anything additional for internet if I wanted to use Stadia.
(*) I really wonder what your internet and your PC cost if it's months for you...
My current internet plan, which was Comcast's second cheapest option at 75 mbps (though it's half that speed most days), costs me $66.95 a month plus tax. If I wanted to remove the data cap I'd have to pay an additional $50 monthly fee.
Last edited by Botonoski on 24 November 2019 at 4:37 am UTC
Quoting: BotonoskiMy current internet plan, which is there second worse options in terms of speed at 75 mbps (most days its barely half that), costs me $66.95 a month plus tax. If I wanted to remove the data cap I'd have to pay an additional $50 monthly fee.
Sounds like you need to wait for Starlink to get something decent. Paying $117 for 75 Mb/s is horrible. And ISP charging $50 extra for uncapped connection is a complete crook.
Last edited by Shmerl on 24 November 2019 at 4:33 am UTC
TheRiddick Nov 24, 2019
IMO Stadia is a very expensive product/service to use and have for the convenience. People complaining they can't afford a console (even next gen) and must use Stadia are probably not being very sensible. Lets keep in mind Google is going to shut this service down in the soon future!
Last edited by TheRiddick on 24 November 2019 at 4:44 am UTC
Quoting: ShmerlQuoting: BotonoskiMy current internet plan, which is there second worse options in terms of speed at 75 mbps (most days its barely half that), costs me $66.95 a month plus tax. If I wanted to remove the data cap I'd have to pay an additional $50 monthly fee.
Sounds like you need to wait for Starlink to get something decent. Paying $117 for 75 Mb/s is horrible. And ISP charging $50 extra for uncapped connection is a complete crook.
Even if I got the most expensive plan they got, I'd still have to pay an additional $50 a month to make that plan unlimited, which is just crazy. Not that I'd ever pay for their best plan, I'm absolutely certain they are throttling me on my current low end plan, so I kinda expect them to do that regardless of how much I pay.
OLucasZanella Nov 24, 2019
Quoting: TheSyldatNot sure why you're mad at them here, fam. Do you think adapting tools for women does mean downgrading it? Because otherwise it just seems like you wanna be mad and misread what they wrote because of it.Quoting: namikoSupporting women also isn't downgrading (subjectively) male things to second-best.As for this one here I'm not even gonna comment on it and just quote you so that you read yourself back if don't see what's wrong in that sentence I don't know what to tell you other than "welcome to the mute list"
Mute away, if you so desire.
Quoting: OLucasZanellaNot sure why you're mad at them here, TheSyldat.A : I'm not mad
B : Of course you don't see it ...
C : fixed your massive one hell of a typo...
Quoting: TheRiddickFrom what I understand Stadia will happily suck all your data away if you don't limit it. Maybe early launch issues I dunno. Also I hear the controller feels cheap and can't be repaired, its glued together, probably better getting a 3rd party one.I talked about it as my first comment in this very comment section but let's do it justice.
Acutally the inside PCB design is actually one of the best I have seen lately everything is correctly labeled with idiot proof marking and sliding pillars, you can't put buttons in the wrong hole.
And the PCB is divided in two, a control board and a "contact and switches board" which WOULD make the cleaning of that controller fairly easy to do and actually WOULD prevent you from risking the control Chips since they are on a separate board below the contact and switches one.
Even better their choice of battery form factor and size and ratings is sensible since it's a regular off the shelf battery pack model builders are using for custom RC cars. So buying a replacement WOULD be straight forward.
Why so much yelled "would" well ....
Here is where the fault lies, the gals/guys who designed the shell of the controller made it with clips that are so fucking thick that they are unpushable. Controller reviewers who tried to pop it open to see how easy it would be to clean it had to whip out BOTH a Heat gun and a fucking dremel to finally get in.
Sooo TL DR the team that designed the electronics were sane and actually sensible and cleaning friendly , the SHELL design team felt like throwing all of that good work out the window by being inconsiderate jerks.
Hope that clarification is welcomed because really that's what ticks me off the most is that one part of the team DID DO the right thing, while the other part felt like being jerks.
Last edited by TheSyldat on 24 November 2019 at 6:12 am UTC
TheRiddick Nov 24, 2019
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