Google last year launched the Stadia platform – a cloud gaming service that offers a streaming game library from any device that supports the Chrome browser. Google has plans to make the platform unique and provide exclusive titles that will be developed for it just as the big competitors – Sony and Microsoft – do, thus trying to attract an audience of players who will adopt the use of Stadia.
Now a post on the official blog by Stadia CEO – Phil Morrison, Shows us that the company has given up on the big ambitions it had, and is forced to close down the two development companies it employed in Montreal and Los Angeles: “When we launched Stadia, our goal was to make games accessible to players instantly wherever they wanted to play. Technology has proven Itself as one that works, and we will continue to maintain the platform so that we can continue to provide an advanced cloud-gaming service experience for the community.
While this was our vision at first, on the other hand, developing games from the ground up is a process that takes many years and huge investments, and the cost increases significantly. We have decided not to invest in exclusive content for the platform and will shift the focus to strengthening and operating Stadia while collaborating with existing companies in the industry. “
Focusing on Stadia’s future as a platform, and winding down SG&E: https://t.co/HsZUcGXbtZ
– Stadium (@GoogleStadia) February 1, 2021
Stadia has been launched in a limited selection of countries around the world, and has received lukewarm reviews at best. A particularly stable and fast internet connection is required, and quite a few players have complained about the performance. Since its launch, Microsoft has entered the market as a direct competitor and even combined its Game Pass service with its cloud service – xCloud. Google seems to have realized that they must focus on the platform itself in order to attract players, and not necessarily develop exclusive titles.