Google is shutting down its Stadia cloud gaming service, and it will be refunding all purchases made through the Stadia store. The company announced the news in a blog post, saying that Stadia has not gained the traction it had hoped for..
Stadia was launched in November 2019, and it allowed users to stream games from Google’s servers to their devices. The service was met with mixed reviews, with some praising its low latency and high-quality graphics, while others criticized its limited game library and high price..
Google says that it will begin processing refunds for Stadia purchases on January 18, 2023. All refunds will be processed automatically, and users will not need to take any action..
In addition to refunding purchases, Google is also offering free access to Stadia Pro until the service shuts down on January 18, 2023. This will allow users to play any of the games in the Stadia Pro library for free..
Google says that it has learned a lot from Stadia, and it will be using this knowledge to improve its other gaming offerings. The company says that it is committed to gaming, and it will continue to invest in the industry..
The shutdown of Stadia is a setback for Google’s gaming ambitions, but it is also a sign of the challenges facing the cloud gaming industry. Cloud gaming is still a relatively new technology, and it is still trying to find its place in the market..
Despite the challenges, Google is not the only company that is investing in cloud gaming. Microsoft, Amazon, and Nvidia all have their own cloud gaming services, and they are all competing for market share..
It remains to be seen whether cloud gaming will become a mainstream gaming platform, but it is clear that the industry is still in its early stages. Google’s shutdown of Stadia is a reminder that there is still a lot of work to be done before cloud gaming can reach its full potential..
