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Google have confirmed the Stadia launch date is November 19

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Stadia, Google's new fancy Linux-powered game streaming service is officially set to launch on November 19, that is if you forked out for the expensive Stadia Founder's Edition.

In the blog post over on Google, written by John Justice the "Vice President of Product, Stadia", they mention that the Founder's Edition should start arriving on doorsteps on November 19. From then, you will be able to buy and play games beginning at 4PM UTC and it will work across devices right away (so you don't need to use that fancy Chromecast Ultra). As long as your Linux PC has a Chrome browser installed, it should work fine.

However, there's an important note included to say that they will be shipped out "in the same order that pre-orders were received". So if your country still had them available yesterday and you ordered, you're probably in for a wait. Justice said once your package ships, you will then get an email and sometime shortly after a code to activate it all.

As a reminder, while Stadia is a game streaming service it's not like Netflix since you do still need to buy the games just like you would on Steam or GOG. The "Pro" subscription at around £8.99 / $9.99 a month gives you 4K, surround sound, discounts and the occasional free game. The Base Stadia account is not a subscription but it's not free, since again you buy games.

We have a Stadia Founder's Edition ordered to cover here, so keep an eye out later next month to see what we think of it. Well, whenever our unit arrives anyway, we're probably way back in the queue due to when we confirmed our order.

Google also put out a quick overview video today too:

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There was a note in the video that you can only use the Stadia Controller in wireless mode with the Chromecast Ultra on a TV at launch, although wired mode and other gamepads/keyboard will work fine on PC.

Apart from the launch date and the note about shipping based on the order queue, no other info was given out. They also didn't mention if anyone can buy a Stadia Pro subscription then or if everyone else just has to wait until next year when Stadia rolls out fully.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Eike Oct 16, 2019
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Quoting: DesumOh goodie. The ultimate DRM and censorship scheme. I'm so excited this is being warmly received because the servers happen to be running on Linux.

It's not like I'm going to be a customer of this or want gaming in general to go in this direction. I'm more with Purple Library Guy here, wishing it "moderate success".

But "the servers happen to be running on Linux" doesn't sound like what they are doing: It's not like only a multiplayer server running on Linux, like it is often the case. They have to port the games to run on Debian Linux and fully work there, on Vulkan, rendering the graphics, fast... to a streaming lib, not to a local monitor. In my humble opinion, that's way more than half of what it needs to publish the game for Linux to classic download. And it will make more developers learn how to do Linux games. And engines.
F.Ultra Oct 16, 2019
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Quoting: mylka
Quoting: F.Ultra
Quoting: mylka
Quoting: Doc Angelo
Quoting: mylkaas far as i know stadia games dont even use vulkan for windows
i hope this will change soon, or stadia is very useless for linux gaming

Stadia doesn't run Windows on the game streaming servers. They run Debian Linux.

i know, but vulkan does and games like destiny 2 use dx on windows, even if they need vulkan on stadia

Of course it does, AAA games such as this have been in development for many years before Google even announced Stadia and there is just no way that a company like Bungie would change their entire engine from DX to Vulkan in the last weeks of release. Also the XBox version is probably their main release anyway this being Bungie after all.

weeks?
stadia was announced 7 months ago and they had some games to show, so some developers already had a dev kit back then
plenty of time to use vulkan if you ask me

Which in relation to how long they have been working on the game is "weeks". There is just no way that they after several years of tuning and optimizations for DX will just throw that out in the last 7 months of the dev cycle for their most important system.

edit: and we don't even know if the stadia version is done in-house or if they simply shipped that out to some porting company.


Last edited by F.Ultra on 16 October 2019 at 11:20 am UTC
iiari Oct 16, 2019
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Quoting: Skipperro
Quoting: Liam DaweStill, not entirely sure who their market is exactly...

As someone who works in the company selling Gaming-PCs I can tell you, because I've done research about possible Stadia impact on our sales...

I say it over and over again in every Stadia discussion - look at it from the perspective of someone who wants to buy a new Gaming PC, because it's meant to replace hardware and compete with local, mainstream gaming rigs. From this perspective, their market seems pretty big to me.
Great post. I think (hope?) a company like yours will be OK, at least for now, because Google could go for your jugular, but really isn't... I think they don't have *complete* confidence in the technology... yet. I mean, I have a coworker who is the perfect person for Stadia. Her son needs a computer for school. She was looking at Chromebooks, but her son didn't want one since you can't game on them, and was trying to sell her on an Alienware for multiple times the cost. Add Stadia, and that Chromebook problem is solved. I don't know why Google isn't launching with, like, a $399 "gaming" Chromebook with 3 months Stadia credit or something. That would be going for your jugular. And that real-life Chromebook scenario (you can buy a $199 Chromebook and be OK with Stadia) is actually a seriously crazy great deal for parents just looking to check the school-gaming box for their kids and move on. Maybe in a year when Google has the tech nailed and is more confident they'll do that.

Also, this streaming tech will be seriously great for people who are into certain gaming categories. I like flight sims, and there are people out there buying 8 TB drives for all the ortho scenery they purchase or generate, but even that isn't enough and the tech is getting strained. Streaming will fix that starting next year....


Last edited by iiari on 16 October 2019 at 11:47 am UTC
14 Oct 16, 2019
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I am still interested in Stadia even knowing the DRM lock, but logic asks me why since I own a 3DS, Switch, and PS4. Had the pricing model been more like Netflix or Spotify, then there would at least be something I don't already have. I think PlayStation Now makes more sense than Stadia at this point.
iiari Oct 16, 2019
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Quoting: [email protected]It's not the Netflix of gaming. You don't get a catalog of games to deal with.

You still have to buy your games on Stadia. Stadia simply helps offload it off the hardware.
That was my point, it wont' be the Netflix of gaming, which I think was a huge opportunity lost. As I posted above, I'm really surprised for how great the tech is that Google isn't being more aggressive with positioning this, because I think they're only, say, 85% confident in the tech status right now, not 100%. And as a long time Google fan and purchaser, they're honestly terrible at marketing and positioning their products...


Last edited by iiari on 16 October 2019 at 11:50 am UTC
KuJo Oct 16, 2019
I also ordered a Founders Edition. Already on 18 June. I am curious whether I will get my order directly on November 19th or later.

It doesn't work with the classic Chromacast, by the way. Because of the required bandwidth there is the Chromecast Ultra with Ethernet interface. The Chromecast Ultra is included in the Founders Edition or the now available Premiere Edition and required for operation from a TV.

You can play on your PC or laptop with the Google Chrome Browser. I don't know if Chromium works.

Concerning the smartphones: First the Google Pixel 3 and higher devices will get a Stadia support. In the long run, more smartphones and tablets with Chrome OS will be added. But there are no time specifications for this.

By the way, I am happy that Red Dead Redemption 2 is a launch title from Stadia. From November 19th I will make the Wild West wild. :) Without Windows. :)

EDIT
I looked it up. The announcement of the Founders Edition was on 06 June. Therefore I should have already big chances with my pre-order on June 18th to be considered directly as the first.


Last edited by KuJo on 16 October 2019 at 12:33 pm UTC
mylka Oct 16, 2019
Quoting: Guest
Quoting: mylka
Quoting: F.Ultra
Quoting: mylka
Quoting: Doc Angelo
Quoting: mylkaas far as i know stadia games dont even use vulkan for windows
i hope this will change soon, or stadia is very useless for linux gaming

Stadia doesn't run Windows on the game streaming servers. They run Debian Linux.

i know, but vulkan does and games like destiny 2 use dx on windows, even if they need vulkan on stadia

Of course it does, AAA games such as this have been in development for many years before Google even announced Stadia and there is just no way that a company like Bungie would change their entire engine from DX to Vulkan in the last weeks of release. Also the XBox version is probably their main release anyway this being Bungie after all.

weeks?
stadia was announced 7 months ago and they had some games to show, so some developers already had a dev kit back then
plenty of time to use vulkan if you ask me

Modifying an entire engine, reworking all the shaders that go into it, getting familiar with a new API, all while trying to continue work on the original game, and any other games in the pipeline....even 7 months is a very short time for that.
And yes, some companies have known about this for a lot longer, and have been working at getting their games Vulkan ready during that time. There's been an immense effort poured into getting some games to work - and generally only very few developers within any given company doing it.
Just takes longer than most people might otherwise think, that's all.

destiny 2 comes with stadia.... so they have to increase their vulkan skills and they have to make their engine vulkan ready anyways
also maintaining would be a lot easier, if stadia and windows have the same API... this is a game for years, not some single player game you finish in 1 week

so i stick with my argument. vulkan would have been the better choice...
Skipperro Oct 16, 2019
Quoting: iiariHer son needs a computer for school. She was looking at Chromebooks, but her son didn't want one since you can't game on them, and was trying to sell her on an Alienware for multiple times the cost. Add Stadia, and that Chromebook problem is solved.

Exactly! In internal report for my company I've stated, that main customers of Stadia will be parents who will explore options to buy gaming PCs for their kids. Most of the people don't think about it, but there is more to it than you just economics.

-Parents will be able to better control, both the content they kids are playing and the time.
-If the kid don't behave, parents can always cancel subscription, which gives them nice parenting tool.
-Also, there will be bunch of parents who don't want to spend 1000$ on a PC for a small kid and will start with basic Stadia. Especially, when they already got Internet-capable device.
-If the quality will be OK, they will stay there and eventually - pay for 4K resolution.
-In the long run, kid raised with Stadia will get used to it's convenience, possibility to play instantly on any device ect. Those kids won't even think to buy expensive PCs later.

Also, many people don't know anything about PC hardware and don't know what PC they need for their beloved flight simulator. Stadia will be much easier to start and don't require any investments. If it will be bad, you don't lose anything, you simply stop using it. If your 1000$ PC is bad, you've lost 1000$.

But that is all assuming, that the quality will be acceptable. That I will test next month.
Kimyrielle Oct 16, 2019
Quoting: Skipperro
Quoting: Liam DaweStill, not entirely sure who their market is exactly...

As someone who works in the company selling Gaming-PCs I can tell you, because I've done research about possible Stadia impact on our sales.
If you are interested, I can share the details with you, but to get the picture - if you look at the Stadia not as as a service on your PC, but as a hardware replacement, it's a great deal.

There is no PC, that would play all the games they will have in 4K for 10$ a month (360$ given average PC lifespan of 3 years). Even if I calculated all the extra costs like extra money per month for faster Internet and ignored price for electricity, it's still, from economic point of view, in the best-case scenario - the same. If you want to have a PC for the Internet browsing and games, you will spend less money buying cheap, entry level PC and Stadia subscription than a 4K capable machine.

And if you only want to play in FullHD - I cannot even compare the prices, because local PC will always cost something and Stadia is free so... divide by zero exception!

I say it over and over again in every Stadia discussion - look at it from the perspective of someone who wants to buy a new Gaming PC, because it's meant to replace hardware and compete with local, mainstream gaming rigs. From this perspective, their market seems pretty big to me.

I dunno. At the same time, people willing to spend big bucks on gaming PCs are also the ones who optimize everything to squeeze every last bit of performance out of their rigs and who throw a tantrum when their ISP has a hiccup night, giving them an extra 2ms of lag. Why would these people want a service that's -guaranteed- to perform worse than their Alienware PC?
Likewise, casual players tend to not care about 4K and a few extra FX effects on their games. There are by far the the biggest slice of the market, and they happily play games on low-end machines that don't break the bank enough to warrant signing up to a streaming service ON TOP of owning a PC to run Office on etc.
On top of that, Moore's Law is (mostly) dead, and PCs last much, much longer than they used to. When in the 1990s you had to replace a PC every other year to continue playing recent games, you can now keep a gaming PC for 4 to 6 years and STILL play the newest games with (most) effects enabled. Which cuts the annual cost of owning a gaming PC down but a fair margin.

I suppose you guys put a lot more thought into this than me, but to me, game streaming still seems to be an equal opportunity offender without any clear target audience.
iiari Oct 16, 2019
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Quoting: Skipperro...but there is more to it than you just economics.

-Parents will be able to better control, both the content they kids are playing and the time.
-If the kid don't behave, parents can always cancel subscription, which gives them nice parenting tool.
As a (deeply conflicted gamer) parent of two young girls who just now are starting to show interest in gaming and wanting to that independently from me, these are huge factors I've considered and it's possible Stadia will be the first service I introduce them to, on their Linux devices of course :).

I actually think the bigger future threat to your company, though, is still the next generation's love affair with mobile. My kids, for example, love Minecraft, and prefer to play it on mobile phones to computers with big monitors... They just love the touchscreen UI and want absolutely nothing to do with mice or keyboards. Flight sims might change that soon for my older daughter, though... BTW, if anyone has educational or coding game recommendations on Linux beyond GCompris, please PM me...

Quoting: SkipperroAlso, many people don't know anything about PC hardware... Stadia will be much easier to start and don't require any investments. If it will be bad, you don't lose anything, you simply stop using it. If your 1000$ PC is bad, you've lost 1000$.
All also absolutely true...

BTW, I think one way forward for gaming hardware makers is embrace that future and try to optimize as much as possible the streaming performance on their machines. The day will come when having top-draw networking, memory, and GPU's will result in a difference gaming experience on, say, a Chromebook than what someone will have with a dedicated gaming rig... That MS 2020 Flight Sim streams its scenery, but still had machines there with 2080Ti's to make it all work in 4K. Companies like yours should try to make that purchasing experience as easy, understandable, and up-gradable as possible.


Last edited by iiari on 16 October 2019 at 3:05 pm UTC
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