Google’s Stadia cloud gaming now available on LG smart TVs

By Phil Nickinson December 7, 2021

LG today announced that Google’s Stadia cloud gaming service is now available on LG smart TVs running webOS 5.0 or webOS 6.0. The Stadia app is available to download from the LG Content Store in the United States and 21 other countries, giving gamers access to more than 200 games without having to plug a single device into their TV, and without having to download gigabytes of data first. You’ll still need a controller, of course.

With a $10-a-month subscription to Stadia Pro, you’ll be able to play more than 30 games without additional charges, as well as enjoy support for 4K HDR and graphics hitting 60 frames per second — plus 5.1 surround sound. That’ll require as much bandwidth as you can throw at it, though.

Google Stadia on LG TV. — LG

By being able to stream games on Stadia directly on your LG TV, you’ll no longer need an additional device like Chromecast to get up and running, potentially saving gamers a few bucks. Not that getting started is all that expensive these days — a Stadia controller and Chromecast Ultra can currently be had for just $22 on Google’s website, down from its usual $80. Presumably playing directly through your LG TV won’t suffer any sort of lag compared to other devices, and LG’s smart TVs do have easily accessible Ethernet ports (Chromecast Ultra requires going through the power brick), so you can keep things running as smoothly as possible.

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Stadia also works with Chromecast Ultra, the new Chromecast with Google TV, NVIDIA Shield TV and Shield TV Pro, One FHD Streaming Stick, Philips Android TVs, the TCL 5-Series and 6-Series, the Xiaomi Mibox 3 and Mibox 4, and the Hisense U7G, U8G, and U9G.

And along with the official Stadia controller, other compatible controllers include a keyboard and mouse, PlayStation DualShock 4, Xbox One, Xbox One Elite, Xbox Adaptive Controller, Xbox 360, Switch Pro, and a virtual touchpad via your phone.

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Gaming

Google Stadia’s dedicated community faces heartbreak amid service closure

Google Stadia controller.

The Google Stadia subreddit knew about the service’s shutdown just slightly ahead of the official announcement. Users had already been posting about the Stadia Store’s UI changes that day when somebody posted a screen they saw in the app about how the Stadia store was “now closed.” In a few minutes, the whole internet would know that Google had decided to shutter Stadia by January 18, 2023, and refund all hardware and game purchases.

Stadia had a rocky launch and was never able to recover. So while the official Stadia Twitter account tried to squash rumors it was shutting down a few months ago, it couldn't stop what people saw as inevitable. However, it still came as a huge shock to many in the Stadia community. While Google is offering refunds on purchases, it can't fix what had become a tightly knit community of people who needed the failing platform to play.

Gaming

Ubisoft and more offer ways to play purchased Google Stadia games elsewhere

The protagonist of Assassin's Creed: Valhalla shouting in battle and wielding two axes.

Google recently announced that it plans to shutter its cloud gaming service Stadia in early 2023, leaving players who used it as one of their primary platforms in an awkward situation. Google already promised to refund people for their Google Stadia hardware and software purchases, but people are still losing access to games they enjoyed and save files they possibly dumped hours into. Thankfully, some developers are working on ways to help Stadia players.
The most notable studio to help Stadia players is Ubisoft, which was Google's earliest partner for the technology via an Assassin's Creed Odyssey demo. "While Stadia will shut down on January 18, 2023, we're happy to share that we're working to bring the games you own on Stadia to PC through Ubisoft Connect," Ubisoft tweeted. "We'll have more to share regarding specific details, as well as the impact for Ubisoft+ subscribers, at a later date." Thankfully, the Stadia versions of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, Immortals Fenyx Rising, Tom Clancy’s The Division 2, and Watch Dogs: Legion support cross-progression, so players won't lose their save files.
https://twitter.com/UbisoftSupport/status/1575922767593078793
Ubisoft isn't the only developer to help. Developer Muse Games is giving Embr Steam codes to those who played its comedic co-op firefighting game on Stadia if they email the developer with screenshots of Embr in their Stadia library. Meanwhile, IO Interactive confirmed that it is "looking into ways for you to continue your Hitman experience on other platforms," as the World of Assassination trilogy was available on Google Stadia.
There's still the matter of the five Google Stadia exclusives: Gylt, Hello Engineer, Outcasters, Pac-Man Mega Tunnel Battle, and PixelJunk Raiders. So far, only one of those games seems like it will be saved. PixelJunk Raiders developer Q-Games said in a blog post that "we hope to find a way to continue to share the vibrant worlds of Planet Tantal in the future, and we’re open to discussing opportunities to find the right publishing partner to make it happen.. Tequila Works, tinyBuild, Splash Damage, and Bandai Namco Entertainment did not respond to requests for comment from Digital Trends.
While the shutdown of Google Stadia is disappointing for players like myself who enjoy cloud gaming, at least players will be get refunds, and in some cases get the game for a new platform.

Gaming

This wireless workaround will give your Google Stadia controller new life

google stadia release date november 19 controller pax west 1 2

Google announced yesterday that it will shut down Stadia in January. The good news is that refunds will be given to everyone who bought all Stadia hardware, including its controller, so long as they bought it from the Google Store. You don't have to return the controller to get the refund (see the platform's FAQ page), but it doesn't have to go to waste just because Stadia is shutting down.

Users in the Stadia subreddit have been asking Google to make the firmware for the Stadia controller open source so that it would work on PC and consoles even after its namesake platform has been put out to pasture (per Eurogamer). Though Google won't be able to do that in an official capacity anytime soon, software engineer Parth Shah created a workaround tool that allows players to use the controller wirelessly over Wi-Fi.