Google seems to be taking advantage of the fact that most people are confined to their homes and going bored out of their minds with the launch of a free version of its Stadia game streaming platform.
The company announced last week that new and existing users will now be able to access Stadia Pro for two months, free of charge.
Google launched its Stadia gaming service late last year, but the initial reception has been underwhelming, despite months of hype after it was first announced. Google now appears to be trying to address that with the launch of its free tier, and with support for more premium features such as 4K resolution.
The free version of Stadia is available now, and will gives users access to nine titles on the platform, including Destiny 2, Grid and Thumper. The rest of its games catalogue can still be accessed, but users are required to purchase those titles, which include popular hits like Doom Eternal and Red Dead Redemption II, separately.
“Video games can be a valuable way to socialize with friends and family when you’re stuck at home, so we’re giving gamers in 14 countries free access to Stadia Pro for two months," Google said in a blog post.
To take advantage of Google’s offer, you’ll need both a compatible device and a compatible game controller, or a mouse/keyboard combo. Currently the platform is supported on Android devices and Chromecast Ultra, but in the latter case users are required to use a proper Stadia game controller. Alternatively, the platform can be accessed on a PC via the Chrome browser.
Separately, it’s being reported that Google is planning to launch an update to the Stadia app, which will for the first time come to the Android TV platform. That would mean Stadia can be accessed on any Android TV, including those made by the likes of Sony, Philips and TCL, plus boxes such as the Nvidia Shield. It’s not immediately clear when the app will launch, but it seems safe to assume it’s something of a priority for Google, given the vast potential user base it would open up.
