Google Stadia has LAUNCHED under a cloud: Gamers with early access say streaming service is slow and has hidden costs as customers who pre-ordered the specialist kit were STILL waiting for it hours before it went live

• e-mail

Google Stadia — the online, console-free game streaming service that lets users play games as easily as they access email — has gone online in 14 countries.  

Many gamers with early access, however, voiced their frustrations that their pre-ordered Stadia controller kits and activation codes did not arrive before today's official launch. 

Despite months of anticipation, some users who received access prior to launch reported feeling let down by the service's bandwidth-hogging nature.

Google has warned users that Stadia's performance on a given connection will decrease if used at the same time as other activities like streaming music or videos.

In addition to these issue, some games need to be purchased on top of the subscription fee, which has left many confused.

The pioneering game delivery platform can be enjoyed via Chromecast, Pixel smartphones and any device with Google's Chrome browser.

Access to service costs subscribers £8.99 per month and represents Google's attempt to secure a slice of the $150 billion-a-year gaming industry.

Stadia does away with the need for expensive, individual consoles by running each game on Google's cloud servers, to which players connect. 

Stadia announced ten additions to the platform's initial lineup yesterday — bringing the number of games up to 22, with more promised before the year's end.

Scroll down for video

Google Stadia — the online, console-free game streaming service that lets users play games as easily as they access email — is online today in 14 countries 

Gamers on Twitter, however, voiced their frustrations that their pre-ordered Stadia controller kits and activation codes have not arrived pre-launch as promised

Google last month sold out of so-called 'Founder's Edition' kits — each priced at £100 ($129) and claimed to offer consumers access to the platform at launch. 

Some users who ordered Stadia kits went online to voice their complaint that they had yet to receive the hardware they needed to use the service at today's launch.

Each kit contains a Stadia controller and a pendant-shaped 'Chromecast Ultra' wireless connection device that plugs into television sets.

Stadia games can also be played on desktop computers using the Google Chrome web browser, as well as on second-generation-onward Google-made Pixel smartphones.

Subscriptions to Stadia Pro — which are priced at $10 a month in the US — is available in 14 countries across North America and Europe.

Subscribers can buy games that will be hosted at Google data centres, but some free games are also available, starting with 'Destiny 2: The Collection.'

Stadia on smartphones, at the start, works with WiFi connections rather than relying on mobile telecom services.

Being able to play without lags or interruptions is paramount to gamers and so flawed internet connections could cause frustration.

Internet speed will also determine how rich the in-game graphics can be.

However, some promised features such as integration with YouTube and controller support for wireless headphones were not included in today's launch.

'Assassin's Creed Odyssey' is among the games available on the Google Stadia streaming service being launched this week, aiming to allow users to play popular titles without consoles

'Cyberpunk 2077,' whose exhibit during the E3 Video Game Convention is seen here, is among the games coming to Google Stadia

Some Gamers on Twitter criticised the service for hogging household internet connections, along with the fact that some games need to be purchased on top of the subscription fee

Some Gamers on Twitter criticised the service for hogging household internet connections, along with the fact that some games need to be purchased on top of the subscription fee

Google appeared to be committed to making Stadia a success, according to Ubisoft senior vice president of partnerships Chris Early.

The French video game giant has been working with Google and its games are among titles coming to the service.

'From what I have seen, their plans are too deep; they are too good, and they are too invested,' Mr Early said. 'They are not calling it quits any time soon.'

He expected a long launch period during which Google would beef up Stadia.

'If there is a one-day problem at launch, it isn't the end of the world,' he said, stressing the potential for Stadia to let people play without investing in consoles.

Some Gamers on Twitter criticised the service for hogging household internet connections, along with the fact that some games need to be purchased on top of the subscription fee

Gamers on Twitter, however, voiced their frustrations that their pre-ordered Stadia controller kits and activation codes have not arrived pre-launch as promised

Gamers on Twitter, however, voiced their frustrations that their pre-ordered Stadia controller kits and activation codes have not arrived pre-launch as promised

'As the world moves further towards on demand content, having on demand video games is a logical progression for the gaming industry,' said from Patrick Soulliere, Esports/Gaming Global Marketing Manager at digital memory manufacturer Crucial.

'That's not to say there's zero impact, if users have a limited entertainment budget they'll have decide which streaming services to keep and which to forego altogether,' he added.

'As the streaming content offerings grow, companies like Netflix will have to continue to evolve and find ways to offer more value to their users, which is good for everyone.'

'The biggest challenge I see in terms of declining market share is to the physical media gaming portion of the industry, which has already been struggling to adapt and switch to downloadable games.'

'Brick and mortar gaming stores, such as GameStop, will have to further innovate and provide competitive offerings and prices to stay relevant in this era of streaming content.'

'That's where the real competitive threat lies, and I would think they have the most to lose from this type of an announcement by Google.'

Gamers on Twitter, however, voiced their frustrations that their pre-ordered Stadia controller kits and activation codes have not arrived pre-launch as promised

'It's time to check the data allowance on your internet connection — because cloud-based gaming is here and it's a hungry beast,' said uSwitch.com tech expert Ernest Doku.

'The idea of being able to play the highest-spec games without the need for a wallet-busting PC or console is a tantalising one,' he noted — but cautioned against the connection requirements to enjoy the games in high quality.

'If you want to play games in luxurious 4K resolution you'll need a connection that tops 35Mbps — but watch out because you could burn through 10GB of data an hour at the highest quality.'

'Stadia isn't cheap, and gamers will be hit by a triple whammy of costs, including £119 for a bundle including the controller and a Chromecast dongle, an £8.99-a-month Stadia Pro subscription, plus the full-price fee for premium games.'

'Google gives Stadia users a list of 'essential steps', one of which advises that streaming movies in other parts of the house while playing games will slow down performance.'

'Households looking to sign up will need to check that they are on a fast enough connection, or run the risk of squabbling over who gets to be online.'  

Others criticised the service for hogging household internet connections, along with the fact that some games need to be purchased on top of the subscription fee

Others criticised the service for hogging household internet connections, along with the fact that some games need to be purchased on top of the subscription fee

Stadia aims to lead the way to hosting titles in data centres, letting people use whatever gadgets they wish to access console-quality play.

US technology veteran Microsoft has been testing a Project xCloud online game platform that it plans to make available on Windows-powered personal computers next year.

Sony Interactive Entertainment has a PlayStation Now service that combines cloud gaming and title downloads that is synced to its latest-generation consoles and Windows-powered personal computers.

Having titles sit on powerful servers in the cloud could allow for unprecedented features such as thousands of people playing simultaneously or environments as detailed as the real world.

The Google move comes following the launch of the Apple Arcade mobile game service, which offers custom game apps downloaded to devices. 

A rival Google Play Pass charges the same $4.99 monthly subscription price as that of Arcade, which focuses on games for Apple iOS devices.

Others criticised the service for hogging household internet connections, along with the fact that some games need to be purchased on top of the subscription fee

Others criticised the service for hogging household internet connections, along with the fact that some games need to be purchased on top of the subscription fee

Others criticised the service for hogging household internet connections, along with the fact that some games need to be purchased on top of the subscription fee

Some Gamers on Twitter criticised the service for hogging household internet connections, along with the fact that some games need to be purchased on top of the subscription fee

WHAT GAMES WILL BE PLAYABLE ON STADIA WHEN IT LAUNCHES?

Google Stadia will launch on November 19 with the following titles: 

ORIGINALLY ANNOUNCED LINEUP

• Assassin's Creed Odyssey
• Destiny 2: The Collection (available with Stadia Pro)
• GYLT
• Just Dance 2020
• Kine
• Mortal Kombat 11
• Red Dead Redemption 2
• Rise of the Tomb Raider
• Samurai Shodown (available in Stadia Pro)
• Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition
• Thumper
• Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition

*available in Stadia Pro only

NEW ADDITIONS 

• Attack on Titan: Final Battle 2 
• Farming Simulator 2019
• Final Fantasy XV
• Football Manager 2020
• Grid 2019
• Metro Exodus 
• NBA 2K20
• Rage 2
• Trials Rising
• Wolfenstein: Youngblood

Mortal Kombat 11, one of the 22 games to be available on Google Stadia at launch

Advertisement