Isn't the point of cloud gaming to have a huge amount of computing resources available to gamers? Why do Stadia and Xbox cloud games shut down?
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Google Stadia will support even more Android TV devices later this month
Google Stadia is one of the best cloud gaming services on the…
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Google kills in-house Stadia game development studio, and it makes some sense
Google Stadia is barely out of its diapers, and just when it started to leave a mark, the company is taking a major decision that will alter the future course of the cloud-based game streaming service. Google has today announced that it is shutting down SG&E – the in-house game development studio that once aimed to make first-party games for the platform to compete against the likes of Microsoft’s xCloud, NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and Amazon’s fresh-out-of-the-oven Luna service. Google will now focus on bringing more third-party games to the platform.
The focus is now on bringing more third-party games to the platform
“Creating best-in-class games from the ground up takes many years and significant investment, and the cost is going up exponentially. Given our focus on building on the proven technology of Stadia as well as deepening our business partnerships, we’ve decided that we will not be investing further in bringing exclusive content from our internal development team SG&E, beyond any near-term planned games,” Google said in its blog post. Google also revealed that Jade Raymond, who headed the Stadia Games & Entertainment division and was tasked with making exclusive games, is also leaving the company.
Focusing on Stadia’s future as a platform, and winding down SG&E : https://t.co/HsZUcGXbtZ
— Stadia (@GoogleStadia) February 1, 2021
Now that Google’s ambitions of making first-party Stadia games are also winding down, the company will be focusing on partnering with other developers and bringing more third-party games to the platform. As for the GS&E team, the search giant mentions that they will be assigned new roles. Google will now direct its energy towards further enhancing the Stadia infrastructure and letting other developers make the most of it for bringing their games to the platform.
Google will shift the SG&E team to other roles
Google’s departure from the game-development party is also a clear sign that when it comes to making a AAA title, things are not always as easy as they look. Despite being a trillion-dollar company and having a well-received cloud-based game streaming service that was finally inching towards maturity in 2021, Google apparently couldn’t crack the notoriously complex and high-pressure code of AAA game development.
Shutting down Stadia game development division has a silver lining too
The decision to quit game development is not entirely surprising though, and actually sounds like a good decision in the hindsight. Why? Well, the search giant would much rather prefer not making first-party games at all, than investing some serious money, time, and effort in a property that bombs and brings down the reputation of Stadia with it. Just take a look at what happened with Cyberpunk 2077!
Further improving the inherent technology might give Google an edge over rivals
Plus, with third-party games, the Stadia division won’t have to put its reputation at stake with poor games, and will now be able to focus on upscaling and further improving the inherent technology. “We see an important opportunity to work with partners seeking a gaming solution all built on Stadia’s advanced technical infrastructure and platform tools. We believe this is the best path to building Stadia into a long-term, sustainable business that helps grow the industry,” Google adds.
Google definitely has pockets deep enough to lure the biggest game developers to its platform, and offering the best cloud-based gaming experience by focusing more on improving the underlying technology might just give Google an edge in the domain where Microsoft is its key rival right now.
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NVIDIA’s game streaming service arrives on iOS, Google’s Stadia is next in line
When it comes to cloud-based game streaming services, Apple has so far not allowed the likes of Google’s Stadia, Microsoft’s xCloud and NVIDIA’s GeForce Now on the App Store due to certain policies. However, it appears that users in the iOS ecosystem can finally enjoy the perks of cloud-based game streaming, starting with NVIDIA’s GeForce Now. That particular solution is called a web app.
Play your favorite PC games on your iPhone or iPad.
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GeForce NOW is streaming on iOS Safari, in beta, starting today.
Learn more: https://t.co/bsLASlq4E1 pic.twitter.com/jJRgxxJWARNVIDIA GeForce NOW (@NVIDIAGFN) November 19, 2020
NVIDIA has today announced that it is launching a web app for its GeForce Now game streaming service that will work on iPhones and iPads via the Safari browser. Starting today, iPhone and iPad users can enjoy NVIDIA’s GeForce Now game streaming service by visiting play.geforce.now.com via Safari browser. However, you need to have a compatible controller such as Razer’s Kishi to play a game via cloud on your iPhone or iPad. Do keep in mind the GeForce Now web app is currently in the beta testing phase for iOS.
While that is definitely good news, there is more in tow. Google has today announced that it will begin testing a progressive web app for Stadia on iOS in the coming weeks. “This will be the first phase of our iOS progressive Web application. As we test performance and add more features, your feedback will help us improve the Stadia experience for everyone. You can expect this feature to begin rolling out several weeks from now,” the company said in a statement.
As you might have heard, the first phase of iOS support is coming to Stadia! Stay tuned for more to come. https://t.co/RECHwxl5Iz pic.twitter.com/Yj8bFaAG3R
— Stadia (@GoogleStadia) November 19, 2020
However, the company is yet to share a concrete launch date or additional technical details of the Stadia PWA (Progressive Web App) for iOS. Google’s announcement coincides with the 1-year anniversary of Stadia’s debut. In a separate blog post, the company also revealed Stadia users who purchase Cyberpunk 2077 before December will get Stadia Premiere Edition as a freebie.
However, it appears that the circle of all three major games streaming services – Stadia, xCloud, and GeForce Now – will soon be complete on iOS, despite their inability to exists as a functional app on the App Store. Last month, Xbox chief Phil Spencer reportedly told employees that Microsoft also plans to bring xCloud to iPhones and iPads through a “direct browser-based solution.” Microsoft’s approach sounds similar to what NVIDIA and Google are doing with their respective cloud-based game streaming services.
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Pocketnow Daily: No 120Hz iPhone 12, But Wait, There’s More! (video)
Apple’s new iMac, several Samsung Galaxy smartphones and more on sale today
Deals. Amazon still has their Samsung sale going on, where they have a ton of bundles. You can save $246 on a Note 20 Ultra bundle where you get the Note 20 Ultra, the Galaxy Buds Live, a Galaxy Tab S6 and the Watch Active 2 for $2142… Sheesh.. You save but it’s not cheap. If you only want the Note, it’s $200 off, meaning you can get the entry level Ultra variant for $1099. The latest 27in iMac with the 5K Retina Display is $100 off, that leaves the Intel Core i5, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD variant for $1700. If you want better specs and more storage we also have more deals for that. We have more deals on the Galaxy S20 , Beats by Dre, Sony TVs and more in the links below.
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Google Pixel 3 users report swollen batteries that are damaging the real panel
We know that the Pixel 2 had a lot of issues when it was released, luckily that wasn’t the case for the Pixel 3, at least until now. There’s multiple users complaining of swollen batteries that are damaging the phone’s rear panel. It was first spotted by the guys over at Android Police, where they found a Google forum post with the affected user. After that, a lot of users came out with the same issue on both the 3 and the 3 XL. Apparently wireless charging stopped working for them and in some cases even the speakers and the fingerprint sensor would malfunction. Some users even reported that their phone started to overheat and exploded at the repair shop. So far, Google has issued replacement units to some users, but those with their warranty expired had to get a new battery. Google hasn’t released a statement yet but we’ll keep you posted, let us know if any of you have had this issue.Apple permits game streaming services like Stadia and xCloud on iOS, but doubts remain
We know that Apple has been receiving a lot of criticism from companies like Epic, Facebook and Microsoft, due to their practices with their App Store. Well, one of the reasons for these companies like Microsoft to be against them was because they wouldn’t allow cloud-based game streaming services. Well, Apple just updated their App Store policies to allow these types of apps on the store, but of course they still have high demands. According to their update, “streaming games are permitted so long as they adhere to all guidelines, like submitting every update for review, developers must provide appropriate metadata for search, and games must use in-app purchases to unlock features or functionality”. Another caveat is that these services must offer Apple’s in-app payment system with the infamous 30%, meaning they’ll probably be taking a cut every time you renew your xCloud or Stadia. We’ll keep you posted to see what Microsoft and Google respond.New certification confirms Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G specs
We’re getting closer to October, which means that we’re also getting closer to the Galaxy S20 FE. And, we’ve had multiple leaks of the specs but now, the phone just went through a TENAA certification revealing some official specs. The phone is listed with a 6.5n display, a 4500 mAh battery that will support 15W wired charging, Dual SIM capabilities, and it’ll apparently be right in between the S20 and the S20+ when it comes to the size. That’s it for the certification but, just to refresh your memory we are expecting this phone to bring the Snapdragon 865, a 120Hz display, and a 32MP selfie camera on the punch hole. A triple camera array at the back with a 12MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra wide and an 8MP telephoto with 3X optical zoom. We’ll keep you posted as we’re getting pretty close now.Story of the day:
Apple Watch ‘SE’ in two sizes is reportedly coming on September 15
It seems that the next Apple event won’t feature the new iPhone 12
Finally, Jon Prosser just went on a tweeting spree about Apple’s upcoming products. First up, he mentioned that we’ll be getting an Apple Watch SE on September 15th. He claims that it’ll come in 40mm and 44mm variants, with the Series 4 design but, it won’t bring an always-on display, no ECG and an M9 chip. According to him, they’re listed as Apple Watch and Apple Watch Pro for the hardware engineers, but he isn’t sure if that will be the final name.Now let’s talk about iPhone, and actually bad news all around. Mass production began this week, but not with everything. Remember the ideal of getting 120hz on the display? Well that was codenamed “d6x” and it did not make it in time, so we can give up on those now. Also that iOS 14.1 won’t be finished until October 9th so that it’s impossible for them to ship the new phones until mid to late next month. According to his sources the iPhone 12 won’t be announced at this event. Finally he posted a line-up which includes, the Apple Watch SE, the Series 6, the iPad Air 4, the iPad 8 and more. No iPhone or AirPods Studio which were rumored to come out here. Of course all of these is leaks and it might be inaccurate, but… Subscribe: http://bit.ly/pocketnowsub http://pocketnow.com Follow us: http://flipboard.com/@Pocketnow http://facebook.com/pocketnow http://twitter.com/pocketnow http://google.com/+pocketnowThe post Pocketnow Daily: No 120Hz iPhone 12, But Wait, There’s More! (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.
Apple says cloud gaming services like Stadia and xCloud violate App Store policies
Microsoft’s xCloud game streaming service arrives on September 15, but merely weeks before its debut, Microsoft halted its testing on the iOS platform. On a similar note, Google’s Stadia service is also yet to make its way to an iPhone or iPad. While there have been rumors galore, Apple has finally given a concrete reason for their absence from its ecosystem – these services violate the App Store policies.
Apple says all App Store submissions are reviewed against a uniform set of guidelines to protect consumers and provide a level playing field for developers. However, Microsoft has reportedly not submitted each game that is available with xCloud for review before Apple, which is why the app that allows users to play these games over the cloud has been blocked from publishing on the App Store.
“Our customers enjoy great apps and games from millions of developers, and gaming services can absolutely launch on the App Store as long as they follow the same set of guidelines applicable to all developers, including submitting games individually for review, and appearing in charts and search,” an Apple spokesperson was quoted as saying by Business Insider.
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Google Stadia tests game streaming on a 4G or 5G cellular network
Ever since its debut, Google’s Stadia game streaming service has been limited to playing over Wi-Fi, which also makes sense given the insane amount of data you’ll burn while playing a graphics-heavy game. But for those yearning for an on-the-go Stadia experience, Google has started testing a new capability that will allow users to enjoy Stadia gaming over 4G or 5G cellular networks.
However, Google has not detailed how much data streaming a game on Stadia will consume. Also, it is unclear at what resolution the games will be playable over 4G or 5G networks, and if all games will provide the same graphics output at a particular speed. As mentioned above, this is just an opt-in experimental feature, which means Google might fine-tune the performance issues, if any.
In order to enable gaming over 5G or 4G, open the Stadia app on your phone, tap on your avatar and then Experiments, followed by selecting the Use Mobile Data option. The new Stadia test went live yesterday and has started appearing for users who’ve already enjoyed a gaming session or two over 4G network.
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Google drops Stadia Premiere Edition price to $100, but ends 3-months free Stadia Pro offer
Google has lowered the price of Stadia Premiere Edition bundle by $30, and it is now available at $99.99 for interested parties. In case you are wondering, the Stadia Premiere Edition kit includes the wireless Stadia Controller and Chromecast Ultra dongle to let you enjoy games on your TV. But the price cut comes at a cost.
Earlier, Google offered a free 3-month Stadia Pro subscription with the Stadia Premiere Edition bundle, but that is not the case now. However, if you are yet to try out Stadia, you can sign up for it and get a 1-month Stadia Pro subscription for free. It must be noted that Stadia is now open to everyone and can be enjoyed on almost any Android phone.
Additionally, Google has added The Elder Scrolls Online to the Stadia library and it can now be enjoyed for free by Stadia Pro subscribers. The game also comes with the Morrowind Chapter as free add-on content and supports cross-play as well. But do keep in mind that you need an Elder Scrolls Online account that must be linked with your Stadia profile before you can play it.
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Google testing low-latency gaming mode for its upcoming ‘Sabrina’ Android TV dongle
Earlier this month, we had our first look at the renders of Google’s upcoming Android TV streaming dongle that is codenamed ‘Sabrina‘. Now, fresh information extracted from the firmware files by XDA-Developers indicates that the upcoming device might also support a dedicated low-latency mode for gaming.
Within a pre-installed system application called “SabrinaService”, there is a reference to a feature called “allm.” ALLM stands for Auto Low Latency Mode and it is an HDMI 2.1 feature that allows a gaming console, PC, or other devices to automatically enter a low-latency mode in order to provide a lag-free and uninterrupted experience for gaming, video conferencing and other scenarios.
To describe it in simple words, the Sabrina Android TV dongle will automatically enable a low-latency mode when it is connected to a compatible smart TV with a native low-latency mode of its own. And now that Google Stadia can be installed on an Android TV (sideloading it, not officially), it appears that Google’s upcoming streaming device might be the first to come with Stadia support.
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Google Stadia now works on almost any Android device, also brings on-screen controls
It's only fair to share...
It’s a big day for Google Stadia fans and everyone who is yet to try it. You can now play games via Stadia on any Android phone out there, in addition to the smartphones officially certified by Google. Just go to the Experiments section in the Stadia app and tap the Play on this device option. Of course, performance will depend on the phone’s hardware, so keep your expectations in check.
Moreover, Google has announced that the first version of its mobile touch controls is now available to all Stadia members. To test it out on your phone, tap on Try touch gamepad prompt once you launch a game without connecting your phone with a controller. Touch controls are now live for all games in Google Stadia’s library.
Moreover, you can now individually set the resolution for each device on which you play games over Google Stadia. Just go to the Stadia menu > Options > Performance and specify the resolution for that device. It will be automatically applied the next time you launch the game.
Source: Google Support
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It's only fair to share...
You can get three months of free Stadia Pro on T-Mobile right now
T-Mobile is giving a great offer to its postpaid subscribers through its T-Mobile Tuesday app today. You can easily get three months subscription of free Stadia Pro if you haven’t signed up for the service.
Stadia Pro usually costs $10 per month and offers access to a rotating selection of games. You can find titles such as Destiny 2, PUGB, Panzer Dragoon Remake, and more. Now, T-Mobile lets you get a three-month subscription absolutely free. Any games you buy will remain playable even if your subscription ends and you don’t feel like keep on paying for it.
This deal won’t get you the Stadia gamepad, but you don’t really need it if you plan on playing on a PC with a decent internet connection. Remember, this deal is only available for new Stadia subscribers, and you can take up on this offer until 5 am Eastern on June 9.
Source Android Police
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Google adds support for streaming at 1440p resolution on Stadia
Google has announced that Stadia players can now stream content at 1440p resolution – up from 1080p – provided they have the suitable hardware and internet connectivity at their disposal. You need to have a monitor with a screen resolution of 1440p or 4K, or a 4K TV with Chromecast Ultra plugged into it, in order to stream at such a high resolution.
Aside from having the right hardware, players must also have an active Stadia Pro subscription and must be hooked to a network with an average speed of 35Mbps or higher. But do keep in mind that cellular connectivity won’t cut it, and you’ll need a fairly stable Wi-Fi connection that can bear the cost of consuming an average 20GB of data per hour if you play games at 4K on Stadia.
You must also make sure that the Windows machine or Chromebook on which you are enjoying Stadia streaming at 1440p resolution should be capable of VP9 hardware decoding. Of course, with Stadia Pro, you also get perks such as 5.1 surround sound and High Dynamic Range (HDR) graphics.
Source: Stadia Community
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Stadia now supports 5.1 surround sound and on-screen keyboard in Chrome
Google Stadia has just received a new software update that will improve your gaming experience while playing on Chrome and more
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Google launches free version of Stadia for anyone with a Gmail account
Google Stadia's free tier is finally here, and if you have a Gmail account and live in any of the 14 supported countries, get ready to mash some buttons.
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Google offers 2 months of Stadia Pro subscription for free
If you're already a Stadia Pro subscriber, you won't be billed for the next two months. Game on!
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