Confirmed! Google Stadia shutting down! Relief for XBox, PS, Steam

Google Stadia was launched in 2019 to take on PlayStation, XBOX and Steam. It has been confirmed now that Google Stadia is shutting down.

On gaming service Google Stadia closing, here's what Google said. (AFP)

Google is shutting down its gaming service after just 3 years of operation. Google Stadia was launched in November 2019. Google wanted to take the gaming industry by storm with the help of its new cloud-based gaming service and thereby grab some of the massive market that was controlled by the likes of PlayStation, XBOX and Steam. However, not all has gone to plan for Google as Stadia suffered a couple of setbacks just after launch. It initially faced backlash from the public due to its sub-standard game library as well as the high cost of games despite the user not directly owning them. Now, Google Stadia shutting down rumours have been confirmed.

Google launched its Stadia service with a controller that was priced at $69. Players also needed a mandatory subscription which costs $9.99 a month. Now, Google has announced that it will shut down its Stadia service on January 18, 2023, bringing an end to just 3 years of service. In a Google blog, Phil Harrison, Vice President and General Manager of Stadia said, “A few years ago, we also launched a consumer gaming service, Stadia. And while Stadia's approach to streaming games for consumers was built on a strong technology foundation, it hasn't gained the traction with users that we expected so we've made the difficult decision to begin winding down our Stadia streaming service.”

What next for gamers?

Current Stadia users will receive a full refund for all the games as well as the Stadia controller, the company also announced. “We will be refunding all Stadia hardware purchases made through the Google Store, and all game and add-on content purchases made through the Stadia store. Players will continue to have access to their games library and play through January 18, 2023 so they can complete final play sessions. We expect to have the majority of refunds completed by mid-January, 2023,” Harrison further added.

Although Stadia is shutting down, it seems like Google has no plans to quit their ambition of cementing its position in the gaming industry as Harrison explained that Google will keep on investing in new tools and technologies for gaming.