Google Reveals Stadia Pricing, Release Date, Launch Titles

Google decided to pre-empt next week’s E3, and unveil the pricing details, release date, and launch titles of their debut into the world of videogames: the Google Stadia.

The much-hyped Stadia has been called the “Netflix of videogames,” because the service allows you to stream videogames much as you would stream a movie or TV series. You can stream games pretty much anywhere—on TV, desktop, laptop, tablet, or Pixel 3 and 3A smartphones. Unlike Netflix, however, the main selling point isn’t convenience. It’s that now you can play a game in the highest quality available without burning a hole in your wallet on hardware. Plus, no massive download times.

Of course, we already knew all that months ago. So what’s new?

Well, for one, Google detailed the pricing structure, and it’s not quite what you may expect. First off, if you want access to Stadia on the launch date, you can’t just download an app. Instead, Stadia access is packaged as part of a “Founder’s Edition” bundle that will include a limited-edition controller, Chromecast Ultra and three months of a premium service called “Stadia Pro.” The bundle will be priced at $129, and the Pro subscription will be $9.99 a month.