Image via Google
Google has announced that it will be shutting down its cloud gaming service, Stadia. The service will remain live until January 18, 2023 and then it will no longer be accessible.
Google will provide refunds for all Stadia hardware purchased through the Google Store as well as all games and add-on content purchased from the Stadia store. Google is anticipating that all refunds will be completed in mid-January.
Stadia vice president and GM Phil Harrison announced the news in a blog post, writing: ”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.”
All employees currently on the Stadia team will reportedly be distributed to other places in Google.
Harrison continued, explaining that Google sees opportunities to utilize Stadia technology to other parts of Google, like YouTube and Google Play. Google is also planning on making Stadia “available to…industry partners, which aligns with where we see the future of gaming headed.”
Google clarified that users will not need to return any Stadia hardware in order to receive refunds. Stadia Pro subscriptions will not be eligible for refunds, but users will not be charged during the shutdown period. Games can be accessed for Pro users until the system goes offline.
Additionally, Google has shut down its Stadia store.
Rumors of Stadia’s shutdown have been going on since the beginning of its life cycle. Rumors floated earlier this year regarding a potential shutdown for Stadia, but Google had originally denied those claims. However, the shutdown is now a reality.
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Zainah Yousef
Zainah Yousef is the author of The Fallen Age Saga and specializes in gaming, social media advice, and reviews. She's been writing all her life and she probably won't stop anytime soon.
