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clg6000
Stadia Player
Stadia Player

Stadia Refund to Google Play is not sufficient

Hi,

In brief: refunding money spent on Stadia games through Google Play to a Google Play balance is not a functional refund.

Stadia owners took a leap of faith in Google and this new system. Early on, Stadia promised that, if you purchased a game through Stadia, you would be able to play it, even if there were issues with publishing rights or other snafus.

This seemed intended to reassure gamers that purchasing games to stream wasnt any more risky than buying physical copies. And the prices for these streamable games were virtually the same as a hard copy purchased for PC or other platform, further creating a link that Stadia game purchases were as stable as cartridges, discs, or downloads.

I was sad to hear about the end of Stadia; it was a great solution for me. I had hours that it would be around for some time, and though I was aware there was some risk, I trusted Google enough to make things right if the worst case occurred.

So when I heard about the refunds, I felt vindicated. See, Google is good enough to not leave us Stadia pioneers hanging. They care about our trust. And, I'm glad to report that the credit card-based purchases I made (for two Stadia Controllers) were processed without hassle.

However, I now also have nearly $300 is Google Play store credit. This is unacceptable.

Even if there were $300 worth of apps and media I wanted to purchase—I don't have storage enough on my Pixel for that many apps...and if I buy media, what if Google Play shuts down?

There was this idea that if I purchased a title on Stadia, it would be available to play for awhile. Google Play balances don't accomplish this. Something like a Steam key or a GameStop credit might, I suppose. However those are not Google affiliates, and that sort of deal would likely be hard to create.

But—why I can't use this credit through the regular Google Store baffles me. If I can't play the games I purchased for Stadia, at least I could roll that credit towards something Google-related that I could use. I could upgrade my old, failing Pixel...or even pay off some of my Google Fi balance. (And now I'm also thinking...maybe I should get out of Google Fi?)

I think Google and Stadia owe its customers more than Play store balances. And I think it's reasonable for us to ask for that. I want to support Google's ongoing projects like Stadia (and Pixel and Fi)...but not if they end like this.

Tags (1)
3 Kudos
4 Replies
Baz
Stadia Player
Stadia Player

I agree.

I received Christmas gifts in the form of Play Credit to buy Stadia games (since the games couldn't be purchased elsewhere by my family) and have been refunded in Play Credit which I have absolutely no use for.

I reached out to Google via Web Chat and the people there couldn't help me because they don't deal with Stadia queries, because they were the Google Pay team. I was told that they would escalate the issue for me because the Stadia team were either closed or don't have Web Chat (I contacted them twice). And on the second occasion they said someone would contact me by email. I've heard nothing since.

I very much would like my Play Credit refunded to my bank so I can purchase these games on another platform. Can someone at Stadia please sort this out for me?

2 Kudos
WhizKey
Stadia Player
Stadia Player

Same here. The earliest purchases were done through play credits, and later on by PayPal. And have been refunded as such. Some as Play credits, some on my PayPal. I didn’t get a choice on how and where to refund, and Google Play refuses to refund to a bank account. No way to block my Play account before the refund.

2 Kudos
clg6000
Stadia Player
Stadia Player

What's all the more frustrating is that is seems that Play credits used to be able to be transferred to PayPal or a bank account? I don't know how recent that is, but it seems like something that used to be possible through Google Pay.

So there is precedent, but something changed to make those credits Google Play only.

Shame. The end result of this situation ends like this is that 1.I am very weary of participating in Google systems in the future, and 2. I'm less likely to buy things from the Play Store, or any digital source really.

Streaming and pure digital/streaming media require trust between the consumer and the company offering the media. Valve/Steam have earned my trust. Netflix has my trust. Google now...not so much.

2 Kudos
WhizKey
Stadia Player
Stadia Player

I completely agree, Google is confirming over and over what I have been denying past years. People have been publicly bashing Stadia since the start for one reason: it’s made by Google!
they were notorious for dropping projects even before Stadia started, and people who were disappointed in the past were reluctant to spend money to a company that could not be trusted.

I have been defending Stadia and Google from the start, and feel somewhat naïve for doing so now.

I have read about people who were refunded up to a thousand dollars into Google Play credits! They won’t spend that kind of money on apps in a lifetime!!! Really Google? Is this just a way to keep your hands on the money that you technically refunded? Playing boyscout publicly because technically you refunded the money, but it just switched accounts internally?

Is this why you removed the “Don’t be evil” from your company directive?

1 Kudo