I wanted to express a frustration regarding Stadia that I feel isn’t getting much publicity (maybe because my situation is pretty niche, but still). The fact that I can’t use my G Suite account with Stadia is insane. Yes, I know they mentioned this before, but I still can’t believe that it’s not supported, and it may be a dealbreaker for me.
I’ve actually been really excited for Stadia, and even though I got my code late, I didn’t mind waiting a bit longer. Despite negative press, I really wanted to believe in a streaming future and I’m fully bought-in to Google’s ecosystem. I figured if anyone could pull this off, it’s Google.
In fact, I’m so bought into the ecosystem that I use a G Suite account as my personal gmail account. I mainly do this for a custom domain as part of my Google account, but I also enjoy the admin tools for managing my household (family), custom and unlimited google groups, lots of storage, the list goes on. It’s been great, I love G Suite, it’s made using other Google apps a breeze and I get everything I could possibly want out of having a custom domain with my Google account.
Until Stadia.
Yesterday, I got my code and excitedly downloaded the app. Like many of you, I was just extremely ready to jump in and give Stadia a shot after waiting for my code. Immediately, I was met with a message that made my heart drop (image above): "Choose a different Google account".
I haven’t used a personal gmail account in several years, and the one I did have was cringe and I wanted to avoid that username as much as possible. Unsure what to do, I created a new quick Google account using my common in-game username as the address (@gmail.com). As I went to do Stadia set up again, I got kindly reminded by the app that I would never be able to change my linked Google account once I set up Stadia. Great, so I was committing to this bogus Google account I created in seconds just because I wanted to use Stadia so bad, instead of the account I use for every other Google app (and many aspects of my life) and have used for years (Complete with a nice [gaming@mydomain.com](mailto:gaming@mydomain.com) alias that I thought would be perfect for this moment).
After committing, so much of the excitement about Stadia, and the fact that Stadia is another Google product, was gone. It didn’t even work with the account that I use for the rest of Google. I realized that now, every time I wanted to use Stadia, I would have to switch accounts away from my main Google account, use my new bogus one, then switch back when I was done.
I completely fail to understand why Stadia wouldn’t work with another Google service, especially one that people pay for. Again, I know they were transparent about this so I shouldn’t be surprised, but even though they announced this in advance, I still feel a bit betrayed and deflated. I was willing to overlook every other Stadia complaint just because I trusted Google and was a bit of a fanboy, but I now I feel like this product isn’t even made for users like me.
Adding the extra step, as well as the detachment from the account I use for the rest of Google services, may be what stops me from using Stadia, especially in light of an already rocky launch. Especially since my desired username that I got the founders pack for is now linked to a random account I created in a moment just so I could jump in as fast as possible.
Be warned other G Suite users! Despite this issue, I still will be trying it more over the next few days (and my initial impressions were good, this problem aside), and I hope many of you are able to enjoy.
I can understand that you would love to play Stadia with a G Suite account. Guess though that Google didn't made it available at launch, because G Suite accounts are normally for businesses and therefore it could be more important for Google to bring Stadia for the private Google accounts.
If you're lucky, it will be available for G Suite soon, but in the helpcenter Google mentioned from the very beginning that Stadia is not for G Suite. Wish you the best though.
The G Suite account and compatibility with various services is not an uncommon issue and one I don't expect to be changed for Stadia any time in the near future. The people at Google are aware that G Suite users do want more universal parity in service access with personal accounts, though, so it may happen one day.
I can understand that you would love to play Stadia with a G Suite account. Guess though that Google didn't made it available at launch, because G Suite accounts are normally for businesses and therefore it could be more important for Google to bring Stadia for the private Google accounts.
If you're lucky, it will be available for G Suite soon, but in the helpcenter Google mentioned from the very beginning that Stadia is not for G Suite. Wish you the best though.
I hope that this does change, and if it does, I hope that they allow me to retroactively change accounts to use my G Suite account with my username instead. Sure, G Suite is intended for business, but it’s also the only way to use a Google account with a custom domain or efficiently in a household, which I find quite valuable even as an individual.
The G Suite account and compatibility with various services is not an uncommon issue and one I don't expect to be changed for Stadia any time in the near future. The people at Google are aware that G Suite users do want more universal parity in service access with personal accounts, though, so it may happen one day.
I am in the same situation. Also don't forget that you can't use anything Google Home with a gsuite account (not really, not fully anyway). Seems like Google really hates people who pay for their products. It is such a weird problem.
I use GSuite and it does make it very clear from the offset before you order that GSuite is not supported. Not sure why it's a surprise then...
Hmm, I have a andreas@familydomain.com Google account but I guess that's not the same as Gsuite? Never looked in to it honestly.
I read that Google didn't allow this because if a buissiness closed or changed their email-provider the account disappears. Makes sense, but it must suck for your situation!
Edit:couldn't see the latest comments for some reason...
I've also got the same issue.
Regular free Google accounts can be deleted on demand, so I don't see why that would prevent Google from enabling Stadia for G Suite accounts...
As a Gsuite admin, I am sure you know about disabling particular google services for your 200 odd gsuite accounts, or your domain.
Clearly weavernator has no concept of enabling / disabling services at the user level. This whole feature of Stadia not working with G Suite doesn't really surprise me though. Google actively refuses to give paying G Suite customers (many of them personal users) access to a lot of features. Family sharing being one of those main features. All it needs to be is a feature that is disabled by default that admins can turn on per user. Then the arguments of "G Suite accounts are disposable" and "the data is managed by the organization" just go out the window because it is in the hands of the admin to manage, not Google to worry about. Oh also, stop advertising that G Suite accounts are not Google accounts by the way. That's incorrect.
Some of us run our own Gsuite accounts at home so we can manage our family. Not that uncommon.
Hello!
I've also got the same issue.
Today, Phil Harrison (Vice President and GM, Google Stadia) say: "Anyone who signs up will get two free months of Stadia Pro with instant access to nine games, including GRID, Destiny 2: The Collection, and Thumper".
But: "Choose a different Google Account. You can't sign up for Stadia using the organization's account that you're signed in to now. But don’t worry, you can use your existing personal Google Account instead or create one for free".
I use a paid G Suite with a custom domain and creating a separate Google account for Stadia looks weird. This is Google’s ecosystem: one account for one web service, a second account for a second web service.
I am a G Suite admin. I totally agree with the OP. This is why I don't subscribe to Stadia, or YouTube (ad free) or practically anything from Google except storage space, domains and user accounts. I simply do not want the hassle of two accounts. Period. So, I guess the world just have to go on without me having much involvement with Google. I subscribe to Sony, Microsoft, nVidia and Nintendo. They all accepted my G Suite email address without any hassle. Let me repeat that: They all accepted my G Suite email address without any hassle.
Totally agree, instead we went to geforce now XD
Also a Gsuite user with the family. Everybody has 2 email accounts now. Really don't like it... But we use Stadia and enjoy it.
The degree of commitment to Stadia that Google shows with the current Cyberpunk 2077 offer, made me change my mind. Everybody has 2 email accounts now in our family as well. Soon everybody in the family will have adfree YouTube and more family services. So this was a good move from Google.
Great to hear.
Gsuite is business related and gaming isn't that much of a business thing.
I think if Google has to support Stadia with Gsuite it has some conflicting contracts/agreements.
I use Gsuite to for my family to get things setup with my own domain etc.
It would be nice if Google offered a Family plan to transfer things to using "normal" account but still able to use a custom email adres.
But then again now we have new email addresses using gmail.com.
Maybe a email alias for it?
For now it is this or no Stadia / YouTube Premium Family.
Yup, same issue here. I was ok with it until today when I wanted to spend my Google Play balance in Stadia just to realise it's on my G Suite account
Same story here, all the family has to create a Gmail account to use stadia... Same story with YouTube family. Completely ridiculous but it's not like Google was going to listen to the users ![]()
It's okay. I'm happy to keep spending my money with Microsoft. Google shows they certainly don't want it.
FIrst my Google Home, now this!?
Are you telling me the company that has a Quantum computer in the basement can't figure out how to add Gsuite support for their most popular consumer products?
I have same problem, I'm running my own personal domain for me and my family and now i can't use my "premium" mail. What is wrong with Google
The problem is that Google Workspace (Gsuite) is business orientated.
Stadia and the Premium subscriptions are consumer orientated.
In my family we are using Google Workspace (Gsuite) for some time now.
Sadly to use a family subscription this is not going to work on those accounts.
It is pretty logical (A whole Google Workspace userbase that could be covered with 1 family Premium subscription... :)) but it does require the family to have 2 accounts now.
So I understand the reasons but would like to see the option to use your own domain name within the Google Family somehow. ![]()
Or if Google came to the realization that it is up to the paying account owners of Workspace / G Suite to determine how their end user data is handled, this would all be fixed. Turn consumer features like Stadia, GPay, Family Sharing, etc. to default off for Workspace / G Suite accounts and leave it up the account owners and admins to determine whether or not those features should be enabled. I can understand not having that for true enterprises, education, etc. But if their stance has somehow become that Workspace / G Suite is solely business oriented, then only business should have the ability to access and use it in the first place. And the same should go when it comes to consumer grade gmail.com accounts, which are unoriginal and cliché, for when businesses use them. I can't tell you how many times I see realtors, lawn companies, churches, etc. use gmail.com addresses because Google clearly doesn't care on that side. At this point, I've come to terms with paying for the "consumer" level services through other providers because they clearly don't care if you have a "business oriented" e-mail. In the end, I hope this stance and others will further prevent Google from continuing their efforts for these services. Oh well.
For whatever reason, Stadia content & library is non-transferable between Gmail accounts, and it's possible to lose access to a G-suite address.