I've been a Stadia Pro user for a few months now. I thought it was great that they give out a few games every month for Pro users that can be added to your library. And I have joined Stadia Pro specifically for the games and discounts. I don't really need 4K resolution, or 5.1 sound. I enjoy 60fps at 1080p, and Stereo... So, to me it's all about the games.
Listen up Stadia... this is how you will choose to win or fail.
Strengths
First off... you have a great concept and execution. Streaming games is AMAZING! All of them should be available at 1080p 60fps. Make that a standard. I love what you have created.
Secondly, I don't begrudge you one bit for charging additional $9.99 / month for 4K / 5.1. Although the games should be available in 60fps.
These are your Strengths. Now, I will point out your weaknesses. Bear in mind, I only do this, because if you fix these problems, you may really be the best name in the streaming game business.
Problems
Lame/Boring (not Bad) games. I know, I know, some of these games aren't boring... but a lot of them are. I was especially insulted last night when the Steam Pro Games that are given at the beginning of the month are: "It Came From Space to Eat Our Brains," and "Killer Queen Black." I mean, thanks, but no-thanks. I will probably not ever play these games, and don't really care if they are in my library or not.
Now, these are not "bad" games, per-se, but they are niche gamer games. Only specific types of gamers like them, and they shouldn't feel like we paid for them. i.e. $9.99/mo Stadia Pro.
As a matter of fact, some of these "Pro" games, are AAA Quality titles. You gave out Jedi Fallen Order on May the 4th, and Resident Evil VII during your RE VIII promotion. These are great games! So, not all of these games have to be given to Pro subscribers, maybe just give them a heck of a discount. I would have snatched up Jedi Fallen Order if it was on sale for say $9.99.
There should be a large assortment of games that all Stadia Pro Gamers have access to at all times, just for getting the Pro Subscription. Not anything that has to be "claimed" of your lose it. They are there at all times.
Discounts. Stadia Pro members are given certain discounts on games that come up throughout the year. This is a FANTASTIC idea. But these discounts shouldn't only affect Stadia Pro Gamers, these discounts should be available to everyone.
Also, the discounts are not very good. When games go on sale, you can usually find the same game through your competitors (Steam / GOG / XBox) for less of a price. I have found 2 games on Stadia that were at AMAZING prices. First was Tomb Raider (2013) and I got it for $2.99, I also purchased Rise of the Tomb Raider for $4.99. Now those are some great discounts! For Sure.
However, it's hard to ask people to buy games like "Control - Ultimate Edition" for $39.99 when it's been out for so long, and most Gamers got a copy of "Control (not Ultimate) on Steam for around $9.99 - $14.99.
I am aware that you don't necessarily set retail prices, but I think you can do better with your discounts and sales throughout the year.
Demos should be a must. Gamers don't necessarily want a ton of games. They'd rather have a bunch of great games, and not have to sift through the crap looking for gems. The only Demo I have seen since the beginning is "Immortals Fenyx Rising" for Ubisoft. Personally, I enjoyed playing the demo so much, I would love to buy this game. But I am not going to pay $59.99 for the standard edition... and I sure as heck am not going to pay $99.99 for the Gold Edition. I will wait until this game is in the $29.99 range.
Also... If a developer doesn't want to make a Demo for their game, rest assured, that game sucks. And they don't want people to play it before they buy it, because then they won't buy it, because... well... it sucks.
I understand that brand new games should be sold at full retail price. But publishers, like Ubi, tend to offer their games at discounts after they have been out for a while. Once it comes down to a reasonable price ($19.99 - $29.99) I'll consider it.
Now, here is the last bit I have to say, and I know people are going to get upset at this one... Charge $4.99 / month for a 1080p / 60fps Stadia Subscription. This gives users discounts to games, as well as assists with the costs to make sure the games run in 60fps. Call it Stadia Gamer Edition (or whatever) $4.99 / Month, or Stadia Pro for $9.99 / Month.
Conclusion
I really love the concept of Google Stadia. I would like to see it succeed. I have some reservations with some other issues like Hardware Acceleration in Linux... (this would only help you get even more customers BTW). But, I digress...
If you really took to heart what I am talking about here, I think Stadia could be the Gold Standard in which all Streaming Game competitors would have to look to.
So, to reiterate:
1. Keep the Lame (Niche) Games, but put them in a "Stadia Pool" or some place any Subscriber can access them at any time.
2. Don't give away AAA titles. No one does this. You can discount these titles at any time for any promotion, and will probably make more money than you think. i.e. Jedi Fallen Order would have been great to see on sale on May the 4th.
3. Better Discounts. Not for new titles. But for older titles. Tomb Raider (2013) for $2.99 is an AMAZING discount. I would have snatched it even at $9.99. But I am not going to buy an older game at full price. Assassin's Creed Unity (a game from 2014) should not be $29.99. Put that sucker down at $14.99 or so.
4. More Demos. No one wants to buy a game they hate. If I can't try it out first, chances are I am just going to avoid it.
5. $4.99 / Month for Stadia Gamer. 1080p / 60fps Guaranteed games. Access to Discounts. Keep $9.99 / Month for Stadia Pro, make sure that 1080p / 60fps is guaranteed, but do what you can with 4K / 5.1. I am aware that 4K at 60fps isn't the easiest thing to do at 4K.
I hope the right people are listening to my message here. I would love to see Stadia succeed in all the right ways.
I will try to hit on the 5 points at the bottom:
1) Some games are good some are not good. Just the way it is, no different from what you see on Xbox and Playstation.
2) Probably a good idea
3) Agreed it would be nice, some of these games a crazy old but it does take work to get them on Stadia. You see the same thing on the Switch with older games getting ports but being way more than on other platforms. Hard to blame the developer for trying to recoup the costs. Really just need things to release at the same time on Stadia as other platforms.
4) Demos are pretty rare on most platforms. More is always good though. (E: should add that Stadia does have a 14 day/2 hours of play time refund policy so kind of like a demo.)
5) I honestly can't tell much of a difference in FPS and resolution over 30 fps and 1080p. But the concept is interesting.
I think Stadia is going to be in trouble from Xbox pretty soon with their stream play.
1. Yes, I agree. And good is relative to the gamer. However, there are a lot of titles out there that the developer doesn't really care much about anymore. Distributors like Steam has these games on sale from time to time, and regular price is significantly lower.
2. I have only seen one or two "Giveaways" on Steam. One was Portal. The original... and since Steam (Valve) created it, it makes sense. Sales are good things. It allows the developer and publisher to still make money on titles that they spent a lot on. Plus, the purchaser feels like they got a deal, because they did!
3. Yeah... hard to determine how long a title needs to be out before it has a standard discount price. I think Skyrim is still at $39.99, and it's almost 10 years old. And that is probably up to developers. However, (again I bring up...) Steam has sales on these titles every so often... and they've found that they sell a truck ton of games to people, and a lot of these games aren't even played.
4. True. I didn't know that about Stadia Games. Although, so far, the games I have played on Stadia that suck are claimed Pro Games.
5. 1080p / 60fps is the Gold Standard in Gaming. It's understandable that some titles at 4K cannot go over 30fps. But 4K literally takes 4x the processing power... so it's all good. But at 1080p... 60fps should never be an issue.
I think Project XCloud will definitely bring new competition to the table. And competition is good to progress the business. But if Stadia decides to take my advice... they could easily contend in this market, as well as succeed.
As it is right now, I see Stadia losing to Steam / GeForce Now. Think about this...
I can purchase a game on Steam for regular price (and/or sale price, and usually the sale price is a good one) and play that game on GeForce Now (no cost or $9.99 / month depending on which option...) Ultimately, the price is less. This is the competition that Google needs to be aware of.
Take the game "Control - Ultimate Edition." Both Stadia and Steam are selling it at a full $39.99. If I buy it, and want to stream it, both Stadia and GeForce Now will do it to my PC / TV / Phone / Tablet / Etc. But here are the differences:
GeForce Now has better image quality than Stadia
The game is in your Steam library, so it's downloadable on PC and Steam Devices
And chances are the game will be available for a discount during one of Steam's MANY sales throughout the year.
Just my two cents. ![]()
Again, not trying to be a negative netter... Trying to help Google see this from a Gamer's Perspective.