Beginning in mid-January 2023, Stadia will be completely shut down and all games will no longer be available for play. All hardware and software purchases made through Stadia or Google Stores will be refunded by Google. Playable games can be accessed and played up to January 18, 2023, and Google anticipates that the majority of refunds will be processed by mid-January. Some games, especially those that require commerce, may experience gameplay troubles throughout the winding down process, although the majority will “continue to work normally.” 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. Google is refunding all software and hardware transactions, however Stadia Pro subscriptions are not eligible for a refund. Prior to the shutdown, the Stadia store has been shut down and all online and in-app purchases on the Stadia platform have been discontinued. Google’s website contains more details about reimbursements for Stadia users. Since its November 2019 launch, Google Stadia has only been operational. A variety of devices, including PCs, Chromebooks, Macs, iPhones, and iPads, may play games in the cloud thanks to the service. Stadia, a cloud gaming service from a business with limited ties to the gaming industry, seemed like a great candidate for an early end. Google has a record of cancelling initiatives only a few years after they begin. It is still a shocking news for many for enthusiasts since Stadia was one of a kind intiative.
