At GDC 2019, Google announced Stadia, its game streaming platform. Stadia will work across devices from smartphones, tablets, TVs, laptops, and PCs via Chrome. It integrates YouTube as well, allowing developers to add a Play button to game video on YouTube and lets users immediately play the game on Chrome. Stadia will leverage Google's data centres that are present in 200 plus countries and territories. Google's Phil Harrison took to stage to show off Assassin's Creed Odyssey working across a Chromebook, Pixel 3, and TV via Chromecast in a seamless fashion. Furthermore, you can use your own controllers or keyboard and mouse on Stadia on your PC or laptop.
In addition to this, Google revealed the Stadia controller. It links to data centres directly via WiFi. It features two new buttons — a Capture button that allows players to share to friends, themselves or the world via YouTube. There's also a Google Assistant button to let assist players in-game.
Stadia's architecture has been built on Google's data centre tech which also powers its search results. Google claims its built on tech that no one else has. It's been infused with gaming-focussed hardware to allow for gaming grade performance.
The company claims that it has been testing Stadia's tech internally for years and plans to allow for 4K 60fps gameplay with HDR in surround sound when it's available for all. Eventually Stadia will also scale up to 8K too. Users will also be given the option to share Stadia gameplay footage to YouTube at 4K 60fps as well. Powering the data centres is the Stadia GPU which is at 10.7 teraflops that's made by AMD, which is nearly double what the Xbox One X and PS4 Pro has. This results in games like Doom Eternal running at 4K 60fps in HDR on Stadia.
However Stadia won't be restricted to single-player games. Google confirmed that multiplayer games will be supported as well. These would include battle royale and couch-based co-op experiences.
And in a refreshing move, Harrison confirmed that Stadia will support cross-platform play as well.
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