Over the next few months, Stadia will get PUBG, some EA titles and a few indie exclusives. Still no killer app, though.
Since its disastrous early access launch last fall, Google Stadia has struggled to make the case that it is, in fact, the future of gaming. Given that the highest profile reveal of today’s Stadia Connect was a multiplayer shooter that’s now three years old, the case remains unmade.
Stadia Connect: Everything Announced
Still, for Stadia’s early adopters, a free copy of Playerunknown’s Battlegrounds for Stadia Pro subscribers is surely welcome. This Pioneer Edition includes the base game, survivor pass and a skin and will run Stadia amateurs £39.99. Octopath Traveler, Square Enix’s throwback 2018 JRPG, is also available as of today.
Google also announced a partnership with EA which will (eventually) bring Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Madden NFL and FIFA to the service. Fallen Order will arrive this fall, and the sports games will hit the pitch this winter.
Additionally, the Overcooked-inspired moving game, Get Packed, is available exclusively on Stadia, starting today. Crayta, a multiplayer game focused on channeling creativity, will come to the service this summer. Firefighting sim Embr will soak Stadia on May 21. And aquatic skateboarding game Wave Break is coming at an undisclosed date.
Importantly, a few other AAA third-party releases will arrive soon, as well. Zombie Army 4: Dead War, SteamWorld Heist, and The Turing Test will be available for Pro subscribers on May 1. Thumper, meanwhile, will rocket off the service at the end of April.
Overall, it’s hard to argue that this was a strong enough showing to put the struggling service back on the map. Google purchased Typhoon Studios, creators of the great (if poorly named) Journey to the Savage Planet earlier this year. But, Google needs high profile exclusives right now, and they haven’t shown any ability to get them.
