Google has officially ended support for updating Stadia controllers, but I’ll be using mine for a long time to come.
The Stadia dream has long been over. The game streaming platform was announced with huge fanfare – and a misguided exhibition – at GDC 2019, and closed down in January 2023. Now, with the end of an official method to update Stadia controllers to support Bluetooth, the final rusty nail has been hammered into Stadia’s coffin.
Stadia had promise. Overall, I was a fan, but there was no denying the challenges of pricing, library, ownership and latency. Despite these hurdles, I felt that Stadia mostly delivered on its promise and also offered a superior streaming experience to Xbox and PlayStation. Ultimately, however, Google’s foray into mainstream video games proved that streaming is best positioned as a supplementary service, rather than the foundation of a platform, especially one aimed at hard core enthusiasts.
So, Stadia died and no one cried.
However, for a platform built on the dream of no hardware, it was the one physical component of the package that never disappointed: the controller.
In my Stadia review, I spoke about the controller, saying:
“As far as the thumbsticks, triggers, and face buttons are concerned, I have no complaints, and the controller has a thrillingly vigorous rumble. The D-pad is a little clicky, sometimes distractingly so, but overall, it feels like a premium product.”
I undersold it, frankly. It’s a truly great controller, and when Stadia closed down, Google thankfully offered the device a lifeline via a firmware update that removed Wi-Fi connectivity and made it Bluetooth capable.
Amid the refunds, closures, and public embarrassment, it would’ve been easy for Google to not do this. The company frequently drives me to distraction and is so despicable in many ways, but this small decision is worth applauding. It showed a modicum of responsibility and respect for the product and its users that we don’t usually see.
Despite Stadia’s fate, the controller was too good to be left behind, and it has since become part of my gaming routine. It continues to earn its spot in my setup, despite competition from the likes of 8BitDo and a top-notch generation of official controllers like the PlayStation 5 DualSense.
Along with the Nintendo Switch 2 Pro Controller, I think it’s one of the most comfortable gamepads to hold. The texture of the plastic and its “no straight lines” design make it melt in the hand. The face buttons have a satisfying clunk, and the thumbsticks are sublime, being just the right height and having just the right amount of travel. It also has excellent rumble and silky smooth trigger buttons. It’s one of those peripherals that just gets out of your way when you hold it.
I typically use the Stadia controller for Xbox or PlayStation remote play on Mac or PC, using the official Xbox solution or PXPlay for PS5. It connects with minimal fuss, and even though its original function as a Wi-Fi connected device has been removed, it’s absolutely up to the task for remote play, as well as cloud gaming on services like GeForce Now and Xbox Cloud Gaming. And based on feel alone, the input latency seems to be a slight cut above other devices.
It’s also a great fit for emulation. The controller’s D-pad is, yes, clicky, but it’s precise and probably better than those on the official Nintendo, Xbox, and PlayStation controllers. It works beautifully for everything from 8-bit classics all the way through to PlayStation 2 and GameCube titles.
The Stadia controller has basically become my go-to device for anything that doesn’t involve a console, and it’s genuinely one of the most useful and durable Bluetooth gamepads in my collection.
If you still have one collecting dust, I urge you not to let it become landfill. Even though the official firmware solution has now closed, you can still convert your controller to Bluetooth via the good work of Scyne over at GitHub.
Stadia is gone, and mostly forgotten, but this controller hopefully has a long life ahead.
