Google today announced that it is shutting down its Stadia cloud gaming service, with access set to end to players in mid-January 2023.
Google Stadia launched in November 2019. The service allowed cloud-based gaming to be conducted across various devices, including PCs, Chromebooks, Macs, iPhones, and iPads.
Google says it will be providing refunds for hardware purchases, game purchases, and purchases of in-app add-on content made through the Stadia store.
Stadia has not proven to be as popular as Google had expected, leading to its planned shutdown.
For many years, Google has invested across multiple aspects of the gaming industry. We help developers build and distribute gaming apps on Google Play and Google Play Games. Gaming creators are reaching audiences around the world on YouTube through videos, live streaming and Shorts. And our cloud streaming technology delivers immersive gameplay at massive scale.
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.
Players will have access to their games library and be able to play through January 18, 2023. Most refunds are expected to be complete in mid-January.
Google will not be refunding Stadia Pro subscriptions.
We will be offering refunds for all Stadia hardware purchases (Stadia Controller, Founders Edition, Premiere Edition, and Play and Watch with Google TV packages) made through the Google Store and software transactions (games and add-on purchases) through the Stadia store. Stadia Pro subscriptions are not eligible for refund, however you will be able to continue playing your games in Pro without further charges until the final wind down date.
Users will not be required to return hardware.
Most hardware purchases (Stadia Controller, Founders Edition, Premiere Edition, and Play and Watch with Google TV packages) made directly from Google will not need to be returned. More details on how to obtain a refund for your Stadia hardware purchases will be posted here in the coming weeks.
The Stadia store has been shuttered and all in-game transactions have ended. More information on refunds can be found on Google’s website.
