Google Stadia hasn’t actually been within the mainstream highlight since its high-profile launch in 2019. And outdoors of unhealthy information and poor opinions, it primarily disappeared from most gaming websites and YouTube channels. However the gamers who’ve invested a whole bunch and even hundreds of hours into Google’s online game streaming service don’t appear to care what others suppose. To them, Google Stadia is the proper resolution to a pastime that they really feel has turn out to be too costly, difficult, and restrictive.

For many of you studying this, Google Stadia is that cloud-based streaming online game service Google launched a number of years in the past which can or is probably not round nonetheless. It’s doubtless not one thing you interact with past studying occasional tales on Kotaku and different websites about how poorly issues are going for the streaming service. From high-ranking execs bailing to stories of Google totally ditching the platform, Stadia hasn’t had an awesome few years within the press, and a few avid gamers appear to outright hate it.

However after three tough years, lawsuits, and studio closures, Stadia continues to be alive and kicking, nonetheless getting new options and updates. One would assume meaning some individuals are nonetheless paying for, and utilizing, Google Stadia in 2022. And maybe your first query could be…why?

The Stadia Super-Fans

Marco, a married father of a 16-month-old boy who lives in Europe, advised me that each free minute he has is treasured, and trendy consoles simply don’t work for his day by day life.

“Each time I begin up my PS4 proper now I at all times have updates,” Marco stated. “Although I exploit relaxation mode, I generally want to attend quarter-hour to play.” Whereas that may not seem to be lots, for Marco it might be practically half his free time that night time. “The updating is hell,” he stated.

However with Google Stadia, there are not any updates for video games, as that’s all dealt with on Google’s servers. There are additionally no installations or giant downloads. You simply hit play and some moments later the sport goes and that’s that. And this velocity and lack of downtime is a key issue for why so most of the gamers I spoke to maintain enjoying Stadia.

“The tech is so good,” Deaddog52, a Stadia participant with 1800 hours invested into the service, advised Kotaku. “[Stadia] begins up fast and performs nice. I typically overlook I’m not enjoying on native {hardware}.”

However for Deaddog52, it’s not simply Stadia’s velocity that has stored him coming again to play day after day. One other large issue is how less expensive and versatile Stadia is for him and his household in comparison with consoles. After years of proudly owning and enjoying a number of consoles, he grew uninterested in all of it.

“When consoles come out they’re costly and exhausting to get,” stated Deaddog52. “Then there are the disappointing consoles. Even a profitable console solely has about 5 years earlier than it begins gathering mud. Then the space for storing points and frequent downloads began to annoy me, however what actually bothered me was the loud noise my console fan would make.”

Deaddog52 gave up on gaming for a number of years, till a good friend confirmed him Stadia shortly after its launch. Impressed, he turned excited to play video games over again. And whereas he is aware of that the standard of Stadia isn’t fairly pretty much as good as that of a strong PC or new “next-gen” console, for him the low worth and ease of use greater than make up for it.

“On high of no price and no upkeep, I can play on any display,” stated Deaddog52. “I’ll actually have three streams going on the similar time (my two youngsters and me) and haven’t any points. To have that very same luxurious [without Stadia] I must spend $1500 on {hardware} with consoles.”

Deaddog52, like others I spoke to, has principally not touched a console just like the Nintendo Change or PS4 since becoming a member of Stadia. And for some, the concept of going again to conventional gaming worries them. Ought to Stadia be shuttered, some did recommend they may strive different streaming choices, like Sport Cross or Amazon Luna, whereas others stated they’d reluctantly return to consoles or PC. However some gamers really feel too related to the Stadia ecosystem and the liberty it affords, letting them play wherever through the web and their telephone or pill.

“To be trustworthy: there may be nothing higher for me than Stadia proper now,” stated Marco.

Ravenlock, one other person who has been a Stadia buyer since day one, additionally advised me that whereas its library isn’t the perfect, the pliability streaming affords is tough to beat.

“I can and do get my Elder Scrolls On-line or Future 2 dailies carried out on any display, anytime, with out worrying about having large video games put in in a bunch of locations,” stated Ravenlock. “My complete Stadia library is as moveable as my telephone, my pill, my Chromecast, no matter I wish to toss in my bag”

Google’s Historical past Of Destruction

The elephant within the room when speaking about something Google-related is after all the tech large’s lengthy historical past of shutting down or in any other case ending apps and providers, solely to switch them with totally different apps which it is going to additionally, finally, shut down. But once I requested these Stadia super-fans in the event that they had been anxious about Google pulling the plug on the streaming service, none of them appeared involved in any respect. Many held onto the concept that Google hardly ever shuts down paid providers.

“They’ve very hardly ever killed initiatives folks had been actively paying for,” stated Ravenlock, “They usually have loads of introduced partnerships and plans going ahead no less than for the following yr or so that might make shutting it down much more awkward and unsightly for them than it might already be.”

This was a sentiment that almost each Stadia participant I spoke to shared: Google received’t shut down Stadia as a result of folks pay for it and it’s well-liked. To be clear: Google has shut down well-liked paid providers and apps, like Google Play Music, prior to now. Still, I spoke to over half a dozen folks and all of them had been assured that Stadia wasn’t going wherever, at the same time as Google appears to downplay the service’s future. I acquired the impression a few of them had been too invested in Stadia to even dream of a future with out it.

In the event you’ve ever dived into the feedback on a detrimental Stadia story or tweet, you’ve doubtless encountered some Stadia super-fans who aggressively defend the service and its video games in opposition to something they understand as assaults. And in my conversations with Stadia customers, I encountered a few of this. A couple of had been anxious I’d twist their phrases to suit my “agenda,” and others argued that gaming websites and most avid gamers are “biased” in opposition to Stadia.

“I believe lots of [the press] was at all times biased and detrimental about Stadia for the reason that begin,” stated Marco. “No person ever actually tried to clarify what Stadia is. As an alternative, [they] simply centered on the issues that went improper. However when issues are good, no one is there. PlayStation launches two video games in PS Plus they usually write about it. Stadia launches seven video games in Professional and never even one [outlet] writes about it.”

Others identified that websites like IGN and well-liked YouTubers by no means point out Stadia when itemizing what platforms video games are popping out on, or take the time to evaluation Stadia variations of video games upon their launch. They argue that is an instance of how the press and influencers have tried to color Stadia in a foul gentle. (The actuality is that the majority websites, together with Kotaku, don’t have the workers and assets wanted to create ongoing, devoted protection of a relatively area of interest platform like Stadia.)

Good For Them

Nonetheless, the most important takeaway from my time chatting with all these numerous Google Stadia customers wasn’t that they’re indignant or bitter. It wasn’t that they felt ignored or handled poorly. I noticed little doom or gloom in regards to the service’s future, or what its streaming mannequin would possibly imply for digital possession shifting ahead. As an alternative, most had been simply completely satisfied the service was nonetheless round and even existed within the first place, because it felt like the proper manner for them to play video games in 2022.

They didn’t wish to get into debates in regards to the viability of streaming or about which platform was higher. No, they only needed to speak about all of the video games they had been enjoying. It’s simple to imagine that the one folks left enjoying Stadia are weirdos or individuals who don’t play a lot, nevertheless it’s not exhausting to regular gamers who’ve clocked hundreds of hours into the service.

At this level, they know that Google’s online game streaming platform isn’t going to vary the world. However they don’t care. So long as they get to maintain enjoying all their favourite video games on any internet-connected machine with out downloads or different downtime, they’re completely satisfied to maintain investing in Stadia.

“I’m nonetheless enjoying as a result of I just like the service,” stated Ravenlock. “Not as a result of I’m anticipating it to overcome the world.”