Google: Difference between revisions

In January 2023, Google announced the shutdown of its cloud gaming service, Stadia, which was launched in November 2019.<ref>https://www.theverge.com/23380140/google-stadia-ending-shutdown-latest-news-gaming-tech/archives/2</ref> Stadia required users to purchase games individually, unlike other gaming platforms that offer subscription-based access. Upon the service's closure, Google promised to refund consumers for their purchases, including both games and hardware. However, users needed to initiate the refund process themselves- refunds were not automatic.<ref>https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-get-your-google-stadia-refund/</ref>

Stadia users were effectively renting access to games, as the platform did not allow for traditional ownership or offline play. With the service discontinued, consumers were left without access to the content they had purchased. Stadia users who had bought controllers and other peripherals for the service were also impacted by the shutdown. While Google offered refunds to customers who requested them, many Stadia consumers were left with equipment that no longer performs the advertised functions and limited recourse for repurposing or reselling their devices.<ref>https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/852697-stadia-shut-down-how-to-use-controller-chromecast-without-app</ref>