10 Recent Truths About Gaming We've Just Learned

When Google first announced its entry into the video game console market, gamers were as excited/cautious as they were when Microsoft threw its hat in the ring back in 2001. Any new console is bound to stir up excitement, but Google was offering something different; a console experience without the console.

Google decided the best way to compete with the three giants was to skip out on developing console hardware, and solely focus on streaming games over the Internet. It wasn't a new concept, as both the Xbox One and PS4 feature streaming services, but it did give Google a leg-up on development.

The company focused on creating a new controller, which could then be used on any device with a screen, so long as it was online. Initially, fans were excited about the concept, and early-adopters eagerly signed up when Google began selling access via a "Founder's Edition."

When Stadia finally did launch in November 2019, it did so with little to no fanfare. Gamers around the world didn't seem to notice, and the ones who did notice saw that the promised 4K streaming wasn't being delivered. The launch library was also limited, and games that had been available for months on other consoles were initially offered at launch prices.

Few wanted to repurchase games that had been out for a long time, which left Stadia on shaky ground from the onset.