Google Stadia: 10 Questions We Need Answering ASAP
1. Why Should Anyone Care?
Perhaps the biggest question Google failed to answer in its keynote, is "why?"
So far it does little that can't be done on other platforms; the PS4 can Remote Play with PS Vita, PC's, and phones, the Switch is the epitome of game anywhere, and Microsoft is working on its own similar service called Azure. So that makes it hard to see why Stadia is the next must-have service, especially with the potential for latency.
Not to sound completely down on the whole thing, but as of now it seems like just another store like Steam, but a bit more versatile. If it's a pay-to-play model like its peers, then it's hard to see why anyone would jump ship.
PC gamers already have their libraries on Steam and Epic, so it's unlikely they would change allegiances just so they can play on a phone. And the same goes for console gamers. On the other hand, if it's subscription-based and you can play any games for just the subscription fee, that's certainly more appealing.
Google Stadia is undeniably impressive technology, but it doesn't feel like the groundbreaking step forward we were all hoping for. For now though, we wait patiently until Summer to hear more.