On the Google Stadia website, Google explains that Google Stadia Base, the version of Google Stadia which allows people to buy their games a la carte, won’t launch until sometime next year. An information box at the bottom of the service’s official website says that Google Stadia Base is “coming next year,” is free, offers resolution of up to 1080p, 60FPS, stereo sound and doesn’t provide access to Google Stadia Pro discounts on games or access to the free games added to the service “regularly.”
Stadia Pro subscribers who have purchased games can play them with Stadia Base if they cancel their Stadia Pro subscription, says Google. However, if Stadia Base isn’t going to be available until sometime next year, it seems that this won’t be part of the Stadia Pro subscription terms until 2020 too.
This will be disappointing to those who had hoped to test out the Google Stadia streaming tech before they purchased a subscription to the service. Stadia claims to be powerful but, understandably, some will want to test it out for themselves by buying a game on Stadia Base. Some people may not want to play games like Baldur’s Gate 3 on the go and may only want to use Stadia’s play anywhere technology one or two of the games supported by the service.
If games on Google Stadia Base are priced like brand new games at retail, which cost $60, then Google would also make more money from a Stadia Pro subscriber who stays for six months than a Stadia Base user who buys one game. So, it’s not difficult to see the business reason why Google would launch Stadia Base after Stadia Pro, but isn’t great for those who prefer the a la carte tier.
Google Stadia Base will launch in 2020.
Source: Google Stadia
