Google unveils Stadia, its 'Netflix for games' streaming service

Google logo.
(Image credit: Carsten Koall/Getty Images)

Google has just unveiled its potentially revolutionary new video game streaming service, Stadia.

The company's new platform, which was announced on Tuesday at the 2019 Game Developers Conference, will allow users to stream video games across their desktops, laptops, TVs, tablets, and phones without the need for expensive hardware, per CNBC. The company said, per The Verge, that the service will allow for "instant access to play" since no downloads are required, and it says users will be able to jump into a game in less than five seconds, writes The Hollywood Reporter. An announcement video for Stadia declares, "The future of gaming is not a box. It's a place."

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
Explore More
Brendan Morrow

Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.