Google Stadia is no longer available. Google shut down the cloud-gaming service on January 18, 2023. You cannot currently subscribe to Stadia Pro, buy Stadia games, open the Stadia website or app, or access a Stadia game library. Stadia hardware—especially the Stadia Controller—can still have limited value as used or repurposed equipment, but it cannot reconnect you to Stadia.
Google Stadia is no longer available. Google shut down the cloud-gaming service on January 18, 2023. You cannot currently subscribe to Stadia Pro, buy Stadia games, open the Stadia website or app, or access a Stadia game library. Stadia hardware—especially the Stadia Controller—can still have limited value as used or repurposed equipment, but it cannot reconnect you to Stadia.
What Google Stadia was
Stadia streamed games from Google’s servers to a supported screen instead of requiring the player to install the game on a console or gaming PC. During its operating period, Google promoted play on TVs, laptops, desktops, selected tablets and selected phones.
The service launched in November 2019. Its initial lineup included 22 day-one games, among them Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Destiny 2: The Collection, Farming Simulator 2019, Final Fantasy XV, Gylt, Metro Exodus, Mortal Kombat 11, Red Dead Redemption 2 and Shadow of the Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition. The launch catalog later expanded considerably.
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Google eventually reduced its emphasis on first-party Stadia game development. In February 2021, the company said it was focusing more on Stadia’s underlying streaming technology and partnerships with industry publishers than on continuing to invest in exclusive first-party development.
How much did Stadia Pro cost?
In the United States, Stadia Pro cost $9.99 per month while the service operated. Pro was a subscription rather than a permanent game-ownership plan. Members received benefits such as access to a changing selection of claimable games and, depending on the title and promotion, discounts or other Stadia features.
When a subscriber claimed a Pro game, it remained playable while the Pro subscription was active. If the subscriber canceled Pro, access to those claimed subscription games ended unless the game was purchased separately. Games and add-ons bought through the Stadia Store were treated differently: canceling Pro did not remove those purchases.
Historical promotional pricing and trial offers should not be confused with current availability. New Stadia Pro subscriptions and Stadia purchases were disabled during the shutdown process, and there is no active Stadia plan to sign up for now.
What games were included with Stadia Pro?
The Pro catalog rotated over time, so there was no single permanent list that accurately represents every game ever included. Google reported 45 claimable games in December 2021 and said the library had grown to more than 50 titles by June 2022.
Representative games appearing in Google’s historical Pro updates included:
- ARK: Survival Evolved
- Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night
- Cake Bash
- Control Ultimate Edition
- Darkwood
- DIRT 5
- Destroy All Humans!
- Darksiders Genesis
- GRIME
- HITMAN
- Journey to the Savage Planet
- PixelJunk Raiders
- République
- Saints Row IV: Re-Elected
- Terraria
- Trine 4
- Wavetale
- Wave Break
- Wreckfest
These are examples from dated official snapshots, not a guaranteed final Stadia catalog. Because Stadia’s servers and storefront are shut down, the historical list has no current purchasing or subscription value.
Which Stadia games were free?
“Free Stadia games” referred to several different access models. They should not be treated as one thing:
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- Pro-claimed games: These were included with an active Stadia Pro subscription. They were not permanently owned and became unavailable after Pro was canceled, unless purchased separately.
- Free-to-play games: Google’s launch materials said players in supported markets could play Destiny 2 and Super Bomberman R Online without buying the game or immediately paying for Stadia access.
- Full-game trials: In 2022, Google described 15 full-game trials available at no additional cost and without creating a Stadia account. These were historical offers and have ended.
- Promotional Pro trials: Google periodically offered temporary Stadia Pro trials. Those promotions are no longer available.
All of these access routes ended when Stadia shut down. Searching for “Stadia free games today” will not lead to a working Stadia service.
Stadia compatibility requirements while the service operated
Compatibility depended on the date, country, game, browser, operating system, device, app version and play method. Stadia did not have one timeless hardware specification that applies to every historical setup.
In general, players needed:
- A supported TV, computer, mobile device or tablet.
- A compatible controller or another supported input method.
- A reliable broadband connection suitable for interactive video streaming.
- A Google account and Stadia registration during the service’s operating period.
- A supported browser, mobile operating system, television platform or Chromecast-based setup, depending on where the game was played.
Google initially highlighted TV, laptop, desktop, selected tablet and selected phone support. It later announced Stadia support on Samsung’s 2022 Smart TVs through Samsung Gaming Hub. Device support changed over time, so old compatibility claims should be read as historical rather than current requirements.
There is also no useful current “minimum Stadia internet speed” because the service no longer operates. A broadband connection cannot compensate for the absence of Stadia’s servers.
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Google announced the shutdown on September 29, 2022. The company said Stadia had not gained the user traction it expected and would wind down the service. Players retained access during the transition period until January 18, 2023. After that date, Stadia servers and platform access were shut down.
During the wind-down, Google disabled new Stadia game purchases, in-game transactions and new Stadia Pro subscriptions. A Stadia Controller, Chromecast Ultra or Premiere Edition bundle cannot restore access to the discontinued service.
Were Stadia games and hardware refunded?
Google said it would refund eligible purchases made through the Google Store and Stadia Store. The refund program covered eligible Stadia hardware, games and add-ons under the conditions in Google’s shutdown FAQ.
Stadia Pro charges had separate timing rules. Google stated that Stadia Pro charges incurred on or after September 29, 2022 could be eligible for refunds under the stated conditions, while earlier Pro charges generally were not. The refund process was tied to the shutdown and is not a way to recover access to Stadia today.
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If you are researching an old transaction, check the original Google account, payment records and any historical Google support correspondence. Do not assume that a secondhand buyer can claim the original purchaser’s refund or that a used hardware purchase includes a current Google service entitlement.
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Could Stadia game progress be transferred?
There was no universal Stadia library or save-data migration system. Some games supported publisher-managed cross-progression or transfer programs, but support varied by title, publisher, platform and account setup.
Google identified transfer efforts involving publishers including Ubisoft, Bungie, IO Interactive, CD Projekt Red, Rockstar Games and Bethesda. In some cases, players had to buy the game again on another platform. In others, progress could transfer only when the player linked the correct publisher account and met that publisher’s requirements.
The safest summary is: some Stadia games supported progress transfer, but not every game did. If you are investigating a particular title, verify its publisher’s migration instructions rather than assuming that Stadia saves can be recovered universally.
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Can you still use a Stadia Controller?
Yes, potentially—but only as legacy hardware. A Stadia Controller cannot connect you to Stadia, and wireless compatibility with modern devices and services is not guaranteed.
Google documented two post-shutdown connection methods:
- USB: Connect the controller to a compatible Windows or Android device with a USB-C cable. This is the safer documented repurposing route, although the specific game, operating system and service still determine whether it works correctly.
- Bluetooth Low Energy: Google provided firmware conversion so the controller could operate in Bluetooth mode with supported devices. Google’s testing focused on Windows 10 and 11 with Steam, macOS 13 with Steam, ChromeOS and Android, while warning that other combinations had not been substantially tested.
The official web-based Bluetooth conversion tool was available only until December 31, 2024. That deadline has passed, so buyers should not assume that an unconverted controller can still be switched to Bluetooth through Google’s official tool. A controller that was converted before the deadline may remain useful, but compatibility can still vary.
If you are shopping for a Google Stadia Controller, treat it as a collectible or repurposable controller—not as a Stadia access device. Confirm whether the seller describes it as USB-only, already Bluetooth-converted, tested, or untested. Avoid paying a premium based on the assumption that every unit can now be converted wirelessly.
What Stadia hardware is worth buying secondhand?
There is no current Stadia starter kit. The main hardware associated with the service was the Stadia Controller, Chromecast Ultra and bundles such as Founder’s Edition, Premiere Edition and Play and Watch with Google TV.
A secondhand Stadia Controller may make sense if you specifically want a legacy controller for experimentation, collection or wired use. A USB-C cable for Stadia Controller is a practical accessory for the documented wired connection, but it does not provide Stadia access and should be described only as a repurposing accessory.
Chromecast Ultra and Stadia bundles may have collectible or general streaming value, but buying one does not revive Stadia. Before buying any used hardware, check:
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- Whether the controller powers on and accepts a wired connection.
- Whether the included USB-C cable is actually present and functional.
- Whether the controller has already been converted to Bluetooth.
- Whether the seller is promising unsupported wireless compatibility.
- Whether the price reflects discontinued hardware rather than a working cloud-gaming subscription.
Bottom line for buyers: buy a Stadia Controller only for its hardware, historical interest or possible use with other devices. Do not buy one to play Stadia games.
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There are current cloud-gaming and publisher-delivered streaming services, but they are not Stadia and their availability changes by country, device, game catalog, subscription tier and publisher agreement. A meaningful comparison should verify the service’s current price, supported regions, supported games, controller requirements, resolution limits and whether games are included or must be purchased separately.
Google’s later Stadia-related strategy also emphasized delivering streaming technology to industry partners. That technology context does not mean Stadia itself survived under another consumer name, nor does it verify a particular current partner service or affiliate offer.
When comparing a modern cloud-gaming option, ask:
- Do you subscribe to a game catalog, or stream games you already own?
- Which countries and devices are supported?
- Are saves linked to a publisher account or locked to the service?
- What happens to access if the subscription ends?
- Does the service support your existing controller?
- Are there queues, session limits, resolution caps or extra purchase requirements?
Google Stadia facts at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is Stadia active? | No. Google shut it down on January 18, 2023. |
| What did Stadia Pro cost? | $9.99 per month in the United States during its operating period. |
| Could Pro games be kept forever? | No. Claimed Pro games required an active Pro subscription unless purchased separately. |
| Were there free games? | Historically, yes: Pro-claimed games, free-to-play titles and temporary trials. None provide current Stadia access. |
| Can you buy Stadia games now? | No. The Stadia Store and game purchases were shut down. |
| Can a Stadia Controller restore service access? | No. It can only potentially be repurposed for other devices and services. |
| Can every save be transferred? | No. Transfer depended on the individual game and publisher. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you still subscribe to Google Stadia?
No. Google shut down Stadia on January 18, 2023. Stadia subscriptions, purchases, the app, website and game library are no longer available.
Did Stadia Pro games become permanently free when claimed?
No. Stadia Pro games were playable while the subscription was active. Canceling Pro removed access unless the game had been purchased separately.
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Possibly. Google documented USB use on compatible Windows and Android devices, and Bluetooth use for supported devices after firmware conversion. The official conversion tool closed on December 31, 2024, and compatibility varies.
Could Stadia saves be transferred to another platform?
No universal transfer existed. Some publishers offered title-specific progress migration or cross-progression, while other games required a new purchase or provided no transfer route.
The Bottom Line
Google Stadia is permanently shut down. Its historical U.S. Pro price was $9.99 per month, and its Pro games were subscription benefits rather than permanent ownership. A Stadia Controller may still work over USB—and some controllers converted to Bluetooth before Google’s December 31, 2024 deadline—but no Stadia hardware can restore access to the service.
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