Only three years after launching Stadia, Google plans to shut down the cloud gaming service in January, saying there was lackluster demand from customers.
Stadia let users stream and play games via smartphones, web browsers and other gadgets using Google’s Chromecast streaming device. Stadia was popular for delivering console-quality experience without the hardware that required shelf space of some sort. Vice president and general manager of Stadia, Phil Harrison said that the consumer gaming service “hasn’t gained the traction with users that we expected.”
Google says it will refund customers for all Stadia hardware purchases made through the Google Store, and all game and add-on content purchases made through the Stadia store. Players will however continue to have access to their Google Stadia games library and be able to play through Jan. 18, 2023.
While the majority of refunds are expected to be completed by mid-January, 2023, Harrison adds that players can complete final play sessions and additional details for the refund process will be available in the Stadia Help Center.
