Google Stadia hasn’t exactly made the case for its existence yet, with a very limited number of exclusive games to play and missing features that were promised in its initial pitch to players. However, the service could get a whole lot more appealing in 2020, as Google said there are several games that will launch only on Stadia.
In a community update post on the official Stadia website, Google shared that there are more than 10 games planned for launch as Stadia exclusives during the first half of 2020. Google said these games will be “only available on Stadia when they launch,” which suggests that they are likely timed exclusives rather than permanent exclusives developed internally.
“Were working with our partners to share more on these games soon,” Google added.
Over the course of 2020, Google is planning to bring more than 120 games to Stadia, which should help to make it a more worthwhile investment for players currently unsure of which console to select. As we approach the next-generation machines, we’ll likely be able to play some of their games on Stadia as well, without the need for expensive new hardware.
Over the next three months, several new features will be coming to Google Stadia. They include 4K gaming via the web, more Android phone support, more Google Assistant functionality on the web, and wireless gameplay on the web with a Stadia controller.
Google recently acquired Typhoon Studios, adding it into its Stadia Games and Entertainment division. This decision did not impact the release of Journey to the Savage Planet, which is planned to launch on January 28 for Xbox One, PS4, and PC via publisher 505 Games. The game is directed by Alex Hutchinson, who previously worked at Ubisoft as the creative director for games like Far Cry 4 and Assassin’s Creed III.
The first-party development talent should help Google Stadia to have a formidable lineup of exclusive games in the future, but any such games are likely still a few years away. In the meantime, continued improvements to features and third-party game selection will have to be enough to keep Stadia competitive, especially after the full rollout of Microsoft’s Project xCloud service.
