Stadia Will End In January, Google Issuing Refunds For All Hardware And Software Purchases

Google has revealed that its cloud-streaming games service, Stadia, will shut down early next year. 

Stadia will also close down their platform and shut down all online servers by January 18, 2023. You won’t have access to the Stadia service after that date. According to a Google FAQ, refunds are available for all Stadia hardware purchased (Stadia controllers and Founders Edition and Premiere Editions) via the Stadia Store. It seems like the only aspect of Stadia that won’t be refunded are Stadia Pro subscriptions. You “will still be able” to play your Stadia Pro games until the end of time without additional charges. 

Google states that “most hardware purchased…directly from Google” won’t require the return of your hardware if you want to receive a hardware refund. Stadia will process the vast majority of all refunds by January 18, when it is expected to shut down. 

You can no longer make Stadia Store-related purchases, in-game transactions or use its other functions. 

Stadia’s shutdown is not the best news. Stadia has never really taken off despite cloud gaming continuing to rise in popularity thanks to Microsoft’s Xbox Cloud Gaming Initiative and other initiatives. Google’s announcement in February 2013 that Stadia was closing two of its studios and ending first-party gaming development, is the first indication that Stadia could be short lived. This February saw word that Google Stadia had been made less important by the company. Stadia is now in its final months before becoming history. So long, Stadia. 

Have you used Stadia? Did you use Stadia? Please comment below.