Watch: Stadia, Google's OnLive-Type Game Streaming Service, Unveiled

As promised last year, Google is unveiling its 3D game streaming service at GDC right now -- meet Stadia:

Data centers make Stadia possible, but what sets the system apart is how it works with other Google services. In a world where there are more than 200 million people watching game-related content daily on YouTube, Stadia makes many of those games playable with the press of a button. If you watch one of your favorite creators playing Assassin's Creed Odyssey, simply click the “play now” button. Seconds later, you’ll be running around ancient Greece in your own game/on your own adventure—no downloads, no updates, no patches and no installs.

In other words, like the late-lamented OnLive, but with the world's largest global server network to back it up. And as with OnLive, we will almost certainly see virtual worlds like Second Life and future worlds using this service. Perhaps not coincidentally, Second Life co-creator Cory Ondrejka is now Tech Advisor to the CEO at Google.

Live unveil at GDC after the break:

Comments

[CronoCloud Creeggan]

It isn't optimal, even with a 100/10 connection, I was in the Beta for it. The experience just simply isn't as good as a game ran on local hardware. Admittedly if you're in Silicon Valley/San Francisco.....then you're going to gaga over it.

If this thing was going to be a hit, Playstation Now, which is basically Gaikai/OnLive would have higher uptake. Niche market, not mainstream. I've said it before and I'll say it again, "Will it play in Peoria" still applies today, even for Silicon Valley CEO's and Valleywags with stars in their eyes.