If you want to play games on Google Stadia, here’s what hardware you need

Google pulled back the curtains on its game streaming service, Stadia, earlier today. Details of games coming to the storefront and how the games streaming service works were discussed, but what about the hardware you’ll need?

Google Stadia runs on Google, got it?

If you want to play games through Google Stadia, you’ll still need a screen to play on. If you already have a laptop or desktop, you can stream games on Stadia’s service to your existing device. That’ll probably be handled in the Chrome browser, with the same tech that was used for the Project Stream betas.

READ MORE: Google Stadia ends today but the Stadia controller lives on

You can also play games through Stadia on your Pixel 3, 3 XL, 3a or 3a XL. Google just made console quality gaming truly mobile, although watch out for your data cap… All Stadia spported devices support cross-screen play, so your save will transfer to wherever you’re playing.

That’s not all – Stadia project manager Andrey Doronichev told The Verge that “We want to be everywhere.” That’ll depend on the other companies involved, but expect to see Stadia pop up on other Android devices, Roku, maybe even Apple devices.

READ MORE: Google Stadia will be coming in November of this year

The only place you’ll need additional hardware to play is on your TV, where you’ll need a Chromecast Ultra (yes, the 4K one) and one of the Stadia controllers. With the cost of those adding to $140, the $130 Stadia Founder’s Edition is a pretty darn good value.

For that $130 you’ll get:

• Access to Stadia at launch (slated for November)
• The exclusive Night Blue Stadia controller
• A matching Chromecast Ultra
• A Founder’s Stadia name (whatever that means)
• Three months of free Stadia Pro service (normally $9.99 monthly)
• A Buddy Pass, which gives you three months of Stadia Pro to give to a friend
• Destiny 2: The Collection, which includes all the DLC to date, and the upcoming Shadowkeep expansions with Annual Pass

Fingers crossed that Google can knock it out of the park with this, it has a bunch of potential. Time will tell.

What do you think? Interested in the Stadia Founder’s Edition? Let us know down below in the comments or carry the discussion over to our Twitter or Facebook.

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Joe Rice-Jones

Maker, meme-r, and unabashed geek with nearly half a decade of blogging experience. If it runs on electricity (or even if it doesn't), Joe probably has one around his office somewhere. His hobbies include photography, animation, and hoarding Reddit gold.