Google’s Stadia team has claimed it will add over 100 games to the streaming platform this year, despite the recent closure of all of its internal development teams.
“Over the next few weeks and months, players can expect to see everything from action-filled RPGs to competitive co-op titles and nimble platformers,” it said in a post published on itscommunity blog.
Upcoming releases include Shantae: Half-Genie Hero Ultimate Edition (Feb. 23), Shantae: Risky’s Revenge – Director’s Cut (Feb. 23), It came from space and ate our brains (Mar. 2),FIFA 21(Mar. 17), Kaze and the Wild Masks (Mar. 26),Judgment(Apr. 23), Killer Queen Black, Street Power Football, and Hellpoint.
“These games represent just a sampling of the more than 100 games that will be added to theStadiastore for our players in 2021,” it said.
Earlier this monthGoogleconfirmed it would close all of its internal Stadia game development teams as part of a major course change, which will see the streaming platform focus on partnering with third-party game companies.
In a statement, the company said that this year it would be refocusing on offering its technology and platform tools to external partners.
“We believe this is the best path to building Stadia into a long-term, sustainable business that helps grow the industry,” Stadia GMPhil Harrisonsaid.
According to aKotakureport, which was corroborated by sources who spoke to VGC anonymously, Google told its Montreal and Los Angeles Stadia development studios that they will be closed and their projects cancelled.
The closures will impact around 150 developers, according to Kotaku, although it’s understood that Google has said it will attempt to find many of them new roles within the company.
Stadia’s development bossJade Raymond, the veteran producer behindAssassin’s CreedEA’sMotivestudio, will leave the company as part of the closures. So too will the team formerly known asTyphoon Studios, the developer behind last year’sJourney to the Savage Planet.
Google will continue to operate the Stadia service and its $10 monthly Stadia Pro service, it’s understood, and according to Kotaku’s sources the company will continue to sign some new games.
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Stadia launched in November 2019 with a model focused on purchasing full-priced games for cloud play across multiple devices, as well as a monthly Pro subscription service which offered regular free games.
Google had announced ambitions plans for original content, including the purchase of Typhoon anda new studio led by Shannon Studstill,the former head ofGod of WarstudioSony Santa Monica.
However, the platform has struggled to bring its original content to fruition and at launch, Stadia was criticised forfeeling like it was rushed to market. Last summer Google introduced a significantStadia price cut, just seven months after the platform’s launch.
