Almost Three Months – How Is Google Stadia?

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been diving deep into Borderlands 3 on Google Stadia, and have really been enjoying the experience so far. I’m playing on 40 mb Internet, mostly on my Google Pixel 4 XL, once and a while connecting to Google Chromecast and playing on my TV. And still, the experience has been nearly flawless.

I say nearly because there have been a few hiccups, which generally is limited to one or two frame rate drops over a 2 hour play session. In my opinion, while not ideal, it’s not really that bad either. And I have yet to determine whether or not that is because I’m streaming the game via Google, or if its just a glitch that occurs from time to time in Borderlands 3. Either way, Google Stadia is still rocking it, at least for me.m

One of the biggest reasons why I like my Nintendo Switch so much is because I can play while watching other things. Especially during hockey season, I love being able to load up my favourite game on Nintendo Switch, and play while watching the Toronto Maple Leafs. But there is one hitch – some of my favourite games just aren’t available on Nintendo Switch, and Borderlands 3, as well as Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, are two of them.

Assassin’s Creed Odyssey has also been an impressive title to play on Google Stadia. With the worlds being so big, and so detailed, I was curious as to how it would stream to my Pixel 4 XL, on 40 MB internet. Borderlands is nicely divided into small, manageable areas, but Assassin’s Creed Odyssey…well…that’s just huge!

And while I did experience a few more hiccups with Odyssey, I can still say that the overall experience was still one I really enjoyed, and after much deliberation, determined I would rather start a new game of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey on my Google Stadia, than start a new game on my Xbox One X.

Google Stadia has some work to do, and this week Microsoft named them as a direct competitor. But while some have written the service off, I’m pleasantly surprised with what I’ve encountered so far.