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Google Stadia Pro isn't Netflix for games, expect one free game a month

Thought Google Stadia Pro was an all-you-can-eat service? Well, it's more in line with Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus.
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Published onJuly 19, 2019

Don't expect Google Stadia Pro to offer a ton of free games at once.

Google Stadia is one of the more eagerly anticipated Google services in quite some time, allowing people to play games on various devices via streaming. The company is also pushing a paid Stadia Pro service, and you’d be forgiven for thinking that this paid tier delivers a Netflix-style catalog of titles.

Stadia director of product Andrey Doronichev has dismissed this notion during an AMA session on reddit (h/t: 9to5Google). In fact, the executive said Stadia Pro is more in line with console-based multiplayer subscriptions.

READ: Don’t hold your breath for cheap games on Google Stadia

“To be clear, Stadia Pro is not ‘Netflix for Games’ like some people have mentioned, a closer comparison would be like Xbox Live Gold or Playstation Plus,” Doronichev wrote on reddit. “The Pro subscribers get 4K/HDR streaming, 5.1 sound, exclusive discounts and access to some free games. Roughly one free game per month give or take. Starting with Destiny 2 (yay!).”

This certainly clarifies matters, as Google’s Stadia page says Stadia Pro offers an “ever-expanding library of free games.” The page also notes that “additional free games are released regularly,” starting with Destiny 2. In other words, we don’t see anything mentioning one free game per month.

Google Stadia games — Here's the full list
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Google Stadia on smartphone next to gaming controller stock photo 1

It’s not as if Microsoft and Sony are vague about their free games too. Sony notes on its website that PlayStation Plus nets users two free PS4 games a month, and Microsoft clarifies on its Xbox Live Gold page that you’ll get two to four games monthly.

It’s a little disappointing that we don’t see an all-you-can-eat tier for Stadia though, especially as Microsoft’s Netflix-style Game Pass service continues to grow. Microsoft’s service is available for $9.99 on either PC or Xbox One, while a combined PC/Xbox One offering will set you back $14.99 a month. What do you make of Google Stadia Pro? Let us know in the comments!

NEXT: Netflix will finally offer a cheaper, mobile-only plan, starting in India

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