Ever since Google Stadia was first shown off at GDC 2019, there’s been immense curiosity from consumers and industry punters alike as to what Google’s streaming service for games can offer as a platform. Now, one of the most highly-anticipated releases of the year has thrown its lot in with Google at today’s pre-Gamescom sweetener: CD Projekt Red has confirmed that Cyberpunk 2077 is coming to Stadia in 2020.
At its announcement, Google Stadia boasted never-before-seen integration and access across any number of platforms, so long as one had an internet connection. With the likes of Assassin’s Creed Odyssey on display at the service’s initial showing, it’s clear that Google has been gunning for a pedigreed collection of titles from the start, and this latest acquisition of CD Projekt Red’s prize pony is a great addition though we still know very little about how Stadia works aside from being a real data hog.
The official announcement about Cyberpunk 2077 being available on Google’s streaming platform came during the pre-Gamescom 2019 Google Connect conference, which was available on the Stadia YouTube account. The game is currently slated to make its first appearance on Stadia in 2020, though whether or not this will be something which is accessible on the game’s main release across other consoles has yet to be confirmed. CD Projekt Red’s addition to the service was also later confirmed on the official Stadia Twitter account.
While the embedded footage in all the announcements about Cyberpunk 2077 coming to Stadia has looked remarkably impressive, there will likely still be concerns from consumers about how well high-powered games from the likes of Ubisoft’s flagship Assassin’s Creed franchise and Borderlands 3 will run on this new streaming service. What Google is purporting to provide is ambitious, to say the least, and previous number crunching done by PCGamer has revealed that it’ll likely be using an incredible amount of data just for someone to stream a title in HD. Someone wanting to play through a title as large in scale as critics are anticipating Cyberpunk 2077 to be may very well end up being gated by a monthly data plan unless there are changes made to the mechanics of streaming.
If playing AAA games from anywhere can be pulled off with the accessibility focus that Stadia is touting as a platform, then that would be spectacular. However, short of any new information about the paid subscription model that’s being rolled out for Stadia, or any confirmation about how you’re going to experience games on Stadia on platforms that aren’t as juiced up as a high-quality gaming computer, this announcement about Cyberpunk 2077 is arguably attractive window dressing for a product that Google is still trying to convince the industry of.
Next: What to Expect From Cyberpunk 2077 at Gamescom 2019
Source: Google Connect Conference
