Gamescom 2019 – New Game Announcements for Stadia

On Monday, August 19, Google presented its second Stadia Connect at Gamescom.

Over the course of the 35-minute stream, they showed off 18 total trailers and announced eight new games that will be available on Stadia at some point in the future. New is a relative term in this case, as the announced titles are a mixture of previously announced or released games and one (possibly-timed) platform exclusive. 

See Stadia’s official recap video below:

Here’s the Full List of Newly Revealed Titles

• Attack on Titan 2: Final Battle
• Cyberpunk 2077
• Destroy All Humans
• Kine
• Mortal Kombat 11
• Orcs Must Die 3 (Stadia Exclusive)
• Superhot: Mind Control Delete Expansion (Coming Soon)
• Windjammers 2

Additional Games Shown in Stream

• Gods & Monsters
• Watch Dogs: Legion
• Darksiders: Genesis
• Farming Simulator ‘19
• Samurai Shodown
• Grid
• Doom Eternal
• Elder Scrolls Online
• Borderlands 3
• Destiny 2: Shadowkeep Expansion (October 1)

Key Takeaways

We Still Don’t Know Much

For a 2nd announcement stream, this didn’t reveal much beyond what we already know. Yes, it’s great to see more titles joining Stadia’s ecosystem, but Google has decided to keep the level of involvement extremely vague. Does a Stadia port mean it will be available with a Stadia Pro subscription? How effective will the streaming capabilities be on less powerful devices? What other benefits are there for investing in Stadia? These, amongst other questions, still haven’t been answered and most likely won’t be until the release of the Founders Edition in November.

The Connect Streams are a Work in Progress

Nintendo has made streaming announcements into an art form with their Nintendo Directs. Unfortunately for Google, their premieres come off as long and rather uninspired. The two presenters tried their best to keep things going, but stiff dialogue, retreading trailers for previously released/announced games, utilizing dev diaries for big announcements and a lack of buildup caused the entire stream to drag. On top of that, the stream kept buffering and experiencing dips in the frame rate. While this is not a reflection of the final product, these hiccups at such a significant press event like Gamescom leaves somewhat of a wrong impression when they’re promoting a streaming-only platform. 

Has Stadia Been Successful so far?

The opening statement by the Stadia team that it’s almost sold out in some countries comes off as high-level marketing speak. It could mean that the Founders Edition has underperformed in larger territories, but we won’t have a full picture until Google decides to release sales numbers after launch, which they may not do if numbers don’t meet expectations.

Ubisoft, THQ Nordic, and Bethesda Are All In

These three publishers continue to showcase their support for Stadia as a platform, with Ubisoft being the most prominent, even revealing a new look at WatchDogs: Legion on stream. There must be something with Stadia that these developers find attractive for their experiences. However, it will most likely take dedication to a Stadia exclusive to give these “partnerships” substantial clout with their communities.

Where Are the Stadia Exclusives?

The Stadia team stated they would be developing 1st party exclusives, but like most console launches they’ve yet to appear. So far, Stadia has two exclusives (possibly timed), and at first glance, they aren’t exactly system sellers. While having more options, especially on the go, for 3rd party titles is a welcome addition, the lack of exclusive games makes Stadia less of a need even at such a low price point.

There are still many questions surrounding the impending launch of Stadia. The biggest being who is this platform meant for and how will Google address data usage and a disconnected infrastructure. The promise of an interconnected streaming future is an exciting one, and we’ll be sure to keep bringing you coverage as we learn more in the coming months