A report emerges that Google is ‘de-prioritizing’ stadium Instead, it focuses on securing streaming transactions under the Google Stream label.
Google is currently working on white-label deals with companies like Bungie, Capcom and Peloton, according to sources who spoke to Business Insider (paywall).
Sources say Stadia isn’t doing as well as expected, and the division is no longer negotiating AAA third-party games. Instead, Google focused on doing its best to preserve the technology by shopping everywhere in the name of Google Stream.
It all started with a deal between Google and Peloton last year. The deal will use the company’s streaming technology as a backend provider for games running on Pelton exercise bikes. The company also signed a deal with AT&T and Warner Bros. to offer streaming versions of Batman: Arkham Knight through customers’ browsers. As with the Peloton deal, Google serves as a service provider for the company’s games.
Last year, Google also pitched its technology to Bungie, which was reportedly looking to find its own streaming platform. If accurate, that may no longer be the case considering Sony’s recent $3.6 billion acquisition of Destiny developer.
The report also said that Google had discussed a deal with Capcom that would see the company use Google’s technology to run demos on its own website.
The shift is said to come after Stadia closed its in-house development studio to refocus on the platform. Jade Raymond, a senior producer on games such as Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed and other EA projects, has joined Stadia to help create first-party exclusives. With the closure of the in-house studio, Raymond left the company.
Additionally, as the focus shifts away from Stadia, Phil Harrison, who oversees Stadia, now reports to Google’s head of subscriptions, the report said. Additionally, Jack Buser, a former game director at Stadia, is now part of Google’s cloud division.
Business Insider also noted in the report that Harrison and his unit missed their goal of having 1 million monthly active users by the end of 2020, and fell 25% below that number.
While Google has yet to make an official statement on the report, the Stadia Twitter account does Provide the following comments:
“If you hear one thing, listen: The Stadia team is hard at work on a great future for Stadia and cloud gaming. We want you to agree, and we know the evidence is at work.
“We’re especially proud to be offering 50 games to Pro members in February, with over 100 games coming to Stadia in 2022, with tons of free game days for everyone. Stadia. Stadia also has more features-“
