Google to Shut Down Cloud Gaming Service 'Stadia'

[Asia Economy Reporter Yuri Choi] Google is discontinuing its cloud gaming service 'Stadia.' This is the first restructuring move following recent mentions of cost-cutting due to the economic downturn.

According to the IT industry on the 30th, Phil Harrison, Vice President of Google, stated on a blog, "We have made the difficult decision to discontinue the Stadia streaming service," adding, "We were unable to attract as many users as we had hoped."

Stadia is a cloud gaming service launched by Google in March 2019. It allows users to enjoy games with just an internet connection, without any separate downloads. By simply accessing the Google platform, users could play games across devices such as PC, console, and mobile without boundaries, earning it recognition as a revolutionary service.

However, since its launch, there have been criticisms regarding its limited lineup and slow response times. Last year, Google announced the disbandment of its original game development team, leading to speculation that service discontinuation was being considered. After three years, the service is now being shut down.

Google will completely shut down Stadia servers in January next year and will process refunds for Stadia-related content purchased from the Google Store until then. Users will only be able to access their libraries or play games until the server shutdown.

This move is Google's first restructuring following its mention of cost-cutting measures. Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO, recently stated, "We will improve company efficiency by about 20% through measures such as workforce reductions."