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The story of Google Stadia has been a strange one. Back in 2019, it was an exciting prospect with a strong launch lineup, including titles like Red Dead Redemption 2 and Mortal Kombat 11. Three years later, Google is quietly shutting Stadia down. On January 18, 2023, players will no longer have access to their Stadia titles.
This wasn't a completely unexpected move. Rumors about Stadia's upcoming demise had been circulating for months. It's still a bitter pill to swallow, especially since the announcement is so sudden.
Still, it's not all doom and gloom. Google is promising full refunds for Stadia customers. That being said, only certain things can be refunded, and players may need to update their payment method.
Google's Refunding Instructions
At the time of writing, Google has not specified exactly how the refund system will work, such as whether it will be automatic or opt-in. Just that they expect the refunds to be complete by Mid-January 2023.
The company did, however, leave some important information in its announcement FAQ about the process. The most important note is that it will be primarily trying to give refunds using the payment method Stadia users already have on file. For people who can't or don't want to use said method, Google will be sending emails with instructions on how to change it.
What Can and Can't Be Refunded
Players will get refunded for all games and in-game purchases made through the Stadia Storefront. Players can also get refunded on their hardware purchases, such as the Stadia Controller or the Founder's edition, provided they ordered it directly from Google. If a player bought the hardware through Best Buy or some other intermediary, Google won't cover it. Unfortunately, Stadia Pro subscribers won't be able to refund their subscription costs.
Stadia's storefront is already offline, so players can't use that to tally their purchases. Thankfully, they can still track their hardware purchases with this link and their software purchases with this link.
It's not certain what the future of game streaming with Google is. The success of Xbox Game Pass on the Cloud and the newly revamped Playstation Plus prove that there's an audience for game streaming, but it seems like Google is content with rebranding as Google Stream, licensing its technology out to other companies.