Stadia is a cloud gaming service developed and operated by Google. It is advertised to be capable of streaming video games up to 4K resolution at 60 frames per second with support for high-dynamic-range, to players via the company’s numerous data centers across the globe, provided they are using a sufficiently high-speed internet connection. This is accessible through the Google Chrome web browser on personal computers, Pixel smartphones, supported smartphones from Samsung, OnePlus, Razer, and Asus, as well as Chrome OS tablets and Chromecast for TV support.
It seems like google can take over the world if they can pull this off correctly. If they can capture and replace the console market with this service, which is initially cheaper as hardware is not costly and most actual computations behind running the games are done in the cloud, meaning users only need to have good internet. Google can offer games using technologies like unlimited detail, which cannot currently run in home systems, they may initially have to showcase this with their own exclusive RPG games like Disgaea, with its own mini-games and weapon augmentation worlds, so as to not bog down their servers. Gaming intellectual properties, franchises, and genres can eventually be bogged down when competing with higher production values, and better technology, for example sonic. And consoles may eventually become a thing of the past, just like arcades.
If they capture a huge percent of the console market with this service, they can then launch an operating system with this service and gaming as an important feature, like windows did with windows media player, capturing the operating system market using media playback software as their main selling point. This may help them capture upto 95% of the operating system market.
If they can capture the operating system market with a cloud-based operating system like this, then people will not need expensive hardware. Chipmakers, ISPs, everybody will have to work with Google, and Google will have the upper hand, essentially controlling most of the computing-related things like hardware, software, and internet bandwidth.
Now gaming is a good starting point as its interactive unlike other entertainment products and focuses on the quintessential essence of joy. Others like onlive and Nintendo have tried, but Google is pushing ahead with 4k gaming, which is a big push, and it may finally be time for consolidation, as hardware costs are rising and Moore’s law is coming to an end.