4 ms·

I think there's probably a sentiment of "Oh Google is really messing Ubisoft and Bungie around". But I think the truth is probably slightly different. Google wa

I think there's probably a sentiment of "Oh Google is really messing Ubisoft and Bungie around". But I think the truth is probably slightly different. Google was offering something different, and I don't think any game studio was jumping at the chance to get on Stadia - especially given Google's reputation. So any work going on to support and develop for Stadia was almost certainly backed by Google money, not Ubisoft money. So yes, it's sad that engineering effort was wasted (but let's be real, 90% of engineering effort is wasted), in reality, it probably isn't a big hit for the game studios. This isn't a case of Google luring naive game companies into developing for Stadia and then pulling the plug, this is a matter of big spending Google trying to spend its way into a new industry and failing, probably it was quite lucrative all round. Yes, they'll have to do a bit of work to save face with their customers, but all-in-all this was probably free money for them.

Kye 4y ago
Microsoft did the same with Xbox, but they stuck with it through all the years the division was a huge money sink. Google could have taken a lesson from that: even Microsoft's existing presence in gaming with Windows, DirectX, and a long list of well-respected development studios wasn't enough for a quick entry.
- nazgulsenpai 4y ago
  Yeah, shortly after Xbox 360 launch Microsoft had to repair/replace something like 20% of them because the red ring of death, and their internal estimate at that time was around $1.1 billion. I don't Xbox and am not a Microsoft apologist but they have managed to ride this Xbox thing out. Unlike Games for Windows Live :)
  - gbasp 4y ago
  - yazzku 4y ago
    Yeah, I hate M$ with passion too, but if I remember correctly, the Xbox lead had a hard time even selling the idea of a console to the VPs back at the time, who were all business and zero gaming. And yet they managed to pull it off with sheer blood and balls. Google, with its vast surveillance/ad network raining billions on them, can't even put two legos together.

Kye 4y ago

Microsoft did the same with Xbox, but they stuck with it through all the years the division was a huge money sink. Google could have taken a lesson from that: even Microsoft's existing presence in gaming with Windows, DirectX, and a long list of well-respected development studios wasn't enough for a quick entry.

nazgulsenpai 4y ago
Yeah, shortly after Xbox 360 launch Microsoft had to repair/replace something like 20% of them because the red ring of death, and their internal estimate at that time was around $1.1 billion. I don't Xbox and am not a Microsoft apologist but they have managed to ride this Xbox thing out. Unlike Games for Windows Live :)
- gbasp 4y ago
- yazzku 4y ago
  Yeah, I hate M$ with passion too, but if I remember correctly, the Xbox lead had a hard time even selling the idea of a console to the VPs back at the time, who were all business and zero gaming. And yet they managed to pull it off with sheer blood and balls. Google, with its vast surveillance/ad network raining billions on them, can't even put two legos together.