Google can’t fulfill all Stadia pre-orders for Nov. 19 launch, Ars Technica

           

  

Google has announced that it won’t be able to fulfill all pre-orders for its Google Stadia streaming service in time forits previously announced November (launch date) .

The company’scarefully worded launch announcement last weektechnically hinted at that fact, saying that the Founder’s Edition pre-order hardware bundle would only “start arriving on gamers’ doorsteps on November 19. ” Only “the first gamers who pre-ordered and have received your Founder’s Editions” were promised the ability to log in to Stadia starting at 9am Pacific Time that day.

Googlealso saysthat the Founder’s Edition bundle — originally introducedas the only way to play Stadia at launch– has now sold out across all 14 Launch countries. Users can still order a substantially similar (andpreviously announced) Premiere Edition for the same price to “get into Stadia this year.”

Googlesaid in a tweet this morningthat it “can’t wait to welcome all of our Founders to play Stadia on November 19, “suggesting that those Founder’s Edition pre-orders may be shipped on time. But a Google representative would only tell Ars Technica that Founder’s Edition shipping “starts the 19 th and will be fulfilled in order received, “with Premiere Edition shipments shipping” in order after Founders. “

Ina statement to the Verge, Google clarified that it expects all Founder’s and Premiere Edition pre-orders to be shipped within the first two weeks of launch. ButGoogle’s online storeCurrently shows Premiere Edition bundles shipping in December with free Standard shipping. To get a “November” estimated shipment, you currently have to pay $ 14 for Priority shipping or $ 20 for Expedited shipping.

Launch confusion

The Founder’s and Premiere Editions of Google Stadia both retail for $ 130 in the US, and both include a Chromecast Ultra, Google Stadia controller, Stadia access to (Destiny 2) , and a three-month subscription to Stadia Pro (which provides higher resolution stream access and monthly freebies, usually for $ (a month). But only Founder’s Edition buyers get an exclusive dark blue controller, a three-month Stadia Pro pass for a friend, first choice of a Stadia username for your account, and a Founder’s Badge on that account.

Users who want to access Stadia without purchasing either packagewill have to waituntil a free tier is offered sometime in 2020 (or until Google offers unbundled subscriptions to Stadia Pro, which it has yet to announce). All Stadia pre-order shipments will come with an emailed code to access the Stadia service, which should theoretically work on a PC or smartphone even without access to the Stadia Controller and Chromecast Ultra in the pre-order package.

When that hardware does come, though, it will be somewhat limited at launch. Aswe noted last week, the Google Stadia controller will only work wirelessly with the Chomecast Ultra and can’t be used as a generic Bluetooth controller with a phone or Web browser (or (to stream wireless game audio) ) at launch. Full bluetooth support on the controller “may be implemented at a later date,” as Googlenotes on its product page.

The Stadia Controller can be used as a wired controller with a USB connection on phones and PCs. However, a Google Community manager hasclarifiedthat the Stadia Controller will be the only way to play Stadia games on a TV through Chromecast Ultra (generic third-party USB controllers will work for Stadia on phones and PCs).

Right now, it’s hard to say whether the slow, staggered roll-out of Stadia pre-orders is simply a case of mismatched hardware supply and demand or a more deliberate effort to limit the initial strain on the streaming servers. In any case, the confusing messaging and slow drip of information is not a great look for a major new service hoping to make a big splash.

        

Listing image by Kyle Orland