You won’t be able to play Stadia on your Pixel phone without a Wi-Fi connection.
What you need to know
- Google has confirmed Stadia will require a Wi-Fi connection at launch, even on Pixel phones.
- The Stadia support page notes the game streaming service requires “a reliable internet connection (10 Mbps or greater is recommended).”
- Stadia will only work with the Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL, Pixel 3, Pixel 3 XL, Pixel 3a, Pixel 3a XL, Pixel 4, and Pixel 4 XL phones at launch.
Yesterday, Google confirmed that the Pixel 2 and Pixel 4 series phones will also support Stadia at launch, along with the Pixel 3 and Pixel 3a series. 9to5Google now reports that the upcoming game steaming service will require a Wi-Fi connection to play games on these phones at launch. At least initially, you will not be able to play games on mobile networks.
In an interview on The Vergecast, Google’s hardware chief Rick Osterloh said, “It’s just going to run on Wi-Fi to start” when asked about how Stadia would work on Pixel phones. Google has also sent a statement to 9to5Google confirming the requirement, saying that it is “focused on making sure Stadia Founders receive the best possible experience at launch over a WiFi connection.”
The Stadia Help page notes that playing games on a phone will also require a “reliable internet connection (10 Mbps or greater is recommended).” However, the connection type isn’t specified. While Pixel owners won’t be able to play games without a Wi-Fi connection at launch, it is possible that the restriction may be removed in the future. Microsoft’s Stadia rival, Project xCloud doesn’t have this restriction and lets users play games even on either 5GHz Wi-Fi or mobile data connection 10Mbps down.
The Google SVP also revealed during the interview that the Pixel phones are the first to be compatible with the game streaming service as the company has “been able to test it for a long time.”
Stadia Founder’s Edition
$129 at Google Store
The Stadia Founder’s Edition makes it possible for you to enjoy gaming in up to 4K resolution on your TV, computer, or phone. With the Founder’s Edition bundle, you get three months free Stadia Pro subscription for yourself and a friend, A Chromecast Ultra, and an exclusive Night Blue Stadia Controller.
