Google Finds A Way To Bring Stadia To iOS

For Mac users who have felt left out from all the cloud gaming fun, the time is now to rejoice – Google Stadia has arrived on iOS platforms. The news broke on December 16 via Twitter, though it was initially announced back in November. Unfortunately, the games are not accessible through the Stadia app itself but rather a workaround. In order to play titles using Google Stadia on iOS, users have to open up Safari and sign in to enjoy the available library. The reason Google does not have a more direct approach is because of Apple's stringent App Store policy.

Google Stadia has had something of a rough time getting itself established. When it launched, the service was considered overpriced for what you got. Not only did you have to pay for a subscription, but games had to be individually purchased. Even if you did sign up for the service, you had access to an inadequate selection of games. Naturally, this led to buyer's remorse, with players abandoning Stadia.

Google has gone to great lengths to make Stadia a success. First, the company promised several updates (including some timed exclusive games). After that, Stadia boss Phil Harrison announced a free option for the service. In order to stay relevant, Google later opened up its top-tier subscription for free to users for a limited time. A year after its launch, the promised yet absent "Share" feature finally arrived.

It's clear that Google Stadia still has its work cut out for it as other platforms like Microsoft xCloud present more appealing alternatives. While Google did beat Microsoft to the punch, the question remains as to whether it will be enough to bolster support for the service. The market is already crowded, and with a big contender like Nintendo entering the ring, does Stadia have a chance?

The fan response on Twitter has been lukewarm at best. Not only were some users facing issues due to necessary software updates, but gamers in general still felt that Stadia doesn't quite deliver. One user called it a "dead platform," while another said, "Great now actually add games people want to actually play..."

Google Stadia hasn't quite hit its stride just yet, but at the very least, achieving early iOS compatibility could give it a slight edge with Apple users. In the meantime, gamers will have to see whether Google has any other tricks up its sleeve for Stadia.