At first glance, these two pieces of news sound very similar. Two weeks ago, Google announced that its new gaming platform, called Stadia, would be coming out soon. The following week, Apple announced Apple Arcade, its own platform. Both of these tech giants are basically trying to get into the wild world of video games.
Both services, Apple Arcade and Google Stadia, promise to get rid of the need for a console and put games on your phone, tablet, laptop, computer, TV, and more. Both services will start in 2019, but neither has said how much they will cost yet. So far, so samey.
But there are some big differences between Google’s Stadia and Apple’s Arcade when you look at the details. If you’re trying to decide which one to buy later this year, you should think about how different they are from each other. Both Apple Arcade and Google Stadia will be available on a lot of devices, so you can play the same games on different screens. However, they won’t be available on the same devices.
Apple Arcade is easy to explain. This service is only for Apple devices, so you can play games on iPhones, iPads, Mac computers/laptops, and Apple TVs. It’s less clear which devices will work with Stadia. People have said that you’ll be able to play on any PC or laptop with the Google Chrome browser, and that you’ll be able to use a Chromecast Ultra to turn your TV into a Stadia device.
Pricing and Availability
Apple Arcade is now available for $4.99 a month, and thanks to Apple’s Family Sharing feature, you can share it with anyone in your household. You can also try the service for free for a month. Stadia is set to launch on November 19 for people who bought the Founder’s Edition and it will first be available in the US, UK, Canada, and Europe. There are a few ways to pay for the platform, so here’s a quick rundown.
Stadia Pro is the paid version of Stadia. It costs $9.99 per month and gives you access to 4K/60fps/HDR streaming, a small collection of included games and discounts on game purchases. Google will release Stadia Base in 2020. It will be a free version of the platform that only lets you stream in 1080p. No matter which version you choose, though, you’ll still have to buy each game on its own.
If you want to go all out, you can buy the $129 Stadia Founder’s Edition, which comes with a Night Blue Stadia Controller, a Chromecast Ultra, 3 months of Stadia Pro, and a 3-month buddy pass that lets you give Pro access to a friend.
Apple Arcade vs Google Stadia Comparison Table
| Apple Arcade | Google Stadia | |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | iOS, Mac, Apple TV | Any device that runs Google Chrome |
| Game Lineup | 100+ indie and AAA titles, including Sonic Racing, LEGO Brawls, Rayman Mini and Oceanhorn 2. | AAA games including Doom Eternal, NBA 2K and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. More TBD. |
| Streaming or Download? | Download | Streaming |
| Pricing | $4.99/month (with Family Sharing) | $9.99/month (Stadia Pro); Free (Stadia Base). Games sold separately. |
| Availability | Sept. 19, 2019, 150+ countries | Nov. 19 2019, U.S., UK, Europe, Canada |
| Download Apple Arcade | Download Google Stadia |
Apple Arcade vs Google Stadia Game lineup
Apple Arcade says it will have more than 100 new and exclusive games, a mix of well-known franchises and up-and-coming indie games. Sonic Racing, LEGO Brawls, Rayman Mini, Oceanhorn 2: Knights of the Lost Realm, and Chu Chu Rocket! Escape are among the games that have been confirmed so far. Apple is also giving money to a few small game studios so that they can make exclusive games for the service.
In our Apple Arcade review, we’ve found that the games so far are all very good. Assemble with Care, What the Golf?, Hot Lava, and Neo Cab are all great examples. There are a lot of AAA games and indie games on Google Stadia’s list of games. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Cyberpunk 2077, Destiny 2, Doom Eternal, Watch Dogs: Legion, and smaller games like Gylt and Orcs Must Die! are among the games that stand out.
Apple Arcade vs Google Stadia Platforms
The battle between Apple Arcade and Google Stadia is not over yet. When deciding which one to buy, the gaming platforms are very important. It all depends on what devices you already have, which will help you decide what to buy.
The Apple Arcade is available on all Apple products, including Macs, iPhones, iPads, and Apple TVs. This may seem like a bad thing, but it hides the fact that you can download the games. Once you’ve downloaded your games, you can play them anywhere.
When it comes to Google Stadia, it can be used on any device with Google Chrome. The fact that it is easy to get to is a big plus. All of the games, though, have to be streamed, which can be a problem if you’re not in a good place with a good internet connection. This can make it harder to play games. Also, some games on Stadia can only be played with a controller.
Apple Arcade vs Google Stadia Devices
Even though offline play is useful, it makes it harder to switch from one device to another. Because Google Stadia is an online service, you can switch between devices without any trouble. But it’s not clear how easy this will be with Apple Arcade.
Apple Arcade can only be used on Apple products, of course. This means that you can only play your games on your iPhone, iPad, Macbook, Apple Mac, or Apple TV. It does give Mac gamers a small bit of hope, though, since they are usually left behind when compared to Windows users.
You’ll be able to play Google Stadia on almost any device that can run Chrome or YouTube. This includes phones, tablets, PCs, laptops, and TVs with smart features. This gives them a huge advantage over Apple Arcade for many gamers who prefer the power of non-Apple products for most of their entertainment needs.
Apple Arcade vs Google Stadia Controllers
Google said that Stadia will have its own controller that will cost $70 and connect to the service through Wi-Fi. When you buy the Founder’s Edition package for $129, you get a Night Blue Stadia controller. You get a Clearly White Stadia controller with the $140 Premiere Edition. You can also use your own game controller. Google said that its goal is to make it possible to play games anywhere with just a screen and a controller.
Apple said that some Arcade games will work with controllers, like the Xbox Wireless Controller with Bluetooth and the DualShock 4 and MFi controllers for the PlayStation. The controllers will work with Arcade on iOS, MacOS, and Apple TV. They will open up new ways to play Arcade games and give Apple a response to Google’s Stadia game controller.
Apple Arcade vs Google Stadia User experience
Apple Arcade is a tab in the Apple App Store. When you download a game, it shows up on the main screen of your device, just like any other app. When you open the Google Stadia app, you are taken to a “Choose where to play” page. From there, you can choose whether to cast your games from Chromecast and play directly on Stadia’s website or on your phone. You can also choose the quality of your stream and how much data you want to use from a menu.
Stadia is a high-quality online service, but you must always be connected to the internet to use it. Apple Arcade is a great offline gaming service that lets you download games to play when you don’t have internet access.
Apple Arcade has a great option for sharing with family that lets six people use one plan. On the other hand, Google Stadia doesn’t have a family plan yet, but they say they will in 2020. Apple Arcade only works with Apple products, like the Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Remember that your devices must be able to run iOS 8 or later.
Apple Arcade: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Large starting catalog
- No ads, no microtransactions
- It Just Works on most Apple devices
Cons
- No AAA games
- Annoyingly minimal interface
- Uncertain catalog growth
Google Stadia: Pros and Cons
Pros
- Surprisingly good performance
- 4K HDR for Pro subscribers
- Transitions from mobile to PC
Cons
- Confusion around Pro
- Missing features at launch
Which one should you consider?
Both services for playing games have a lot to offer. We like it when services that look the same but are different compete with each other in a good way. Both of these have important parts that are unique and different from each other. This kind of competition between tech giants gives customers a huge number of options, which is a huge plus. It’s too early to say which one is better, but the excitement is huge, and we’re here for both of these gaming icons.
FAQs
What is better than Stadia?
As of right now, Luna is the most like Google’s Stadia. And since Amazon is behind it, it’s sure to get a lot of new features and games over time. GeForce Now from Nvidia is a close second because it works well and lets you play a huge number of games.
Which is better Google Play Pass or Apple Arcade?
Over 200 games, including some of the best Apple Arcade games, are available for $4.99 a month. This is a good deal. Again, though, Google Play Pass wins because it has a better and bigger library. Google Play Pass lets you download and play more than 800 different games.
