Google Stadia Gaming Service Will Come Pre-Installed on Chromebooks
It looks like Google wants to turn Chromebooks into a gaming platform. This is confirmed by a statement from the developers on Twitter, which says that the new Chrome OS-based laptops will come pre-installed with Google Stadia.
“Did you know that Chromebooks now come with @GoogleStadia already installed? Start playing games without waiting for downloads or updates. “To start playing, click the Stadia icon in the Applications menu,” the developer’s post said.
The source adds that the Stadia link doesn’t launch the corresponding Android app, as it did before. Instead, Google has added a Progressive Web App (PWA) to Chrome OS, which is essentially a standalone web page that allows you to interact with the Stadia service through a browser rather than through an app. This approach will also allow Google to deliver all the latest updates promptly.
The appearance of the pre-installed Stadia service in Chromebooks speaks to Google’s desire to expand the gaming platform’s user base by attracting people working on laptops, which are not known for their high performance. Google will reportedly offer a free three-month subscription to Stadia service with each Chromebook sold, potentially helping to significantly expand the gaming service’s user base.
Recall that Google announced earlier this month that it was giving up developing exclusive games for the Stadia service. Instead, the company decided to support the game platform and promote it to third-party developers and publishers.
