Google Stadia is shutting down for good, and it is issuing refunds for the games its subscribers purchased. That goes for games, add-on content, and subscription feeds. Google will send notifications through email, saying that they will let you know what to expect in the next weeks.
System for the Refunds
The company will be issuing refunds through the original form of payment, according to Gizmodo. If the refund isn't successful, they would simply send an email with a link, where you'll have to choose another form of payment. This may go for people who changed debit cards since the launch of stadia.
However, refrain from deleting the Google account linked with Stadia, as this might cause problems. If Google sends an email saying that it ran into issues with no further instructions, you'd have to take it up with your bank. That's an extra effort that no one wants to do, frankly.
If you're planning on asking customer support to speed things along, don't bother since Google already acknowledged it and said not to do that. You can expect the refund on January 18, 2023 at the latest, as they will be issuing refunds until then. If you want to check if your refund is already in their system, click on the Alerts icon in pay.google.com, and it will indicate whether or not it is.
Google Stadia : Illustration PARIS, FRANCE - NOVEMBER 18: In this photo illustration, the Stadia logo is displayed on the screen of an iPhone in front of a computer screen displaying the Google logo on November 18, 2019 in Paris, France. Stadia is a streaming platform for on-demand video games in the cloud. Introduced by Google on the sidelines of the Game Developer Conference 2019, the service allows you to play AAA video games on all kinds of devices, such as a computer, phone, tablet or Chromecast. The service will be launched by Google tomorrow November 19, 2019 in 14 countries, including France. (Photo by Chesnot/Getty Images)
Expect an email for every purchase you made in Google Stadia, but only if had 20 transactions or less. If you bought 21 or more games, then Google will send a summary of all the transactions you made, along with instructions on how to get a refund.
Don't look for a Stadia Pro subscription refund in your notifications, as they will not issue it. However, you can still play the games until January 2023, which is when Google Stadia will shut down. If you bought the Stadia controller via the Google Store, then you can issue a refund for that as well.
If not, then you're out of luck. Don't worry, you can still use the Stadia controller with a third party. The downside is, you can't play wirelessly, as it won't work with Bluetooth. You'll have to tether the controller with a USB-C cord to control your PC or console games.
Read Also: Bethesda is Letting Gamers Port Their Elder Scrolls Online Accounts From Stadia to Windows, Mac
The Google Stadia Shutdown
Google has posted a blog regarding the shut down. It states that the consumer gaming service did not get the traction they expected, even if it was built on a strong technology foundation. With that, they decided to end the service for good. They added that the majority of the refunds are expected to be completed by mid-January of 2023.
The company claimed that the technology platform powering Stadia, was at a scale that transcends gaming. Because of this, they can see its potential being applied to the other aspects of Google, like YouTube, Google Play, and their Augmented Reality (AR) efforts. They may also share this with their partners in the industry for the future of gaming.
Related: Ubisoft Will Help Gamers Transfer Their Stadia Purchases to PC
