This follows the introduction of the Chromecast with Google TV and Stadia Controller package last Friday. Google slashed the price of the Stadia Premiere Edition over the weekend from $99.99 to $79.99. The price reductions come as Google looks to market its newest ‘Play and Watch with Google TV Package’ bundle for $99.99. This new bundle consists of a Chromecast with Google TV and a Stadia Controller. Customers can add an Ethernet adapter with this package for $10. The same adapter costs $20 when purchased separately. 9to5Google notes that this new package will not bundle all products in the same box.
The Google Stadia Premiere Edition could be phased out eventually
Despite word being out already, the Google Store is yet to reflect the discounted pricing for the Stadia Controller. Meanwhile, the Stadia Premiere Edition includes the now discontinued Chromecast Ultra plus the Stadia Controller. Another reason for the price reductions could be Google’s intent to clear out the inventory. The Stadia Controller is designed for a wide range of games playable on Google’s cloud-based Stadia platform. It comes with standard gaming controls, including a D-Pad, A/B/X/Y, two thumbsticks, and trigger buttons on the left and right. The controller also has buttons for Google Assistant and screenshots/gameplay videos. The controller can connect to Google’s servers via Wi-Fi for low-latency streaming. Other features include a 3.5mm audio jack, USB-C charging, and a dedicated microphone for voice commands. Google sells the controller in Clearly White, Just Black, and Wasabi colors. Stadia wasn’t off to the best start when it first reached the market but has seen some improvements since then. Google’s premium subscription known as Stadia Pro offers free games every month accompanied by a handful of other perks. Priced at $9.99 per month, Stadia Pro has provided several games at no cost to subscribers. Google promised to offer at least one free game per month when it first launched Stadia. But now, at least three to four games are offered for free each month under Stadia Pro. The August 2021 free games under Stadia Pro include Valkyria Chronicles 4, Grime, Killer Queen Black, It Came From Space And Ate Our Brains, and Epistory: Typing Chronicles.
