Finally, Google Stadia is getting a feature that’s actually pretty cool
Stream of the crop
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
GoogleStadia has begun rolling out a new Party Stream feature that’ll let you broadcast to a close-knit group of buddies.
The new feature allowsGoogle Stadiaplayers to stream their gameplay with up to nine of their friends, the tech giant confirmed onTwitter. What’s more, Google’s gone one better by letting members in the stream switch from viewer to player on the fly.
That means you can jump into the game your buddy is streaming at a moment’s notice. Want to help them clear a Strike mission inDestiny 2? As long as you’re in the same Party Stream as the broadcaster, you can do just that.
And fear not if you don’t have access to the new Party Stream feature just yet. Google is rolling the feature out as we speak, and it should update for you by the end of the week.
Sowing Discord
On paper, Google Stadia’s Party Stream feature isn’t exactly revolutionary. Popular messaging appDiscordhas had a similar streaming feature for years now. However, Discord’s streaming tools simply allow users to capture their selected window for those on call. By comparison, Party Stream on Google Stadia is a noticeably more advanced implementation.
For example, Party Stream supports most of Stadia’s chat features, including emoji and voice reactions that’ll pop up on-screen. Streamers will also receive on-screen pop-ups whenever a buddy joins the stream for the first time. That means you won’t have to glance over at your streaming window to keep tabs on who’s joined.
I’m also a big fan of viewers being able to join a streamed game on the fly. It’s a welcome quality-of-life feature that meshes well with the drop-in nature of many of thebest co-op games.
Get the best Black Friday deals direct to your inbox, plus news, reviews, and more.
Sign up to be the first to know about unmissable Black Friday deals on top tech, plus get all your favorite TechRadar content.
Realistically, Party Stream probably isn’t going to light the world on fire. And if you’re not already a fan of Stadia, then it’s probably not going to change your mind. But still, it does look like a fun and convenient way to stream and play thebest Google Stadia gameswith a close-knit group of buds.
Rhys is TRG’s Hardware Editor, and has been part of the TechRadar team for more than two years. Particularly passionate about high-quality third-party controllers and headsets, as well as the latest and greatest in fight sticks and VR, Rhys strives to provide easy-to-read, informative coverage on gaming hardware of all kinds. As for the games themselves, Rhys is especially keen on fighting and racing games, as well as soulslikes and RPGs.
From Dishonored to Mafia: Definitive Edition, some of my favorite games are free right now for Amazon Prime members
New Secretlab Skins Lite let you overhaul the look of your chair for under $100
How to turn off Meta AI
