Stadia doesn’t seem nearly ready for Google TV launch w/ just weeks left on Chromecast promise - 9to5Google

When the new Chromecast with Google TV launched in late 2020, the product came with the promise that Google Stadia would be supported sometime in the first half of 2021.

That functionality has worked since June of 2020 with a Bluetooth controller as well as a Stadia Controller, albeit the latter only with some quirky, unstable methods.

Last year, the since-departed John Justice said that Stadia would be playing things a bit closer to the chest, and it’s only logical that this would include keeping major changes behind lock and key.

Through the teardowns done by our vigilant Kyle Bradshaw, we know that the cogs are still moving when it comes to Google TV/Android TV support of Stadia.

This would allow a user to use their smartphone, probably with a connected controller, to connect to a Stadia session on the TV.

That was another place where “Android TV” was explicitly mentioned within the code for the Stadia app that’s currently available for Android smartphones.

Strings in the app explicitly said that users should “Install the Android TV App.” If it was Google’s intention for the Stadia app for phones to be the same one we see on TVs, that mention makes very little sense.

There’s a very good chance this points to a separate Stadia app being made available for TVs like the Chromecast with Google TV.

Google committed to bringing Stadia to Chromecast with Google TV sometime in the first half of 2021.

Google hasn’t explicitly backed down from that original timeline, but one recent tweet did leave room for doubt as the Stadia account said service would arrive on Chromecast and LG TVs “this year.”.

While we have no news to share about Stadia being available on Android TV, support for Chromecast with Google TV and select LG TVs will be coming this year.

Thankfully, Google confirmed to 9to5Google today that Stadia is still committed to its original timeline for the Chromecast.