With E3 right around the corner, Google was looking to jump ahead of any hype associated by releasing major details about their cloud gaming service Stadia. From games, hardware, and pricing, Google is full speed ahead into the gaming industry. Releasing a conference on Youtube this morning, Google took a shot across the bow of the major players in gaming putting even more pressure on Microsoft’s E3 presentation. There is a new kid on the block boys, and with what they released today, they look as if they are going to make themselves comfortable.

The details emerging about Stadia are very interesting. Full 4k capability at 60FPS and complete 5.1 surround sound. The internet speed required to run at full capacity will be 35mbps. If you live in a rural area and are worried about your capability you will need a mere 10mbps to run 720p 60fps.

You will need a Chrome Cast Ultra for your television and run Google Chrome on your computer. The Stadia controller, priced at $69.99, is recommended to run the games, however they will soon be releasing a list of other compatible controllers. There is not much hardware needed to run Stadia, which will be a huge problem for Microsoft and Playstation given that both are expected to be releasing new consoles that will have hefty price tags attached to them.

Microsoft’s latest strategy has seemed to rely on having the best hardware, while Sony has rested it’s laurels on having the exclusive software that many gaming fans love. Stadia will seem to have edged out Microsoft by not needing hardware so its major obstacle will be competing in the games market against a long time powerhouse. Everyone knows one of the worlds largest corporations has the means to acquire whatever it is they need to be competitive, but do they have the foresight and vision to provide games that will separate them from their elder competition?

Having games like Destiny 2 and The Division 2 at launch will help bring over some established gamers, along with other major titles such as Baldur’s Gate 3 and MK11. It is the exclusivity of titles that will prove their worth and determine their rankings in the video game genre. Nintendo has long avoided death by merely having characters and titles that no gamer can live without. With only minor gameplay footage of a few titles, this will be an issue they surly will have to address.

So down to the brass tax. What will this thing cost? Well a Stadia Pro account will run you $9.99 a month and seems to feature some “gamepass like” features. They also released a Founders Edition Pre Order today that will feature a limited edition controller, a Chrome Cast Ultra, 3 months of Stadia Pro for yourself and a guest pass to gift to a fellow gamer, an exclusive opportunity to claim the gamertag of your liking, and Destiny 2 with every add on bundled with it. The founders Edition is priced at $129 which is more than affordable for those that are accustomed to paying triple that amount to enter into a gaming system.

Things are changing folks. Sony and Microsoft both recognize this. To the point where they have teamed up together to head into the cloud gaming future. The question really is will it be too little, too late? Will the next gen of consoles be thwarted by a new tech that saves gamers the precious coins, or will they be releasing something that cloud gaming will not be able to compete with? We will be tuning into E3 to find out as I’m sure many of the gaming community will as well. The future is now, and it appears to be simplifying.