Stadia has always required a Wi-Fi connection to stream and play games, whether you connect through Chrome, the Chromecast Ultra, or on your mobile device.
It makes sense. Given the more reliable connection strength of Wi-Fi and hardline connections (if you play on PC or via Chromecast Ultra). It was always suspected though, that Stadia would eventually support the use of a mobile data connection to stream games.
And it would appear that time has just about come. A new experimental feature has popped up in the Stadia app on mobile devices that allows you to move beyond the need for a wireless or wired internet connection.
Stadia games can forego Wi-Fi and use mobile data instead
Up till now, the only cloud gaming option that has allowed mobile data was xCloud. And in player tests it hasn’t exactly been the best experience. At least not while moving.
If you’re in an area with a reliable and fast connection and your stationary, it’s fine. But too many fluctuations in the connection speed and strength, such as in a moving car or train, and it gets spotty.
xCloud is no longer the only service which allows mobile data connections for games to work. Stadia now has the option inside the app to make this functional.
It is however an experimental option under the Experiments section in the app settings. Which means this is only something that Google is testing and it’s not yet a fully fledged feature. And the spotty reliability of mobile data is why.
There’s also no telling how long it will be before it is completely rolled out as something that works all the time. Nevertheless, it should be there now if you’re playing Stadia on a mobile device that has service from your carrier.
You can’t use the Stadia controller with this option
There might be one downside for some to using mobile data. And that’s the inability to use the Stadia controller.
You need a Wi-Fi connection for this controller to work. But luckily there are alternative options out there. For one you could simply use the touch controls that were added to Stadia a little earlier this year. These work well enough in a pinch for most games.
There’s also the option of a third-party controller. Like the Razer Kishi. Or the Sony DualShock 4.
If you go with something like the Kishi, you have a controller that is not only well-made by a company that specializes in making gaming controllers and other peripherals, but it puts the device smack in the middle of the controller for what is arguably the best location.
Thanks to evenly distributed weight. The point is you aren’t left without options.