Game news These controllers destined for the scrapyard are recycled for the Nintendo Switch…
While everyone had forgotten about these controllers, they are clearly experiencing a new, much more fulfilling life.
If you follow video game news, you have surely heard about the tragic fate of Stadia. This on-demand games platform from Google aimed to offer titles using a large number of compatible devices (computer, Chromecast, and even the telephone), in “4K” and “60 frames per second” accessible via a subscription. With new games every month, without downloads or updates, this cloud gaming service was enough to make your mouth water. Unfortunately, what was supposed to “reinvent” the world of video games failed to be sufficiently attractive, with very few recent AAA games in its catalog.
It was on January 18, 2023, more than a year ago, that Phil Harrison, the vice president and general manager of Stadia, shut down its servers. A sad end for such an ambitious project which is, unfortunately, now part of the very long list innovations that Google preferred to cut short. However, even if his death was officially announced last year, his controllers are clearly experiencing a real resurrection.
Recycled Stadia controllers
It was on Amazon that a Reddit user made an astonishing discovery. He found that a controller intended for the Nintendo Switch looked suspiciously like the Stadia controller. While the colors and keys are different, the overall shape and triggers are notably identical to Google’s work for this now-buried project. It seems that a company called PXN reuses the molds that were used to make these controllers. Apparently, this company receives positive reviews for its work which can be acquired at a cost of less than €25, to the happiness of some Switch players.
So this is good news for these Stadia controllers which are now experiencing a new life. They were an element that players particularly appreciated thanks to their elaborate design. Seeing again this form created by Google could therefore be the object of rejoicing for certain people who had invested in this cloud gaming service. This second life also allows us to see that Stadia has still made an impact, in a certain way.