Google Stadia is here. The service, which seemingly hoped to be the first in a new era of streaming, feels a tad incomplete. While praise has been heaped on the technology being used, it feels like it’s not quite there yet with a lot of missing features as well as a not particularly exciting launch line up. But we’re just getting started with it, and we’ll have to see if Google can continue supporting the ambitious service. It also seems that one of the ways they hope to do that is a little unique: targeting women.
CNN Business interviewed several keys behind Google Stadia, such as VP and Head of Stadia Phil Harrison. They said they looked at Stadia as something more female-friendly than other competitors largely because they aren’t designing Stadia in a traditional way like other platform holders, who have been more “masculine” in how they design things like hardware and the controller, and without the baggage of longstanding game companies, they feel Stadia has less connection to a “pre-existing” game culture than its competitors. You can read the full article through here.
It’s an interesting idea. While women have more of a presence than ever in gaming, it’s still primarily male dominated and often dismissive if not outright hostile to women. I’m not sure if something like Stadia is really something that will break down the walls, but only time will tell.
