Google Stadia will only support Pixel 3 smartphones at launch

Google Stadia is attempting to be the play anywhere example for cloud gaming, but it won’t be on launch. Instead, on launch, Google Stadia will only support Pixel 3 smartphones.

Announced via the new Stadia FAQ, Google announced that only the following smartphones would have access to Stadia:

• Pixel 3
• Pixel 3a
• Pixel 3a XL
• Pixel 3XL

Those rocking any non-Google Android phone–or even prior Google Android phones–or an iOS device may be disappointed. While the service is set to be available on all Chrome OS enabled tablets and laptops, Google is blocking off a lot of Android hardware with the first wave of release.

Google is still going to allow Stadia to have some presence on other devices. On launch, Android and iOS users will be able to simply manage and purchase Stadia games.
With Stadia’s launch period previously described as being exclusive to the Chromecast Ultra, Google is doing a rather poor job at marketing the service. Stadia will only support Pixel 3 smartphones at launch, but why? With so many gamers being against cloud gaming at the moment, especially with the lack of public betas, why is Google gatekeeping?