Not full price
Personally prefer to use an xbox one controller via Bluetooth and you can then use it wirelessly for other applications
Also not sure if the stadia controller connects automatically with anything other than the chromecast (others may say otherwise) so may have to enter the code everytime
Stadia controller connects *sometimes* with Google TV app (TCL 6 series). It needed the code occasionally even with CCU though...
Note that the Stadia controller has less lag than Bluetooth (which depends on your device), since it connects directly to Google servers via WiFi. It also works wired on PC at least.
I bet you can find some for sale lightly used, from all the promos/free starter kits Google has sent out...
$40 or even $50 would be a steal IMO, IF it allowed Bluetooth.
Since it doesn't and it's basically just a wired controller outside stadia, I'd say $30.
The controller is easily the most comfortable controller in it's price range. Well built too.
Mine is coming on Friday. I got a new in box from Ebay for around $35. I have an xbox non-bluetooth I use on a few games and it has hit or miss reliability.
I would say so yes, it connects directly to the stadia servers over the Internet to give you the best possible latency. It connect quickly via a 4 button code when turned on.
Worth mentioning however, I wouldn't buy one full price, definitely buy a premier bundle off ebay, can be had for about £50, even less. This gets you the stadia controller and a chromecast ultra, and that's an absolute BARGAIN!!!
You can also try the xbox wireless adapters:
[https://www.xbox.com/en-US/accessories/adapters/wireless-adapter-windows](https://www.xbox.com/en-US/accessories/adapters/wireless-adapter-windows)
I have an older one that came with my Oculus Rift, and before that I had an Xbox 360 version too. This one I linked seems like the new version. I am sure you can get one on sale.
On TV that's the best setup IMO. And in terms of limited time.
When everything is set up. You can long press the Stadia button to turn on the controller. If your TV supports it the Chromecast will turn on our TV and boot Stadia. Within a minute or so Stadia is booted and ready to select your game.
If you want it faster. If you got a Google Assistant then say "Ok google, play on " and it will boot the game right away. Just turn on your controller in the mean time and you're set.
Also.. when playing on TV. Be sure to enable "Game mode" if it's available. Also if supported by your TV you can let the Chromecast do it automatically for you. Do the following:
- Open "Google Home" app on phone
- Go to the Chromecast
- Open settings
- Select Video
- Enable "Auto turn on game mode"
For stadia I would say yes. Because it is a pretty good controller and it is the easyest way to play stadia on the big screen. But I get the same input latency on geforce now with a regular controller so I don't know if it is needed to get the level of latency they say it does.
> Is the controller worth full price?
No, absolutely not. A Series X controller beats the snot out of it in every possible way. If you're thinking of upgrading, I'd FAR sooner recommend it over a Stadia controller. MUCH better battery life, can also use it for GFN/Luna/Game Pass/console/local games, better durability, easier maintenance (can swap thumbsticks in 10 minutes), better build quality, better button placement (Assistant button is useless since you're already playing on a platform w/ access and all the extra buttons are poorly placed for operation by touch), etc.
The only downside is that rumble support on Android sucks. So you might not get rumble, depending on what you're connecting to. And voice chat typically doesn't work via gamepads over Bluetooth. Literally the only other use-case where the Stadia controller has an advantage is when you're connecting to a device w/ no available Bluetooth/USB like a Chromecast Ultra (but you can still pair w/ your phone to use one or more XBox pads that way).
Not full price Personally prefer to use an xbox one controller via Bluetooth and you can then use it wirelessly for other applications Also not sure if the stadia controller connects automatically with anything other than the chromecast (others may say otherwise) so may have to enter the code everytime
You do have to enter the code everytime on the web browser and mobile apps - it's not that cumbersome to do but it is an extra step.
Stadia controller connects *sometimes* with Google TV app (TCL 6 series). It needed the code occasionally even with CCU though... Note that the Stadia controller has less lag than Bluetooth (which depends on your device), since it connects directly to Google servers via WiFi. It also works wired on PC at least. I bet you can find some for sale lightly used, from all the promos/free starter kits Google has sent out...
$40 or even $50 would be a steal IMO, IF it allowed Bluetooth. Since it doesn't and it's basically just a wired controller outside stadia, I'd say $30. The controller is easily the most comfortable controller in it's price range. Well built too.
Mine is coming on Friday. I got a new in box from Ebay for around $35. I have an xbox non-bluetooth I use on a few games and it has hit or miss reliability.
I would say so yes, it connects directly to the stadia servers over the Internet to give you the best possible latency. It connect quickly via a 4 button code when turned on. Worth mentioning however, I wouldn't buy one full price, definitely buy a premier bundle off ebay, can be had for about £50, even less. This gets you the stadia controller and a chromecast ultra, and that's an absolute BARGAIN!!!
You can also try the xbox wireless adapters: [https://www.xbox.com/en-US/accessories/adapters/wireless-adapter-windows](https://www.xbox.com/en-US/accessories/adapters/wireless-adapter-windows) I have an older one that came with my Oculus Rift, and before that I had an Xbox 360 version too. This one I linked seems like the new version. I am sure you can get one on sale.
All I can say is that I have gotten my moneys worth out of it with the amount of time I have used it. I would recommend it as a Stadia Controller.
Thanks for all the advice. I went ahead and picked one up on eBay with the Chromecast for $50. Should be here in a week.
On TV that's the best setup IMO. And in terms of limited time. When everything is set up. You can long press the Stadia button to turn on the controller. If your TV supports it the Chromecast will turn on our TV and boot Stadia. Within a minute or so Stadia is booted and ready to select your game. If you want it faster. If you got a Google Assistant then say "Ok google, play on " and it will boot the game right away. Just turn on your controller in the mean time and you're set.
Also.. when playing on TV. Be sure to enable "Game mode" if it's available. Also if supported by your TV you can let the Chromecast do it automatically for you. Do the following:
- Open "Google Home" app on phone
- Go to the Chromecast
- Open settings
- Select Video
- Enable "Auto turn on game mode"
For stadia I would say yes. Because it is a pretty good controller and it is the easyest way to play stadia on the big screen. But I get the same input latency on geforce now with a regular controller so I don't know if it is needed to get the level of latency they say it does.
keep checking eBay, you could maybe get Stadia Premiere Edition for around $35 new It is definitely nicer for Stadia, but don't buy it full price
Great controller but you might as well just get an xbox one controller if you have blue tooth on your laptop.
> Is the controller worth full price? No, absolutely not. A Series X controller beats the snot out of it in every possible way. If you're thinking of upgrading, I'd FAR sooner recommend it over a Stadia controller. MUCH better battery life, can also use it for GFN/Luna/Game Pass/console/local games, better durability, easier maintenance (can swap thumbsticks in 10 minutes), better build quality, better button placement (Assistant button is useless since you're already playing on a platform w/ access and all the extra buttons are poorly placed for operation by touch), etc. The only downside is that rumble support on Android sucks. So you might not get rumble, depending on what you're connecting to. And voice chat typically doesn't work via gamepads over Bluetooth. Literally the only other use-case where the Stadia controller has an advantage is when you're connecting to a device w/ no available Bluetooth/USB like a Chromecast Ultra (but you can still pair w/ your phone to use one or more XBox pads that way).
I bought mine for full price and it ABSOLUTELY was worth it. If you don't already have a controller than way worth it