The best controller to play games on Google's Stadia platform on pretty much any device will be Google's own Stadia controller.
Google's new Stadia controller might be the only thing you'd want to buy to play games on Google's Stadia game platform.
That's because the Stadia controller connects directly to your WiFi network instead of connecting to a computer, smartphone, tablet, or even TV. By connecting directly to your WiFi network, Google's Stadia controller communicated directly with Google's Stadia servers to reduce input lag and latency. That means less time between when you press a button and see the resulting action happen on the screen.
If you want to use your existing controllers, you'll need to connect them with a wired USB connection to whatever device you want to play on. That'll work on computers and possibly on tablets and smartphones, but few TVs, if any, support wired controllers.
Unfortunately, Google didn't announce a price tag for its new Stadia controller.
For TVs
- Any TV, whether it's yours at home, at a friend's place, or the TV in a hotel room.
- A $70 Google Chromecast Ultra (required).
- Google's new Stadia controller (required).
For computers, including laptops and desktops
- Almost any laptop or desktop.
- Google's Chrome web browser (required).
- Google's Stadia controller (optional), a keyboard and mouse (optional) , or your existing controller (optional, as long as it's connected to your computer via USB).
On a tablet or smartphone
- Almost any tablet or smartphone.
- Google's Stadia controller (optional, touch controls will be available).
Read more about Google's new Stadia service below:
- Google just unveiled its vision for 'the future of gaming' — here's everything it announced
- Google just unveiled its Netflix-like video game platform named 'Stadia' — here's what you need to know
- Google is making a new controller for its video game streaming service, and it can actually help you beat tricky levels
