How to get a Google Stadia refund

After a tumultuous run, Stadia fans were able to see the writing on the wall. After shutting down internal game development, Google has now made it official: gaming platform Stadia joins the other Google projects on a pleasant backcountry farm, and the servers will shut down permanently on January 18, 2023.

The big question is, “What will happen to Stadia players and the money they’ve invested in the Stadia platform?” We have good news on that – Google is offering generous refunds to those who used Stadia, so the odds are good that you get back the money you spent. Here’s how it works and what you should be doing in the coming months to recoup your Stadia spend.

Who gets a refund?

If you buy Stadia hardware through the Google Store and games through the Stadia Store, most are eligible for a full refund. These include Stadia Control, Stadia Founders Edition, Stadia Premier Edition, Stadia Play and Stadia Watch. All software transactions, including games and add-ons, are also eligible for a refund. If you pre-ordered a game from Stadia and the money has been processed, you can also get a refund for that pre-order.

The notable exception to refunds is the Stadia Pro subscription, which is non-refundable. If you had an active Stadia Pro subscription when Google announced the Stadia shutdown (September 29, 2022), it will continue without further charges until the servers shut down, effectively giving you a few months free.

How do I request a refund?

Google is still working out the details of the refund process, but it will be an online refund. You cannot bring your Stadia to a physical Google Store or similar location and expect a refund.

For now, Stadia users should do two important things. First visit on the Google Store and make a note of any past Stadia-related purchases that are eligible for a refund (most will be). If you have something Stadia-related that doesn’t show up in your past transactions, look up how you paid for it and make a note of it. The Stadia Store is now closed and you can’t view software purchases, but you should be able to see what you’ve purchased on the Stadia platform itself, as well as receipts from the account you used to purchase from Stadia. This way you can get a very good idea of ​​how much to expect from a refund.

Second, follow Google’s own blog announcing the closure of the stadiums. Updates announcing the refund process will also be posted here, so this is one of the quickest ways to jump on the refund bandwagon when it’s available.

Google hasn’t set a firm schedule, but intends to process most refunds until the Stadia servers shut down. Don’t try to contact Google support directly to request a refund until after January 2023 – there’s not much they can do.

What if I spent money other than paying in the Google Store?

If you used a gift card, Google announced that they’ll send you a message about the refund process going on, so you’ll have to wait to hear from them. Otherwise, Google does not currently guarantee refunds for products purchased elsewhere (e.g. Best Buy, which sold Stadia products). However, we are still in the early stages of the refund process that has caught many, including game developers, surprisingly, so it will take some time to sort out the processes. Third party providers may have their own refund options.

Can I keep my hardware?

If you bought your Stadia hardware from the Google Store, you probably don’t need to return it. Fortunately, not all Stadia products are relegated to museum pieces or teardowns. The Stadia Controller, for example, will still work on other devices via Bluetooth, although you don’t expect it to receive firmware updates.

Will my game progress be transferred to another platform?

Probably not. Google says progress is unlikely created in games via Stadia can be switched to another platform. Unfortunately, if you play the same game on a different platform, you’ll have to start over. If you’ve played a game that already supports cross-platform play or cross-progression, you’re more likely to have your progress saved elsewhere, but relatively few games on Stadia are in that position.

Can I keep playing my Stadia games through January?

Technically yes. But there can be problems. Google has already warned that titles with in-game transactions can get into trouble. So don’t plan on buying anything in-game on Stadia. It’s currently unclear what other issues may arise, especially once developers start phasing out Stadia support – but Stadia’s unique way of streaming games means most games should continue to work until the servers say goodbye.

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