Stadia owners want Google to make the controller usable elsewhere

Following the sudden announcement of Stadia’s shutdown yesterday, gamers are hoping for one final controller firmware update.

Currently, the Stadia Controller can only be used through Stadia, which itself is only compatible with a limited number of devices.

In the Stadia announcement FAQ, it states that “most hardware purchases… made directly from Google will not need to be returned”, including Stadia Controllers.

Rather than end up with e-waste, gamers are asking Google to update the controller so it can still be used once service is down.

The controller already contains Bluetooth and Wi-Fi functionality, but cannot be connected to other consoles or PCs. Many have taken to the Stadia subreddit to express their desire to use the controller after Stadia’s shutdown, especially on PC.

Some asked Google to update the firmware itself, while others simply asked that the firmware be made open source so that Stadia community members could create an app themselves.

A reddit user claimed to have spoken to Stadia customer support regarding Bluetooth access for controllers, who said there was no “information or roadmap” on unlocking Bluetooth.

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