Google’s cloud gaming service Stadia (opens in new tab) formally goes darkish tomorrow, January 18, however these of you with a Stadia controller will be capable of proceed utilizing it lengthy into the longer term (hopefully) because of a ultimate firmware replace (opens in new tab) that converts it into a typical Bluetooth system.
By all appearances, the method (defined on this Stadia help web page (opens in new tab)) is a straightforward one: Press and maintain the Stadia button on the controller till the standing mild comes on, plug the controller into your PC by way of a typical USB cable, go to stadia.google.com/controller (opens in new tab) (you may want to make use of Google’s Chrome browser—I attempted it with Firefox and it will not load the required web page), after which comply with the on-screen directions. As soon as that is completed, you may have a swanky new(ish) Bluetooth controller in your arms that you should utilize with any Bluetooth-capable system.
Heads up: this replace will completely disable Wi-Fi connectivity, so please wait to replace your controller if you wish to use it to play wirelessly on Stadia tomorrow. Replace software: https://t.co/o0iU2x0NsVJanuary 17, 2023
After the conversion, you’ll be able to pair the controller with appropriate units by holding the Stadia button till it turns off, then urgent and holding it once more till the standing mild pulses orange. That’ll put it into pairing mode; go to no matter you are aiming to attach it to and you need to see it seem within the listing of connectible units as “Stadia.” It’s possible you’ll have to approve the Stadia controller within the system’s Bluetooth menu if it would not join, otherwise you may need to only swap all the pieces off after which again on, and take a look at once more—Bluetooth might be very finicky generally.
A few factors to notice: Enabling Bluetooth mode on the controller will completely and irreversibly disable its Wi-Fi capabilities, so if you wish to proceed utilizing that on the ultimate day of Stadia, maintain off till after January 18. Headphones plugged into the controller will now not work after the replace is utilized, nor will the Assistant and Seize buttons, though that is not due to the Bluetooth conversion however just because Stadia will now not exist.
And for some cause, you solely have till December 31, 2023 to finish the replace—you snooze, you lose, though it should proceed to operate as a typical wired controller.