Advertisement
Australia markets close in 5 hours 37 minutes

  • ALL ORDS

    7,816.40
    -82.50 (-1.04%)
     

  • ASX 200

    7,561.00
    -81.10 (-1.06%)
     

  • AUD/USD

    0.6414
    -0.0012 (-0.18%)
     

  • OIL

    82.50
    -0.23 (-0.28%)
     

  • GOLD

    2,389.10
    -8.90 (-0.37%)
     

  • Bitcoin AUD

    98,476.53
    +3,308.22 (+3.48%)
     

  • CMC Crypto 200

    1,302.74
    +417.20 (+46.65%)
     

  • AUD/EUR

    0.6027
    -0.0004 (-0.06%)
     

  • AUD/NZD

    1.0874
    -0.0001 (-0.01%)
     

  • NZX 50

    11,792.41
    -43.63 (-0.37%)
     

  • NASDAQ

    17,394.31
    -99.31 (-0.57%)
     

  • FTSE

    7,877.05
    +29.06 (+0.37%)
     

  • Dow Jones

    37,775.38
    +22.07 (+0.06%)
     

  • DAX

    17,837.40
    +67.38 (+0.38%)
     

  • Hang Seng

    16,385.87
    +134.03 (+0.82%)
     

  • NIKKEI 225

    37,523.59
    -556.11 (-1.46%)
     

Stadia users can now unlock their controller’s Bluetooth

But you may want to wait until Stadia shuts down tomorrow night.

Will Shanklin
·Contributing Reporter
·2-min read
Jessica Conditt / Engadget

Google has released the online tool it promised to enable Bluetooth support on the Stadia controller. This gives the cloud-streaming gamepad a second life, so owners can use it with PC, iOS or Android devices, preventing the platform’s central accessory from becoming a glorified paperweight. Stadia will shut its doors for good on Wednesday at 11:59 PM PT.

Owners of the Stadia controller can visit this web-based tool to unlock Bluetooth. The process is quick, simple and easy to follow. First, you’ll need to connect your controller to your computer using a USB-C cable and ensure it’s charged to at least 10 percent. Then, you can open the tool in Chrome and follow the website’s instructions.

Google announced in September that it would shut down its cloud gaming service. It refunded all game and hardware transactions starting in November, and several game studios stepped in to assist with porting progress. For example, IO interactive released a promised Progression Carryover tool for Hitman players, and Ubisoft is offering free PC copies of its games purchased through Stadia.

I dusted off my Stadia controller to test out the tool. After half an hour of charging (it had been in a box for two years), I connected it to my MacBook, fired up Chrome and had no problems completing the process. After finishing, you can hold down the Stadia button and the ‘Y’ button to pair it with compatible devices.

The Bluetooth tool disables the controller’s WiFi, required for Stadia gameplay, so you may want to wait until after the closure if there's a chance you’ll want to play one last time. You could even seize the opportunity to try the Worm Game Google released last week as a “thanks” to its loyal users. Stadia had its share of enthusiastic and dedicated fans; they just fell short of the numbers needed to keep the service afloat.