Google Offers Free 2 Months Of Stadia Pro, Game Spending In The US Has Increased Due To COVID-19

Here we are again for your daily dose of game-related COVID-19 news. Google is offering Stadia Pro for free for the next two months to encourage people to stay at home and prevent the further spread of the virus. All you need is a Gmail account to access the free games currently available on the game streaming service, including Destiny 2. “Video games can be a valuable way to socialize with friends and family when you’re stuck at home, so we’re giving gamers in 14 countries free access to Stadia for two months,” says Google Stadia Head Phil Harrison.

In the meantime, Google says that they will be reducing the platforms streaming resolution from 4k to 1080p in order to accommodate the influx of new players. A subscription to Stadia Pro will normally set you back $10. After two months, free trial accounts will revert back to a free Stadia subscription which will allow players to purchase and stream games at a lower resolution. Keep in mind that you have to you have to cancel your subscription after two months to avoid getting charged.

Meanwhile, Nielsen Games-owned video game statistics tracker, SuperData, reports that over 45% of gamers in the US are spending more time playing games due to the pandemic.

“There are two main reasons people are turning to games right now,” says SuperData Principal Analyst Carter Rogers. “The first is that games are one of the few entertainment options available since COVID-19 has affected them less than many other forms of entertainment. Even if notable titles like The Last of Us Part II have been delayed, there has been less disruption to gaming than to things like movie theaters, sports and other events.”

Nielsen Games also reports that 39% of gamers in the US are now spending more on games, the majority of which is spent on purchasing digital copies of games. “We have definitely seen high spending on games in the short term, and expect this trend to continue for a bit longer,” says Rogers. The popularity of game streamers has also increased since last month. According to GameDaily.biz, Twitch viewership has increased by 10% and YouTube by 15% due to worldwide lockdowns and quarantines.

Watch the latest COVID-19 video from the World Health Organization below.