Tech giant Google moves to have the Google Stadia multiplayer feature accessible without invites. The new feature has been rolled out early in November 2021 and players who use the platform can’t get enough.
There has been no official statement from Google about the new multiplayer feature prior to the rollout, but according to its support page, the number of players who can play a Stadia game depends on the game itself. This is relevant considering some games cap the number of players it will allow in a session. Google says it will support any title that offers multiplayer function “as well as couch-based co-op and single-player titles.” Google affirms Google Stadia will support up to four game controllers as well.
How Does Google Stadia Multiplayer Work?
Google has quietly added the no-invite multiplayer feature on their cloud gaming platform following gradual updates in the past months. This has been a clamor among Stadia users for a time now and, thankfully, Google listened.
It has taken time for Google to incorporate the multiplayer support for Stadia while it has been available for a while now in most PC and console platforms. Nonetheless, players can now access the Google Stadia Multiplayer function automatically from their supported devices without going through the loops and menus as before. Furthermore, players can check if the feature is available on the game’s support page.
In a statement, however, Google maintains the feature is only available on select games with the multiplayer feature set to disable by default. To enable it, go into your privacy settings under “Your activity“. Select “Current game” and turn on “Join your current game“. Choose All players or Friends to specify who can join the game session.
Additionally, as the host of the session, you can stop other players from participating in a session. Simply go to the privacy setting interface and select “Your activity”. Select “Current game” and then turn off “Join your current game”.
The multiplayer support without an invite is available in the official Stadia app for Android and web platforms that support the feature that runs on the iOS environment.
Is the Multiplayer Feature Global?
Google Stadia’s availability as of this writing is limited to the following countries:
- United States
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- France
- Italy
- Germany
- Austria
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- Denmark
- Norway
- Finland
- Belgium
- Ireland
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Czech Republic
- Slovakia
- Romania
- Hungary
While Google did not specifically state whether the multiplayer function is available on all these locations, players can assume the feature to be available depending on the game. This also mirrors Google’s statement on the feature’s availability.
We can only assume that Google is working to further elevate its gaming platform and make accessibility wider. When? We’ll just have to wait for further announcements from Google.
Which Games Support the Feature?
Although players can now enjoy access to Stadia’s multiplayer feature even without an invite, it does not mean the feature is available across the board. Google maintains Stadia is still limited to some games despite the effort to continuously add more features to the Stadia platform.
Some Stadia games that are supported by the local multiplayer feature are the following:
- Football Manager 2020
- Just Dance 2020
- Mortal Kombat 11
- NBA 2K20
- Dragon Ball Xenoverse 2
Meanwhile, some players also say the feature is now live for Far Cry 6 on Stadia with further confirmations on the game’s support page. Moreover, you can check Google Stadia’s website for a full list of games and games supporting multiplayer mode.
