Madden 21 Google Stadia Release Date: EA Reveals Cloud Game Launch, Free Trial Offer
The excitement of Madden 21 will hit the Google Stadia platform just ahead of the weekend. EA released details of the game’s arrival for the cloud gaming service on Monday along with news about the virtual Pro Bowl. The game will not only arrive on Stadia but will be there free for a limited time. It will also be free on other platforms to celebrate the NFL Pro Bowl.
Madden 21 Google Stadia release date revealed with free trial offer
The popular EA football simulation title, Madden 21, has an official Google Stadia release date of Thursday, January 28. In EA’s press release, they revealed that Madden becomes the first-ever game based on the Frostbite engine to go onto the Stadia platform.
The title will launch for free on the platform for three days, with the trial offer set to expire on January 31. That’s the same day that the Madden 21 Pro Bowl event takes place featuring hip-hop star Snoop Dogg, NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, and several NFL stars. They’ll include Deshaun Watson, Kyler Murray, Derrick Henry, and Marshawn Lynch.
The game is not only free for those three days on Google Stadia, but also on all other platforms. After the trial ends, gamers will need to purchase the title. In addition, EA has indicated that Madden NFL 21: Superstar Edition will be available at a 60 percent discount of the regular price until February 8th.
Currently, Madden 21 is available on the current-generation PlayStation 4 and Xbox One platforms. Updated versions of the game arrived on the next-generation PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S systems in late 2020.
Google Stadia system and cloud gaming details
With Google Stadia, gamers basically get a streaming service. Some have likened it to a Netflix for video games. It is all cloud gaming, where gamers simply purchase the Stadia controller along with game titles or a monthly subscription package. A controller allows for playing games on multiple devices including mobile phones, tablets, computers, and Google Chromecast, among other options.
It’s not quite the same as traditional video game platforms, but it could be the future of gaming. At the very least, it seems to be something that Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo are probably investigating heavily as they transition their platforms into the future. Having games hosted on servers in the cloud rather than making gamers figure out how to store them all on a storage drive is quite beneficial.
A Google standard Stadia controller sells for $69 through the Google Store. There’s also a Premiere Edition available for $99.99. That adds the Google Chromecast Ultra to use for streaming and playing games through a television.
Gamers can sign up to try a Stadia Pro membership free for one month. After the one-month trial ends, it costs $9.99 per month. The subscription gives gamers access to a library of free titles through the cloud. In addition to Madden 21 on Google Stadia starting January 28, there are a wide variety of other titles to play through the cloud service. Those available games include Destiny 2, Hitman 2, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Cyberpunk 2077.
Other titles are available for purchase. Once a game is purchased, it’s part of the gamer’s library for use without any downloading or updating needed to enjoy the title with Google Stadia. See a full list of games here.
Visit our Madden news page for more of the latest game updates.