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Stadia’s content slate is absolutely packed this week with new game releases on the platform, a handful of great Stadia Pro games and more Summer of Games sale discounts! Don’t forget, you can also opt-in to the experimental feature that allows you to play Stadia over your phone connection without Wifi! There’s a lot to go over today, so let’s see what’s available now and what will be available to you later this month. As always, please let us know in the comments what you’re most excited for.
August Stadia Pro Games
Strange Brigade
Egypt, the 1930’s. Erased from ancient history and buried in a nameless tomb for 4,000 years, Seteki the Witch Queen has risen once again. Only one troop of daring heroes can stand against the fearsome power of Seteki and her army of mummified monstrosities: The Strange Brigade!
I initially played Strange Brigade on my PS4 a few months ago. I love the Mummy x Uncharted x League of Extraordinary Gentlemen vibe it has and I was very surprised to find myself playing hours after installing it. If you’ve played the Left 4 Dead series at all, this has a similarly addicting game loop, but in my opinion, with a better aesthetic and setting.
KONA
Northern Canada, 1970. A strange blizzard ravages Atamipek Lake. Step into the shoes of private detective Carl Faubert to explore the desolate village, investigate surreal events, and battle the frigid elements. KONA is a game submerged in mystery and intrigue, one with a spine-tingling narrative and unflinching drama that unfolds building the tension throughout.
To be honest, I’ve never given KONA a look until now. I’m very big on narrative adventures, detective mysteries and thrillers and this seems to combine them all into one. I imagine it’s a shorter adventure, so I’m glad I won’t have to install it to play! This is a game I will likely record gameplay for.
Metro 2033 Redux
In 2013 the world was devastated by an apocalyptic event, annihilating almost all mankind and turning the Earth’s surface into a poisonous wasteland. A handful of survivors took refuge in the depths of the Moscow underground, and human civilization entered a new Dark Age. The year is 2033.
Metro 2033 Redux is the definitive version of the cult classic ‘Metro 2033’, rebuilt in the latest and greatest iteration of the 4A Engine for Next Gen. Fans of the original game will find the unique world of Metro transformed with incredible lighting, physics and dynamic weather effects. Newcomers will get the chance to experience one of the finest story-driven shooters of all time; an epic adventure combining gripping survival horror, exploration and tactical combat and stealth.
Steam
All the gameplay improvements and features from the acclaimed sequel ‘Metro: Last Light’ have been transferred to Metro 2033 Redux – superior AI, controls, animation, weapon handling and many more – to create a thrilling experience for newcomers and veterans alike. With two unique play-styles, and the legendary Ranger Mode included, Metro 2033 Redux offers hours of AAA gameplay for an incredible price.
I enjoyed what I played of the Metro series on Stadia so far, but I was quickly wisked away by other offerings. When will we have enough Metro titles on Stadia? Deep Silver’s effort is fantastic though, so I’m not complaining. I’ll have to sit down with this and get into the story sooner rather than later.
Just Shapes & Beats
Just Shapes & Beats, the game about shapes, and beats. It’s a new spin on the shoot ’em up genre, adding a layer of cooperation that’s at the core of the game because everything is better with friends. Play alone or with up to four players, local or online, through the game’s Story Mode or Challenge Runs. You do you, man.
Watching the Just Shapes & Beats Stadia trailer is currently making me question what the heck just happened to my eyes and my brain. There’s no way they don’t have an epilepsy warning before this game, right? I’ll play anything that makes me tap my feet or bob my head though! I’m just not entirely certain what the gameplay loop is without playing, as it seems to have several objectives and mechanics.
Rock of Ages III
Rock of Ages 3: Make & Break is competitive tower defense and arcade action rolled up with ACE Team’s quirky, Monty Python-esque humor into one giant, creative game for the ages.
Rock of Ages III, unlike the rest of the titles on this list, will NOT be launching on Stadia on August 1st. If you’re a Pro subscriber, you’ll have to wait until August 14th to dive in to this wacky, rolling tower defense game. I am not that excited about this game, personally, but from all the hype on the web about it coming to Stadia, I suppose this is something I need to at least try, especially as it will be given to me!
New content on Stadia
Celeste
Welcome to Celeste, the award-winning platformer about friendship, failure, and confronting ourselves. And also gathering strawberries. It’s simply one of the best video games in years, and it’s on Stadia right now. Purchase Celeste for $19.99 USD in the Stadia store beginning today, July 28.
Orcs Must Die 3
Orcs Must Die! 3 ushers orc-slaying mayhem to a previously unimaginable scale. All new War Scenarios pit players and their friends against the largest orc armies ever assembled. Mountable War Machines give players the essential firepower to heave, stab, carbonize, and disarticulate the abominable intruders. Orcs Must Die! 3 is the long-awaited successor to the award-winning series.
Robot Entertainment
PUBG Season 8
PUBG Season 8 hits Stadia on July 30, 2020. You can view the patch notes as it contains a ton of completely overhauled maps, a new Loot Truck, a handful of balance updates to Sanhok, remastered weather effects and more!
A new Survivor Pass called Payback lets you earn nearly 100 new skins as you explore the remastered island of Sanhok. You can complete special missions to unlock unique weapon skins and face paints too. XP that can be earned through playing and surviving has also been increased up to 7200 per day just by playing the game.
Last Chance to Claim Zombie Army 4: Dead War
The end of this month is also your last chance to claim the chilling Zombie Army 4: Dead War free with Stadia Pro. Pick up Zombie Army 4 before August 1 and you can keep it as long as you have a Pro subscription. After August 1, Zombie Army 4: Dead War will still be available to purchase in the Stadia store.
Stadia Community Blog
Similar to Strange Brigade, Zombie Army is a game that I can’t put down. I know I keep drawing the comparison to Left 4 Dead, but they’re all just so addicting! You’d seriously be doing yourself a disservice by not at least adding this to your Pro library before tomorrow as you may become interested in it in time, even if you’re not right now!
The Summer of Games Sale
Deals for Stadia Pro Subscribers
- Assassin’’s Creed® Odyssey for $19.80 USD
- Mortal Kombat 11 for $25 USD
- Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath for $27.99 USD
- Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath Kollection for $41.99 USD
- NBA 2K20 Legend Edition for $25 USD
- The Crew 2 for $15 USD
- The Crew 2 – Gold Edition for $19.80 USD
- Trials Rising for $10 USD
Deals for Everyone Else
- Lost Words: Beyond the Page for $11.99 USD
- Mortal Kombat 11 for $29.99 USD
- Mortal Kombat 11 Aftermath Kollection for $47.99 USD
- NBA 2K20 for $19.80 USD
- NBA 2K20 Digital Deluxe for $24 USD
- Red Dead Redemption 2 for $47.99 USD
- Red Dead Redemption 2 Special Edition for $53.59 USD
- The Crew 2 for $25 USD
- The Crew 2 – Gold Edition for $45 USD
- Trials Rising for $12.50 USD
