You can now unlock the Bluetooth capabilities
of your old stadia controller to play games on Google TV.
In this video, I walk you through the process step by step
so you too can enjoy Android games from the comfort of your couch.
This year, Google killed off stadia, the game streaming service
after it failed to find a regular audience.
Some of the early adopters like myself during the launch from the very beginning,
we believed in the dream of being able
to play triple-A games at max settings without the need for a high end computer.
It seemed too good to be true,
and sadly it was for various reasons that I won't go into here.
As of January 2023, it meant that early adopters like myself
now had very expensive chromecasts and well-designed stadia controllers
gathering dust.
I was able to repurpose
my stadia controller to play some PC games via a Usb-C cable.
However, Google announced that they were going to enable all owners
to unlock the Bluetooth
functionality in the stadium controller so it could be used by other devices.
This includes being able to play Android games that require a controller
on your Google TV to get started, you'll need the controller.
A computer with Chrome version 1.8 or later and a Usb-C cable.
The cable that came with the controller is ideal, but any good quality
usb-c to Usb-C or Usb-C to usb-c cable will do.
Depending on the ports on your computer.
Next visit stadia or google.com slash
controller on your computer using the Chrome browser.
Select switch to Bluetooth mode and click start.
On the next
page, accept the terms of service and call it Start again.
Connect your controller to your computer using the cable and click.
Continue.
Next, allow Chrome to verify.
You'll see a dialog pop up.
Select the Stadia controller and tap Connect.
Chrome will verify your stadia controller.
Click next step.
Unplug your controller from the USB cable.
Make sure the controller is off.
But if the light is visible around the stadia button.
Hold the stadia button down on the controller to turn it off again.
Hold the three dots button down while plugging the USB cable back in.
Make sure the light around the stadia button is still off.
Otherwise, disconnect the controller, turn it off and try again.
Next, press the three dots, button the Google assistant button,
the A1 and the wideband at the same time and hold them down.
You'll see
another dialog pop up like the one before.
Select the controller and tap connect.
Within a few seconds, the download of the new firmware will be available.
Click on next step.
Tap on.
Allow Chrome to install and select
the controller again in the pop up dialog and click Connect.
The firmware will be installed on your controller
and now you're done.
You'll now be able to pair it
with other devices just like any other Bluetooth device.
Now on your Google TV, go to the settings
by holding down the home button on the remote or navigating
to your profile picture in the top right hand corner of the screen.
Next, scroll down to remotes and accessories
and then select pair remote or accessory.
Hold down the stadia button
and the Y button on the controller to start the Bluetooth pairing process.
The light will start flashing orange
to signify it's in pairing mode.
The Google TV will spot the controller in the discoverable devices list.
Use the remote to select it and your controller is connected
and ready for you to play games.
One drawback is that Google TV has a limited amount of onboard memory
and some games won't install until you clear space.
This happens a lot to me as I have multiple streaming services on my account.
There is a way to increase storage, but I'll save that explanation
for another video.
If you're interested, let me know in the comments below.
And that's it.
Now you can download and play games to your heart's content on your couch.
Thanks for watching.
And as always, please like this video and subscribe to my channel
for more videos on the connected Home and personal technology.