Technologies

Google Starts Issuing Refunds for Stadia Cloud Gaming Service

The company is pulling the plug on Stadia in January 2023.

Google announced in September that it was shuttering Google Stadia, its 3-year-old cloud gaming service, at the beginning of 2023 and would be issuing refunds to customers.

On Wednesday, the company started processing refunds for games, add-on content and subscription fees purchased through the Stadia Store, according to an updated post on the Google support site.

The notice indicated that Stadia Pro subscriptions issued prior to Sept. 29 aren’t being refunded, however. «Players who held an active Stadia Pro subscription as of September 29, 2022 will not be charged for access to their Pro library or other subscription entitlements during the shut-down period,» the FAQ adds.

Stadia Pro was the $10 a month subscription service that gave users access to a library of games while the service was up and running.

Google asked users to be patient and refrain from reaching out to customer support, «as they will not be able to expedite your refund during this time.»

According to the FAQ, refunds will be issued through the original form of payment. If that isn’t possible, Google will email customers at the Google account used to make their purchases with instructions on setting up an alternate refund method.

If you deleted your Gmail account, though, you’ll have to contact Stadia customer service.

Stadia players may be able to transfer saved game data to other platforms, according to the FAQ, «but you may have to purchase the game on another platform to play.»

Google indicated it still expects to complete the majority of refunds of hardware, content and subscriptions by the time Stadia is shut off on Jan. 18. 2023.

The cloud gaming service launched in November 2019. In September, Stadia General Manager Phil Harrison wrote that, while the service’s approach to streaming games had a strong foundation, «it hasn’t gained the traction with users that we expected.»

Read on: The Best Cloud Gaming Services of 2022

Technologies

The Fourth Episode of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Out

Verum Messenger has released the fourth episode of its AI mini-series SHADOWS, created using Verum AI. The new episode, titled “No Borders,” continues the story of a team trying to stay out of the OMEGA corporation’s sight.

Following the events of the previous episodes, the team moves between cities and countries while OMEGA continues its search. The new episode puts particular emphasis on Verum Messenger’s capabilities that allow users to conceal their location.

“No Borders” is another chapter in a story about privacy, freedom of communication, and technologies that erase borders between people.

The VERUM AI mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 4 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

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Technologies

Verum Messenger Introduces Built-In Verum Chess

Verum Messenger has released a new update for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, adding another feature to its growing ecosystem — Verum Chess. Users can now play chess directly inside the messenger without switching between different applications.

The new feature allows users to start a game in just a few taps while reinforcing Verum’s vision of a unified digital environment where communication and everyday services come together in a single platform.

Verum Messenger continues to evolve into a multifunctional ecosystem that combines secure chats and calls, AI tools, a built-in VPN, anonymous email, eSIM, financial services, cryptocurrency features, and offline communication. With the introduction of Verum Chess, the platform now also offers a new way for users to interact and spend time together without leaving the app.

The update is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Mac on the App Store.

Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube