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Google Stadia Users: Stadia Controller Update: Unlock Bluetooth Mode

35 250 January 13, 2023 at 01:40 PM in Video Games Stadia
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Promoted 01-18-2023 by slickdewmaster | Staff at 11:07 AM View Original Post
Google is offering Google Stadia Users: Stadia Controller Update to Unlock Bluetooth Mode in Stadia Controllers for Free.

Thanks community member buell for sharing this deal
  • Note, click "Switch to Bluetooth Mode" to begin the Update
About this Update:
  • Switching to Bluetooth mode downloads a software update
  • System requirements: Chrome 108 or newer
  • Once you switch your controller to Bluetooth mode, you can't change it back to use Wi-Fi on Stadia. You can still play wired with USB in Bluetooth mode.
  • You can switch to Bluetooth mode, check the controller mode, and check for Bluetooth updates until Dec 31, 2023.
F.A.Qs:
  • How do I pair my controller using Bluetooth?
    • After switching your controller into Bluetooth mode, press and hold the "Y + Stadia" buttons for 2 seconds to enter pairing mode. The status light will flash orange.
    • Then, go to the device you want to play on and pair your controller in the settings. Once paired and connected, the status light on the controller will turn solid white.
  • List of Supported Devices
  • For Additional F.A.Qs, click here.
Google Stadia Users: Stadia Controller Update: Unlock Bluetooth Mode Free (valid thru 12/31/23)
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Original Post

Edited January 17, 2023 at 05:19 PM by SliQwick
Awesome news from Stadia team, they are adding the Bluetooth functionality on the controller.


update: the tool is here:


https://stadia.google.com/controller/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Stadia/c...utm_conten
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Featured Comments

Wow, big ups to google for doing this. I had seen it recommended by the community but to see them listen is pretty awesome.
·
Hey there Stadians.

You might have seen one last game arrive on Stadia today. It's a humble ❤️ thanks ❤️ for playing from our team.

Find it here: https://stadia.google.com/game/worm-game

In addition, many of you have expressed the desire to enable Bluetooth on the Stadia controller. We have some good news: next week we'll be releasing a self-serve tool to enable Bluetooth connections on your Stadia Controller. We'll share details next week on how to enable this feature.

https://community.stadia.com/t5/S...rue#M34875
·
R.I.P Stadia. Man, it's sad how Google products expire so fast.
·

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Joined Mar 2004
L7: Teacher
> bubble2 2,012 Posts
340 Reputation
F-Zero
01-22-2023 at 09:25 AM.
01-22-2023 at 09:25 AM.
Quote from BargainJohn :
Looks like 8bitdo doesn't support BLE based on this:
​Note: Xbox Bluetooth controllers on the latest firmware released in Sep, 2021 are NOT supported any longer, due to their bluetooth change from Classic to BLE.
I think 8bitdo 2 does: https://www.8bitdo.com/wireless-usb-adapter-2/

Connectivity
Bluetooth ® 4.0 ( Support Bluetooth LE )
Reply
Joined Jun 2006
L5: Journeyman
> bubble2 903 Posts
462 Reputation
Pro
Penguina
01-22-2023 at 12:45 PM.
01-22-2023 at 12:45 PM.
Too bad there is no unlock mode for OnHub Router -- or every other product they abandoned but still had some usefulness
Reply
Joined Nov 2011
Human-Being
> bubble2 137 Posts
27 Reputation
redraccoonz
01-22-2023 at 07:16 PM.
01-22-2023 at 07:16 PM.
Quote from F-Zero :
Oh - you mean:

Windows 10 and 11 + Steam
MacOS® 13 + Steam
ChromeOS
Android
Dang doesn't even work on MacOS yet, just tried! I think it works for iOS but haven't tried yet.
Reply
Joined Nov 2011
Human-Being
> bubble2 137 Posts
27 Reputation
redraccoonz
01-22-2023 at 07:18 PM.
01-22-2023 at 07:18 PM.
Quote from rw802 :
Can pair with Apple TV but buttons don't work.
Seconded. Frown Wanted to use this for Apple TV... perhaps sometime later.
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Joined Apr 2019
L3: Novice
> bubble2 190 Posts
67 Reputation
SaturnFire
01-23-2023 at 05:39 AM.
01-23-2023 at 05:39 AM.
oh well. After I got my refund from google...I waited a few days then, unfortunately, did some Winter cleaning and tossed this along with my Nvidia Shield TV controller that I have never used.
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Joined Oct 2013
L1: Learner
> bubble2 41 Posts
10 Reputation
jestermx6
01-23-2023 at 07:04 AM.
01-23-2023 at 07:04 AM.
Big sincere thanks for this. Loved the controller so I'm glad to see it doesn't have to turn into a paper weight.

Also it's always entertaining to see the google haters especially mad because now the early adopters have a free BT controller and 4k Chromecast
Reply
Joined Sep 2015
L3: Novice
> bubble2 234 Posts
34 Reputation
Bigburito
01-23-2023 at 12:07 PM.
01-23-2023 at 12:07 PM.
Quote from nikoli707 :
We're going to lose YouTube, Gmail, and Android all in the span of a few years. Google cancels everything. edit:. why so many downvotes wow, you really think these services will last?
Because Google only shuts down things that are not smash hits.Youtube, Gmail, and Android make google obscene amounts of money.
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Joined Feb 2006
L6: Expert
> bubble2 1,774 Posts
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Shadow Rider
01-23-2023 at 11:01 PM.
01-23-2023 at 11:01 PM.
What happens if we don't switch by end of 2023? Is it just a placeholder?
Reply
Joined Oct 2013
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 444 Posts
50 Reputation
eNaRDe
01-24-2023 at 07:11 AM.
01-24-2023 at 07:11 AM.
I'm not to familiar with this controller but why wasn't this enabled in the first place? I'm confused.
1
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Joined Feb 2014
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 619 Posts
62 Reputation
Disposed
01-24-2023 at 12:38 PM.
01-24-2023 at 12:38 PM.
Quote from ImaPuppy :
Wow, big ups to google for doing this. I had seen it recommended by the community but to see them listen is pretty awesome.
If we are being honest this was their only logical play. The alternative was turning perfectly good peripherals into useless garbage.

They never should have had it locked down to begin with. Praising them for unlocking what never should have been locked down in the first place is pretty weak. People have been asking for the controllers to be unlocked since day 1, they only listened after they shuttered the service and had a potential e-waste scandal hanging over their heads as a result.
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Joined Feb 2014
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 619 Posts
62 Reputation
Disposed
01-24-2023 at 12:41 PM.
01-24-2023 at 12:41 PM.
Quote from nikoli707 :
We're going to lose YouTube, Gmail, and Android all in the span of a few years. Google cancels everything. edit:. why so many downvotes wow, you really think these services will last?
Yes, those 3 specific services will last... You would have to be completely brain dead to think they would shut down Gmail, Android or Youtube in any foreseeable future. The services you used where pretty dumb examples.
1
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Joined Feb 2014
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 619 Posts
62 Reputation
Disposed
01-24-2023 at 12:45 PM.
01-24-2023 at 12:45 PM.
Quote from eNaRDe :
I'm not to familiar with this controller but why wasn't this enabled in the first place? I'm confused.
Exactly, everyone here is cupping Googles balls for this when the truth is it should have never been locked down to begin with.

Google only said they would unlock them after a bunch of news sites ran articles about them potentially turning these controllers into E-waste for no reason. Prior to that its been a hard no when they where asked to unlock Bluetooth on these controllers.
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Joined Jun 2018
L100: Shopaholic
> bubble2 40 Posts
14 Reputation
Joecascio2000
01-25-2023 at 11:22 PM.
01-25-2023 at 11:22 PM.
Quote from Disposed :
Exactly, everyone here is cupping Googles balls for this when the truth is it should have never been locked down to begin with.

Google only said they would unlock them after a bunch of news sites ran articles about them potentially turning these controllers into E-waste for no reason. Prior to that its been a hard no when they where asked to unlock Bluetooth on these controllers.
Spoken like someone that doesn't understand business decisions. The answer is very simple: the stadia controller is designed to be used with stadia. For the best experience, the stadia controller used wifi to lessen latency with the service. Using the stadia controller in BT mode to play on stadia would lead to a worse experience. So, why, as a business, would you offer and support something that makes your service worse? So the controller can be used on PCs, Xbox, and PlayStation? Why. So now you need to program for all those too? And your customer support get's slammed with tickets because of suboptimal performance on things that are not stadia. It literally makes NO sense from a business standpoint.
1
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Joined Feb 2014
L4: Apprentice
> bubble2 619 Posts
62 Reputation
Disposed
01-28-2023 at 12:40 PM.
01-28-2023 at 12:40 PM.
Quote :
Quote from Joecascio2000 :
Spoken like someone that doesn't understand business decisions. The answer is very simple: the stadia controller is designed to be used with stadia. For the best experience, the stadia controller used wifi to lessen latency with the service. Using the stadia controller in BT mode to play on stadia would lead to a worse experience. So, why, as a business, would you offer and support something that makes your service worse? So the controller can be used on PCs, Xbox, and PlayStation? Why. So now you need to program for all those too? And your customer support get's slammed with tickets because of suboptimal performance on things that are not stadia.
Back here in reality every single console manufacturer has had unlocked Bluetooth in their controllers for more than a decade. None of them offer any sort of support and neither would google so the support argument is just dumb.

There is nothing needed to program, thats another dumb argument. Microsoft already created the APIs for this.

All google had to do was enable the feature in the firmware that they disabled themselves and it worked because Microsoft already did all that programming for them.

No extra coding necessary, no support, no worse experience for the stadia because the stadia would continue to use wifi. Every single reason you gave is made up nonsense. You clearly have no clue what you are talking about. Not even a little bit.
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Joined Sep 2004
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> bubble2 48,384 Posts
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SlickDealio
02-03-2023 at 07:28 PM.
02-03-2023 at 07:28 PM.
After updating my Stadia controller to bluetooth, I was able to pair the controller with my Fire TV. It works w/ Luna now. Prime Members can play some free games each month. Plus if you have some Ubisoft games you can play those via Luna on Fire TV too.
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