In a bid to reduce the waste Google will produce for its gaming peripherals, the Stadia Controller Salvage Operation is extending its service to the world, allowing its owners to convert their gaming devices. Through this service, the app will convert the Stadia Controllers to work as a generic Bluetooth controller for various gaming platforms and devices, available until next year.
Google Extends Stadia Controller Salvage Operation for All
Wario64 spotted an announcement from Google about the status of the Stadia Controller Salvage Operation, with Google extending the program for all. Initially, it was supposed to end on the last day of the year, December 31, 2023, but the company took it upon itself to extend the program for all.
The Google Stadia Controller Salvage Operation is an app that will help convert the initially exclusive controller into a generic Bluetooth controller in the market.
According to Google, users may opt to download the app, 'Switch to Bluetooth Mode', until December 31, 2024, extending it to more than a year for the process. This app is a web service from Google, and it will help change its setup where users may opt to use it for other consoles, platforms, and the like.
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Convert your Stadia Controller Until Next Year
Through Google's Stadia Controller Salvage Operation, users may switch to Bluetooth mode permanently, with the Mountain View giant installing a software update for the wireless controller via Chrome 108 or later. Users may still use the peripheral for wired USB connections, alongside Bluetooth's wireless.
Converting your Stadia controller to feature Bluetooth mode would help avoid the need to throw away the peripheral and add to the waste, the same as what Google devised when it first offered the switch.
Google and its Defunct Stadia Platform
Back in November 2022, Google started to offer refunds to its customers under the Stadia program, particularly for those who bought games via the platform, as it faced a shutdown. Fast forward to several months later, Google killed the Stadia cloud gaming platform by January 2023, leading players to try out other streaming services with several partnerships available.
Apart from the cloud gaming service, Google also delivered its final push for its customers to get their value for money on earlier-bought hardware, particularly with the Stadia Controller. The Stadia Controller Bluetooth Support app arrived after the platform was shut down, and it offered a way for owners to use the same controller without the need to use Stadia.
However, this tool was only promised until December 2023 when Google first announced it, meaning that those who are still using it or those who forgot to convert it would already run out of time now. There is good news though, as Google has taken it upon itself to extend the Stadia Controller Salvage Operation until December 31, 2024, giving users more time to change it into a regular controller.