Last week I made a post discussing Google’s Project Stream a new browser-based streaming service which will allow gamers to play AAA level games all through a Google Chrome browser tab. Yesterday I was lucky enough to be able to give it a try and after spending several hours with it and the game that testers got to play Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey I can’t begin to express how impressed I am with it after just a short time of use.

No you’re not seeing things, this is someone getting ready to play Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey in a browser.

Project Stream is a 2018 in-development browser-based video game streaming service, it is currently available to test via beta sign ups here (currently U.S. only) and will be made available until January 15, 2019.

Editor’s Note: Media access to Project Stream was provided by Google in support of this review. 

Editor Update: Just a heads up I mentioned in the review that you don’t need any software for a controller such as the Dual Shock 4 to be recognized by Project Stream, this is not true. I came to realize that I unknowingly had such software running while playing, apologies for the mistake.

Update #2: A Google rep reached out to me in regards to the first update and confirmed that Project Stream should auto detect controllers via usb without software being needed. I have no idea why it didn’t work the last time I tried, but it could have been due to connection issues, admittedly it did announce a connection drop after the controller failed to be recognized so who knows, but Google has confirmed the earlier info was correct.

Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey is running in Google Chrome at full 1080p;60fps folks.

If you had told me like four or five years ago that we would eventually be able to play full AAA console/PC level games in a web browser I’d probably laugh in your face uncontrollably for a few minutes. That bad gaming joke has now become a reality with Google’s Project Stream. When you think of a non-video streaming service running in a browser tab your first thought is naturally along the lines of “wouldn’t that run absolutely terrible?”. Surprisingly though, Google has by some miracle managed a stable and reliable game stream service and it’s running one of the year’s best games like a total champ.

The connection check screen for Project Stream

THE GOOD: In order to get Project Stream started you need five essential things: a desktop or laptop, a Google Chrome browser, a Dual Shock 4/Xbox Controller/keyboard & mouse/gamepad, a Uplay account which you can create & log into on Project Stream and a decent internet connect of which Google considers to be at least 15mbs down. Something rather trivial to most that I found pretty convenient is how easily plug & play the controller support is. Often times when you game on PC with a controller unless it was specifically designed for PC you often have to use a third party program for the game to read it. With Project Stream it nearly instantly recognizes your controller regardless of what it is. Just to give an example I simply plugged in my Dual Shock 4 via usb and Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey recognized it right away no extra software needed.  For those wondering, I also tested this with an Xbox One controller via usb and got the same results. I know there are many that are used to this while PC gaming or just don’t care, but for a PC gaming novice like me accessible ease is a must for something like this and it makes me appreciate the potential of Project Stream even more.

The ease of use is something rookie PC gamers will love about Project Stream.

I have to give Google huge props for going in on this project, when you consider what it’s supposed to do it’s by far one of the most stable betas I’ve ever tested and I’ve beta tested a lot of software and games over the years. Occasionally you will experience quality drops due to your connection, especially if you have several devices connected at once, but just to give you an idea of just how reliable Project Stream really is I have a total of 5+ devices running throughout the day in my current residence: a laptop, a 4K internet TV, three Rokus, and every now and then a tablet and console with services like DirecTV Now, Netflix, and YouTube running through multiple devices at a single time. Even with all of this taking the bandwidth from Project Stream once you get a connection you’re basically guaranteed to stay connected. Granted not every one Project Stream experience will be the same, even more so when you put into consideration different ISPs and speeds. However, with what I’ve experienced from my own connection dips while using Project Stream I don’t think many will have too much of an issue keeping a connection to the service active. Oh and the service also gives you full screen so you don’t have to worry about the browser itself taking away your focus or any other annoyances like that, it’ll also warn you of connection dips effecting quality as they occur.

Project Steam’s excellent stability is stunning for a beta.

THE BAD: There will be some quality dips & freezes, but do keep in mind that Project Stream is nearly completely dependent on your internet service’s overall performance.

Google’s Project Stream is a beautiful portal to the future of video games.

OVERALL THOUGHTS: I’ve given Project Stream a lot of praise, but it also sets a dark precedent for gaming, especially the console market. With so many game stream services like Playstation Now and publishers like Capcom experimenting with their own in-house game streaming on the Nintendo Switch it does seem like the industry is preparing for a console-less future and as someone who loves his game consoles that’s a very scary thought. However, if game streaming is as stable and as easy as this then maybe that won’t be so bad? Especially if you can play PC level quality with such ease. Otaku Dome gives Project Stream a 95 out of 100.