Google made a surprise announcement today: it’s making Stadia available for free for the next two months. The offer will allow users to play games like Destiny 2: The Collection for free on Stadia.

The main reason behind the offer is to keep people connected with each other during the coronavirus outbreak. “We’re facing some of the most challenging times in recent memory. Keeping social distance is vital, but staying home for long periods can be difficult and feel isolating,” said Google.

Google is making Stadia free for two months in 14 countries. “Video games can be a valuable way to socialize with friends and family when you’re stuck at home, so we’re giving gamers in 14 countries free access to Stadia for two months,” added Phil Harrison, Vice President at Google Stadia.

The offer will give users access to Stadia Pro for free for two months. That means you will instantly get access to nine games, including Destiny 2: The Collection, Thumper, and GRID. Users will also be able to purchase their own games from the Stadia Store, which they will continue to own even after the offer expires.

Google also isn’t charging existing Stadia Pro subscribers for the next two months. After the two months, however, Stadia Pro will go back to its $9.99 a month pricing.

The company is also working on a new “temporary” feature that will change the screen resolution for games from 4K to 1080P in an effort to reduce the load on the internet due to increased demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak.

Tagged with Stadia, Stadia Pro