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Google has taken a big step into the video game market with a service that some have likened to a Netflix for games.

Stadia is a service for streaming and playing games without needing to own a hard copy or even a console. Google announced that it would offer 22 games when the service launches this week, nearly double the number of titles it had previously said would be available.

While Sony’s Playstation Now service, for example, only works on PC and console, Google’s Stadia supports a wider mix of platforms. Stadia works on TVs with a Chromecast Ultra dongle* as well as on most computers with a Chrome browser and on newer Pixel phones. More devices are slated to be added in 2020.

People will have to buy a special subscription bundle if they want to play on Stadia this year. The US$129.99 Premiere Edition will include a Stadia controller, a Chromecast dongle, three months of a Stadia streaming subscription and a free pass so a friend can also play for three months. The company is currently taking pre-orders for the Premiere Edition.

Next year, Google will release another streaming subscription option called Stadia Pro, which will cost US$9.99 a month and include a rotating free game, as well as discounts for purchasing select individual titles. The company will also offer a free-to-play version of Stadia with a lower resolution.

The games available at launch include “Red Dead Redemption 2,” “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey,” “Just Dance 2020,” and three “Tomb Raider” games.

Google is also making its own games through its Stadia Games and Entertainment studio. It’s headed by Jade Raymond, a Google VP who previously worked at Sony, Electronic Arts and Ubisoft. Harrison confirmed that original content could be available starting next year.

The Google Stadia gaming system controller comes in white, black and green colors.(SD-Agencies)