Google Stadia is getting a feature that will allow users to use their smartphone as a controller. That reports 9to5Google, which published a hands-on with the feature. The Phone Link feature will be available for Chromecast Ultra, Google TV and Android TV.
Users with a Chromecast Ultra, Chromecast with Google TV or supported Android TV device can enable Phone Link via the Stadia app on their smartphone, 9to5Google writes. Users can connect their smartphone to their device via the controller menu in that app, and use it as a controller. Stadia players get to see all the necessary buttons on their smartphone screen, including digital thumbsticks, a d-pad and ‘shoulder buttons’.
The Phone Link feature doesn’t just let users use the smartphone itself as a controller; Stadia players can also connect controllers that are not officially supported by the service through the feature. Most controllers are already supported in the web version of Google Stadia, but do not yet work on TVs via Google TV or Android TV.
The process for this is not complicated, according to 9to5Google; users can connect their controller to their smartphone via, among other things. Wired controllers are also supported, for example via a USB-A to USB-C adapter. Users can connect their controller to their Chromecast, Google TV or Android TV device via the Stadia app, just as they would with their smartphone. Users must leave the Stadia app open on their smartphone while using the controller.