Google offers refunds after adding games to the Stadia Pro subscription just two weeks after putting them on sale
But you have to request it manually.
Google has offered refunds to anyone who has already bought a game just added to the £8.99-a-month Stadia Pro subscription.
Overnight, Google announced two new games available for Stadia Pro subscribers for the month of December: Farming Simulator 19 and Tomb: Raider Definitive Edition.
Both games go live at 5pm UK time on 1st December, and bring the total number of Stadia Pro titles to four (Destiny 2: The Collection and Samurai Shodown are already on there).
The problem is, Farming Simulator 19 (£29.99) and Tomb: Raider: Definitive Edition (on sale at £8) were Stadia launch titles (yes, you have to buy Stadia games on top of the cost of the Stadia Pro subscription). Some Stadia owners, who are by default currently Stadia Pro subscribers because of the three months thrown in with the Founder's Edition, bought these games - and just two weeks later Google is making them available to all Stadia owners for free.
Perhaps mindful of a potential backlash, Google is offering refunds.
"We know that some users have recently purchased these two games for their collection," wrote google community manager Grace. "Because of the proximity between the launch of the platform, and the announcement of these titles in Stadia Pro, we're happy to assist you if you'd like to request a refund if you have purchased either or both of these titles, even if it's outside of our normal policy."
While it's good to see Google offer its customers a refund on this, it feels like it should be an automatic thing, rather than something people need to manually request. If you do want a refund, head over to Google's Support website.
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Stadia Pro is in desperate need of games before its three months free period expires, so expect Google to add a chunk of games to it over the coming months. Of course, other platforms run into this same issue: Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus subscribers often lament the addition of free games to their subscriptions if they've recently bought the incoming titles - but both those platforms at least give a month's notice.
I do not expect Google will offer a refund of this kind again but I do expect it to announce Stadia Pro games at least one month in advance from now on.