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Verizon promo gives gigabit Fios customers free Google Stadia bundles
This doesn't include ongoing Stadia Premium service, however.
How do you sweeten the pot for gamers wanting extra-fast internet access? Throw in free goodies, apparently. Verizon (Engadget's parent company) is launching a promo that gives new Fios gigabit internet customers a free Google Stadia Premiere Edition bundle if they sign up through June 30th and are installed by August 1st, 2020. You'll have 4K game streaming tech that can take advantage of that fiber optic bandwidth. With that said, you'll want to think carefully about taking up that offer -- there are a couple of gotchas.
The bundle does give you a Chromecast Ultra and Stadia controller to keep, but you're getting the same three-month trial of Stadia Pro that any Premiere Edition buyer gets. You'll have to keep subscribing at $10 per month if you want Pro features beyond that, or else resign yourself to using the free 1080p tier when it's ready. You also have to use the promo code for Stadia within 60 days of receiving it, so you can't sit on the deal until there are enough games to make you happy.
This does stack on top of the Disney+ one-year deal, mind you, and you can always cancel before the Stadia Pro trial is over. Think of it as a way to flex your internet connection's muscle and wind up with a couple of goodies when all is said and done.
