Amazon enters the cloud gaming market with Luna

The world’s biggest online marketplace Amazon has revealed Luna. Similar to Google Stadia, this new cloud gaming service aims to deliver hassle-free gaming across a wide range of devices without the need to buy dedicated gaming hardware. Here’s the trailer!

After Microsoft, Sony, and Google, Amazon is now entering the cloud gaming market. Their newly revealed Luna service is pretty much what you expect. Similar to Microsoft’s xCloud, Sony’s PS Now, and Google’s Stadia, this service will offer users the ability to stream and play their games on mobile phones, tablets, notebooks, and TVs.

It’s still early days for Amazon Luna at this point, but you can sign up for a chance to be invited to Luna Early Access. During this period, the service will cost users $5.99 and include a growing list of titles. Amazon even created their own Luna Controller that’s heavily influenced by the Xbox Controller’s design that promises cloud-specific improvements. Oh, and it has Alexa included because of course it has.

No waiting for lengthy downloads or updates
Games stream directly from the cloud to your screens.
Experience gaming anywhere there’s high-speed wifi.

But that’s not all. Amazon has decided to go for a “Channel” strategy with Luna. At the moment there is only the official Luna+ channel with Ubisoft announcing their own channel to go live soon. Each channel costs extra and offers new titles and features. For example, the Ubisoft channel will allow only one device to be streamed at a single time while Luna+ allows 2 simultaneous streams. Amazon likely aims to get as many publishers as possible on board with these channels.

Amazon hasn’t unveiled the entire game catalog on Luna just yet but heavy-hitters like Control, Metro Exodus, and Resident Evil 7 have been confirmed for the early access period. It’ll be fascinating to see how successful Luna will become, especially after Stadia’s subpar performance.