Amazon has just officially launched its cross-platform video game streaming service, Amazon Luna, in the United States. With its innovative concept, Luna could well overshadow the competition.
Amazon Luna, an innovative concept
Announced in 2020, Amazon Luna has been offering an invitation-only beta since the same year. From now on, all Americans can take advantage of the new service from the company founded by Jeff Bezos, and Amazon Prime subscribers will also have access to free games: ” We’re excited to make Amazon Luna available to everyone in the United States, so they can start playing instantly on the devices they already own. We have received great feedback from our first customers which has allowed us to improve the service with regular updates, new features and an ever growing collection of fun and exciting games. “says Amazon in a blog post.
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Unlike the majority of other cloud services in the field of gaming, which offer direct purchase of games, Amazon Luna offers the possibility for players to subscribe to individual channels each month, the latter including bundles of games.
The bundles of games offered by the service
These channels include the Luna+ Channel, which ” offers a growing library of new and favorite titles, including over 100 games for all types of gamers “, it is available at 9.99 dollars per month. Amazon also offers the Family Channel for $5.99 monthly, with titles available to all family members.
For $17.99 per month, players can also subscribe to the Ubisoft+ Channel which, as the name suggests, offers unlimited access to over 35 of the iconic studio’s popular new games. This is particularly the case for Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, Far Cry 6, Immortals Fenyx Rising, Riders Republic, Watch Dogs: Legion and Rainbow Six Siege, as well as franchises like Ghost Recon and The Division.
Amazon Luna offers a free channel dedicated to Amazon Prime members. Picture: Amazon
With the official launch of its service, Amazon also announced three new channels. The first, Jackbox Games Channel, includes all eight Jackbox Party Pack titles. The company has not forgotten fans of retrogaming with the Retro Channel, which offers access to classic games such as Street Fighter II’, Metal Slug 3, or Castlevania. Both of these channels will be available for $4.99 per month.
A third new channel is introduced on Amazon Luna, this is the Prime Gaming Channel. ” Thanks to a unique offer, Amazon Prime members can now play a rotating selection of games on Luna for free via a dedicated channel. For the month of March, Prime members can play Devil May Cry 5, Observer: System Redux, PHOGS! and Flashback », Details Amazon.
Interoperability with other Amazon services can attract
In addition to these different offers, the service announces the possibility of streaming its games with a single click on Twitch, acquired by Amazon in 2014; a tab of the streamer’s face will automatically appear on the screen. The firm also explains that it is now possible ” try out Luna on Fire TV using just an iPhone or Android phone as a controller using the Luna Controller app, available as a free download from the iOS and Android app stores “.
For the time being, Amazon has not revealed when Amazon Luna will be deployed outside the United States, but it is clear that the gaming service has great potential. Based on a solid architecture, coupled with a large catalog of games and an affordable offer, it has enough to destabilize the competition, and in particular Google’s Stadia service, which has not yet met with the expected success. It is also important to note that Amazon Luna has a strong argument since it offers free titles to Amazon Prime members, in addition to not forcing a long-term commitment.