The days of consoles and gaming PCs are numbered! I’m sure you’ve heard that one before, right? Nowadays it seems that every big company is trying to hop on that train - you’ve got your Google Stadia, arguably the most ambitious cloud gaming project, then there’s Microsoft xCloud, Nvidia GeForce Now, Playstation Now, Steam Remote Play, and a bunch of other less popular names.
Well, guess what? There’s a new kid on the block and it’s a rich and famous one - Amazon. The retail giant is launching its own cloud gaming service called Luna.
As per the description on the Amazon Luna help page “Luna is a cloud gaming service that lets you play games on compatible Fire TV, Windows PC, and Mac devices as well as through web apps on iPhones, iPads and select Android phones.” Just like with other cloud gaming services, Luna requires a good internet connection (10Mpbs) in order to deliver the best gaming experience.
The main difference between Luna and Stadia is that instead of buying games, with Luna you subscribe to channels. There are only two channels at the moment - Luna+ and Ubisoft+, both offering a 1080p/60Hz gaming experience (with 4K on the way). The service is in closed beta now in the US and you must receive an invitation to participate.
How much does it cost?
Luna+ costs $5.99/mo and offers 50 titles - you’ve probably never heard most of the titles - but you do get some big ones, such as Control, Metro Exodus, GRID.
The Ubisoft+ channel subscription will set you back $14.99/mo but as you might’ve guessed, it gives you access to Ubisoft games, including Assassin's Creed Valhalla (Odyssey, Origins, and Syndicate are also available), Far Cry 5, Watch Dogs, The Division and more.
Amazon Luna controller
What’s a cloud gaming service without a dedicated controller, right? Behold the Luna controller. It connects directly to your wifi and features Bluetooth and a USB-C connection for gaming on PC, Mac, Fire TV, and iOS mobile devices. Plus, its design closely resembles that of the Xbox controller, which is not a bad thing at all.
The slightly disappointing thing is that the controller operates on two replaceable AA batteries which you’ll need to change from time to time. Amazon claims that the Luna controller offers low-latency gameplay and it connects to 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi networks. The price of the thing is $49.99 but you can’t buy it unless you’re enrolled in the early access program.
Amazon Luna supported devices
There are various ways to play Luna games - you can install the service on Windows or Mac systems (Windows 10/OS X 10.13+ required), you can play on Fire TV Devices, use iOS14 phones and tablets, and also Android phones sporting version 9 or higher. Here’s a list of all Android phones that are officially supported:
Google Pixel
Pixel 3
Pixel 3 XL
Pixel 3a
Pixel 3a XL
Pixel 4 XL
Pixel 4a
Pixel 4a 5G
Pixel 5
Samsung
Galaxy S9
Galaxy S9 Plus
Galaxy Note 9
Galaxy S10
Galaxy S10 Plus
Galaxy Note 10
Galaxy Note 10 Plus
Galaxy S20
Galaxy S20 Plus
Galaxy S20 Ultra
Galaxy Note 20
OnePlus
OnePlus 7
OnePlus 7 Pro
OnePlus 7 Pro 5G
OnePlus 7T
OnePlus 7T Pro
OnePlus 7T Pro 5G
OnePlus 8
OnePlus 8 Pro
OnePlus Nord
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List of Amazon Luna games
Here’s the full list of Luna games included in the early access program. The interesting thing is that Amazon is matching Google’s initial ambitions to develop its own games for Stadia. Amazon is doing this under Amazon Game Studios and the first two titles that are in the works are a battle royale game called Crucible and an open world MMO called New World.
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Amazon Luna release date
There's no official release date at the moment, the service is in closed beta. The only way to participate is to receive an invitation. Stay tuned for updates!
Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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