Amazon Luna: A Closer Look at Amazon's Cloud Gaming Service

Amazon Luna: A Closer Look at Amazon's Cloud Gaming Service

 

Amazon Luna, a cloud gaming service, was introduced by Amazon in 2020, but its release has been gradual since then. It took 18 months for Luna to be available to the general public in the US, and another year for international availability. The service is only available in four countries currently, but its emergence as a competitor to Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now is good news, especially after the closure of Google Stadia. This article provides an overview of Amazon Luna, including its release date, subscription cost, device compatibility, and how to join.

When was Amazon Luna released?

Luna was first revealed at an Amazon event in September 2020, but the company did not provide a release date at the time. After an extended "early access" phase, Luna was finally made available to the general public in the US in March 2022. The service launched in the UK, Canada, and Germany in March 2023, a year later. It is now available in all four countries.

How much does Amazon Luna cost?

Luna is available to everyone in the US, UK, Canada, and Germany, with a core Luna+ subscription priced at $9.99/£8.99 per month. A seven-day free trial is available. Amazon Prime subscribers can access some content without any additional charge. The Luna+ and Prime Gaming line-ups are regularly updated with a rotating selection of playable games. Ubisoft Plus, which costs $17.99/£14.99 per month, provides access to high-profile titles such as Watch Dogs: Legion, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Far Cry 6. Jackbox's party games, classic titles in the Retro channel, and a Family Channel for child-friendly games are also available.

How to join Luna

Now that Luna is out of its early access phase, signing up is easy. Just go to the Luna page on Amazon US or Amazon UK and log in to your account. Then either click "Play free with Prime" or purchase one of the other subscriptions. It's possible to cancel at any time. However, the service is only available in the US, UK, Canada, and Germany.

What will I need to play Amazon Luna?

One of Luna's main advantages is that it can be played on devices you already own. So far, the service is available on PC, Mac, Fire TV, Android (but not all devices), and iOS via a web app. At present, only specific Fire devices are compatible with Luna, while Android support is limited to a few devices. All other devices are still in early access. Windows 10 or 11 devices with DirectX 11 support are compatible with Luna.

 To recap :

- Amazon Luna is a cloud gaming service introduced by Amazon in 2020, available in four countries currently
- Luna was released to the general public in the US in March 2022 and launched in the UK, Canada, and Germany in March 2023
- Luna+ subscription is priced at $9.99/£8.99 per month, with a seven-day free trial available
- Amazon Prime subscribers can access some content without additional charge
- Ubisoft Plus, Jackbox's party games, classic titles in the Retro channel, and a Family Channel for child-friendly games are also available
- To join, go to the Luna page on Amazon US or Amazon UK and log in to your account, then click "Play free with Prime" or purchase a subscription
- Luna can be played on PC, Mac, Fire TV, Android (limited devices), and iOS via a web app
- Specific Fire devices and Windows 10 or 11 devices with DirectX 11 support are compatible with Luna