Amazon has launched its own cloud gaming service for mobile platforms, desktop, and Fire TV.
Dubbed as Luna, the recently unveiled service is similar to Google Stadia in many ways, and will enable users to play games that are streamed over the internet without downloading and installing them first. The service will offer a wide range of channels that customers can subscribe to access wide-ranging content.
The main Luna+ channel is currently in early access, and boasts titles such as A Plague Tale: Innocence, Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, GRID, ABZU, Iconoclasts, Yooka-Laylee and The Impossible Lair, The Surge 2, Panzer Dragoon, Control, and Resident Evil 7. Channel subscribers will be able to play 1080p 60fps right now with 4K support slated to arrive later and can play on two devices at the same time.
The Luna+ channel costs $6 a month during the early access period and will receive a myriad of other highly engaging games in the future. Aside from that, Amazon has announced a channel dedicated to Ubisoft, giving subscribers access to existing and upcoming Ubisoft titles such as Immortals Fenyx Rising, Far Cry 6, and Assassins Creed Valhalla the same day they release.
Some titles will be up for grabs in their ultimate edition with DLC. Unlike the Luna+ channel, the Ubisoft channel streams at one device at a time. Details about the pricing for this channel are still scarce, but Amazon has plans for having more similar channels for a slew of other genres and publishers.
Amazon owns Twitch, which justifies the company’s move to integrate the biggest game streaming platform into its recently unveiled service. Luna users will be able to access Twitch streams for available games via the service and can start playing the game they are watching right away at any time.
Luna will work natively on Fire TV Stick and using desktop apps on the PC and Mac. It will work on iPhone and iPad using web apps. While Android support is currently unavailable, it is expected to be coming soon.
To play the games, subscribers can use a mouse, keyboard, or even a Bluetooth controller that they already have. Alternatively, they can purchase the Luna Controller that Amazon will be selling. Just like the Stadia controller, the Luna Controller will directly connect to the cloud through Wi-Fi, which Amazon claims reduces latency by 17-30ms.
The controller will allow users to switch between devices as it is not directly paired to any one of them. The Luna Controller will set you back $50 during the early access period.
The service is currently only available in the United States. If you are interested, all you need to do is to request an invitation today for early access. Details about when the service will be open to everyone are still few and far between.
