Amazon Announces Luna Game Streaming Service

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The controller has Alexa in it

Amazon Luna controller
(Image credit: Amazon)

Amazon is getting into game streaming, following in the footsteps of Nvidia, Microsoft and Google. The company today announced Luna, with over 100 games at launch, but no firm start date.

The service, which will have a $5.99 introductory price "during the early access period," to access games through Fire TV, PC, and Mac or iOS through web apps. Android is marked as coming soon. The iOS web app workaround is notable because Google and Microsoft have been unable to get streaming services on the iPhone due to Apple's App Store rules.

Luna will divide games into "channels." The Luna Plus channel will offer unlimited playtime, up to 1080p at 60 fps (with a promise that 4K is coming soon), with games streamed on two devices at a time. An Ubisoft-specific channel is listed separately, with no pricing listed, but will include DLC for some titles and allow streaming on one device.

Amazon states that "the minimum recommended internet connection speed for streaming games is 10 Mbps (35 Mbps required to play in 4K)."

Amazon is highlighting Resident Evil 7, Control, Panzer Dragoon, A Plague Tale: Innocence, The Surge 2, Yooka-Laylee and The Impossible Lair, Iconoclasts, GRID, ABZU and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons as games coming to the service. The marketing also focuses on Metro Exodus.

The Luna, controller, picture above, will be $49.99, again, as an introductory price. It uses "Cloud Direct Technology," connecting directly to the cloud for less latency. The controller also has Alexa onboard. Those who don't want to use this controller can use a keyboard and mouse or a Bluetooth game controller.

Of course, Amazon also owns Twitch, and Luna will be integrated. Players will be able to watch Twitch from Luna, and they'll be able to start Luna games that they see streamers playing on Twitch. Luna will run on Amazon Web Services.

Luna is only available in the continental United States. Worldwide rollout, as well as Alaska, Hawaii and other U.S. territories has not been specified.

Those interested in trying early access service for Luna can go to amazon.com/luna.

Andrew E. Freedman
Andrew E. Freedman

Andrew E. Freedman is a senior editor at Tom's Hardware focusing on laptops, desktops and gaming. He also keeps up with the latest news. A lover of all things gaming and tech, his previous work has shown up in Tom's Guide, Laptop Mag, Kotaku, PCMag and Complex, among others. Follow him on Threads @FreedmanAE and Mastodon @FreedmanAE.mastodon.social.

5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • EridanusSV
    Being a Prime Member is a part of life now.
    Reply
  • Shadowclash10
    EridanusSV said:
    Being a Prime Member is a part of life now.
    I've not seen anything yet about Prime being related to Luna? At least, not yet.

    This is an interesting take - the channels, I mean. It kinda does make sense, because if say, you like Civ, there's a good chance you play other strategy games. However, what if you like playing broad variety of games, like me, and I think most people?

    One thing that scares me is that they mentioned unlimited gameplay - implying that other channels won't......

    Oh well. For now at least, this isn't going to directly affect me and most of us (although at some point it will, in some way).
    Reply
  • salgado18
    Wait, 'channels'? Like they are doing on Prime Video, where you pay for the subscription, and then pay extra to watch a 'channel'? What is this, cable TV all over again?

    Well, corporations after money again, I guess...
    Reply
  • EridanusSV
    Shadowclash10 said:
    I've not seen anything yet about Prime being related to Luna? At least, not yet.

    This is an interesting take - the channels, I mean. It kinda does make sense, because if say, you like Civ, there's a good chance you play other strategy games. However, what if you like playing broad variety of games, like me, and I think most people?

    One thing that scares me is that they mentioned unlimited gameplay - implying that other channels won't......

    Oh well. For now at least, this isn't going to directly affect me and most of us (although at some point it will, in some way).
    There will be a prime incentive -- hopefully. When Twitch was bought by Amazon, it didn't have anything Prime-integrated for a few months. Luna-Prime benefits are probably still in the works but they won't market is just incase they decide not to.
    Reply
  • Shadowclash10
    EridanusSV said:
    There will be a prime incentive -- hopefully. When Twitch was bought by Amazon, it didn't have anything Prime-integrated for a few months. Luna-Prime benefits are probably still in the works but they won't market is just incase they decide not to.
    And just because this is barely off the ground right now.
    Reply