It was only a matter of time. With the massive success of Amazon Web Services (AWS), the technology has matured and can now be applied to almost any industry, including gaming. Amazon will take its technology to the ring with its new Luna service, as it aims its sights clearly on Google Stadia.
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As is the case with Google Stadia, Amazon Luna looks to enable users to ditch expensive, dedicated gaming hardware in favour of… whatever you have… as you stream all different types of games at 1080p to your device(s). In their presentation, Amazon didn’t give a launch date for Luna, but they did announce that it will work on Fire TV, Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and Android (at some point).
At launch, Amazon Luna will have first-rate AAA titles available like Control and Resident Evil 7. They are also partnering with Ubisoft to offer launch-day access to upcoming games such as Assassin’s Creed Valhallha and Far Cry 6.
The Seattle-based company has said it will offer an “early access period” with a starting price of $5.99 per month for Luna+ (which gives players access to a large, growing library of games), although it isn’t clear how Amazon Prime subscribers fit into the equation.
As is the case with Google Stadia, Amazon Luna will have its own controller. It will cost $50 and works by connecting to the same WiFi network as your Luna-enabled device, again, as is the case with Stadia. Opposed to Stadia, however, Amazon has announced that Xbox One and PS4 controllers work with Luna, too. It will also build in multiple integrations to Twitch (which Amazon also owns), most likely enabling better streaming on the move.
This new game streaming service will have the same problems as Google Stadia and GeForce Now, though. Latency, input lag and frame rate drops is something Amazon may be able to solve with AWS, though.
