Amazon launches Luna, rival cloud gaming service from Stadia and xCloud
Amazon has just launched Luna, its own cloud gaming service. Coming soon to PC, Mac, Fire TV, iPhone, iPad, and Android, the service will allow you to play more than 100 games online for the sum of $ 5.99 / month. The early access subscription is cheaper than iCloud or Google Stadia.
As the rumors wanted, Amazon has finally stepped into the arena of cloud gaming in the footsteps of Google, Microsoft, or Sony. For $ 5.99 per month, users can play more than 100 popular games including Resident Evil 7: Biohazard, Control, Panzer Dragoon, A Plague Tale: Innocence, The Surge 2, Yooka-Laylee, GRID, Abzu, and Brothers: A Tale of Two Sons, directly from Amazon Web Services (AWS) servers. A single account will be usable on two devices simultaneously.
Over 100 games in 4K and 60fps for $ 5.99 per month
Unsurprisingly, Amazon assures us that the catalog is set to expand in the months and years to come. Ubisoft-stamped productions will be included in the catalog. For fans of the studio, Amazon will also offer a special Ubisoft + package, which gives access to many games developed by Ubisoft. Titles like Assassins Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, and Immortals Fenix Rising will be available on the day of their release for an additional package (the amount of which is currently unknown). All games in Luna's catalog will be available in 4K / 60fps. Obviously, you will need a quality Internet connection to stream the games.
“Gamers can enjoy Luna games on their favorite devices without lengthy downloads or updates, expensive hardware, or complicated setup. They can even start playing on one screen and resume and continue on another, ”Amazon explains in a press release. Like Google Stadia, Amazon Luna plays the card of simplicity. Between the lines, Amazon suggests that it is no longer necessary to invest in an expensive next-gen console, like the PS5 or the Xbox Series X. Jeff Bezos' firm is positioning Luna as a lower-cost alternative for gamers.
Initially, the service is only available in early access for American Internet users. For the moment, Amazon has not mentioned the release date in France of Luna. The service will initially be offered on PC, Mac, Fire TV, iPhone, and iPad. Later, Luna will be deployed on Android. To play on iOS, you must absolutely go through a browser. No Luna application will be offered on the App Store, which has strict Cloud Gaming conditions. Unsurprisingly, Amazon will integrate Twitch into Luna's interface. This will allow subscribers to view Twitch streams alongside their games. In the same vein, you can start a game on Luna directly from the Twitch interface.
Amazon launches $ 49.99 Luna Controller
To accompany Luna, Amazon will market a gamepad, the Luna Controller. Compatible with Direct Cloud technology, the controller automatically connects to all your devices through your home WiFi network. This technology is based on “multiple antenna designs” to reduce latency to a minimum. “The Luna controller connects directly to cloud servers, players can easily switch from one screen to another without additional pairing or configuration change” slips the American firm. Amazon specifies that the controller is compatible with Alexa, its intelligent voice assistant. During the early access period, the controller is priced at $ 49.99.
In early access, Luna is cheaper than xCloud, Microsoft's cloud gaming service, and Google Stadia. xCloud is indeed offered at $ 14.99 per month. For its part, Stadia is billed at $ 9.99 per month. To play certain titles, it is regularly necessary to return to the cash register for Stadia subscribers. Please note, Luna's price of $ 5.99 is only valid for the Early Access program. When launching in the final version, Amazon could review its prices.
What do you think of Amazon's offering? Can the e-commerce giant compete with services from Microsoft or Google? Could you ditch Stadia or xCloud for Luna? We await your opinion in the comments below.