Video games have traditionally been an expensive hobby, but thanks to the latest advances in cloud streaming, it’s now easier–and more affordable–than ever to get into gaming. One of the best cloud gaming services is Amazon Luna, which lets users play some of the latest games in up to 4K quality directly on devices they already own–no expensive console or gaming PC required. If that sounds like something you’re interested in, we’ve put together this comprehensive explainer for Amazon Luna so you can see how easy it is to sign up and get playing.
What is Amazon Luna?
Amazon Luna is a cloud gaming service that allows users to stream games directly from the cloud to various devices without needing a gaming console. You can think of it like the video game version of Amazon’s Prime Video service, where instead of downloading and running games directly on your hardware, they’re stored and played remotely via Amazon’s Web Services (AWS) servers.
There are a lot of benefits to cloud gaming compared to traditional console or PC gaming. For one, you can access your library of games from a long list of devices, including Windows PCs, Macs, Fire TV streaming devices, Fire tablets, Chromebooks, iPhones, iPads, Android devices, and select smart TVs. While you’ll need a strong, stable internet connection for the best gameplay experience, cloud gaming can be much cheaper, too, since all you need is a Luna account, a controller, and one of the supported devices–many of which you probably already own. That means there’s no need to buy an expensive gaming console or PC.
How Much Does Amazon Luna Cost?
Amazon Luna requires a paid membership to access most of its games and features, but multiple subscription plans and optional add-ons are available to suit your preferences.
Luna+ membership
The primary plan is Luna+, which costs $10/month and gets you access to over 100 games that are playable at no extra charge, including a mix of AAA games like Devil May Cry 5 and Middle-earth: Shadow of War, and indies like Overcooked and Guacamelee. Luna+ members can also sync their Ubisoft store and GOG accounts and play select games they already own from those storefronts over the cloud via Amazon Luna.
In addition to the game libraries, Luna+ members can also link their Twitch accounts and broadcast their gameplay live.
A seven-day Luna+ free trial is available if you want to try out the service.
Luna+ add-ons
Luna+ members can augment their libraries with a couple of paid add-on channels.
- If you’re a fan of Ubisoft games, you can play a large library of the publisher’s games on Luna–including new releases and classic titles–by adding the Ubisoft+ channel to your membership for an additional $18/month.
- The Jackbox Games Channel is also available for an additional $5/month, granting you access to the popular series of Jackbox party games.
- Amazon Prime subscribers ($15/month or $139/year) also get access to an additional rotating selection of games, including popular titles like Fortnite, Trackmania, and XDefiant, that you can play even without a Luna+ membership. Separate from Luna, Prime members also get a selection of free games via the Prime Gaming service, some of which are also playable on Luna.
What Equipment Do You Need?
As mentioned above, Amazon Luna works on various devices, and you can also play via Chrome or Microsoft Edge web browsers on PC or Safari on Apple devices. You’ll need at least one of the supported devices and/or web browsers to use Luna.
- Amazon devices
- Apple devices
- iPhones running iOS 15 and above
- iPads running iPadOS 15 and above
- macOS running 10.13
- Safari 15 and above
- Android devices
- Android OS 9 and above
- Chrome version 86 and above
- PC
- Windows 10 and above
- Chrome version 83 and above
- Microsoft Edge version 90 and above
- Linux, Ubuntu, and Chromium OS are also supported.
- Select LG and Samsung smart TVs
You can check the full list of supported devices here.
A controller
Along with one of the supported devices or web browsers, Luna also requires a Bluetooth game controller to play. Amazon offers its own Luna controller, which is essentially the same as most other modern gamepads, but features Luna-specific branding and buttons for navigating the Luna app UI. These functions are mapped to different buttons on other supported controllers. The Luna controller can also connect directly to Amazon’s AWS servers, which Amazon says reduces input latency by up to 30 milliseconds compared to other controllers.
The following controllers all feature official Luna support:
Amazon’s support page says other third-party controllers outside that list may work with Luna, though full support is not guaranteed, so it’s best to stick with the official list.
Internet connection
As a cloud streaming service, Amazon Luna requires an internet connection–and the better your connection is, the better the gameplay experience. Unlike traditional consoles and gaming PCs, where graphical quality and gameplay speed depend on your hardware setup, cloud gaming performance depends on how strong and stable your internet connection is.
While you can play Luna games at a maximum 4K resolution, gameplay quality may vary if your connection wavers. Amazon’s minimum network requirements are 10Mbps internet speeds for 1080p gaming and at least 35Mbps for 4K. You’ll also want to use a hardwired Ethernet connection whenever possible. If you play over Wi-Fi, you will want to use 5Ghz routers (though 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi is also supported). Amazon’s eero 6+ mesh Wi-Fi router is a good choice if you need to upgrade your router.
Amazon Luna Black Friday Deals
Many Luna-supported devices and controllers are discounted during Amazon’s Black Friday 2024 event, so you can save on your own cloud gaming setup. If you’re looking for a simple way to get a full cloud streaming setup, Amazon offers cloud gaming bundles that include either a Luna Controller and a Fire TV Stick 4K Max for $68 (was $130) or an Xbox Wireless Controller and Fire TV Stick 4K for $75 (was $132). Both bundle options are vastly more affordable than other gaming hardware like an Xbox Series X or PS5. The Xbox bundles also include a trial subscription for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, in case you want to try out another cloud gaming service along with Amazon Luna.
If you would rather build your own Luna streaming setup, you can pick up one of several discounted Fire TV devices or Fire tablets and a Luna-supported controller. Check a list of all the Amazon Luna Black Friday deals below.
Amazon Luna Cloud Streaming Bundle Deals
Amazon Luna Fire TV Streaming Device Deals
Amazon Luna Fire Tablet Deals
Amazon Luna-supported Controller Deals
Amazon Wi-Fi Router Deals
Amazon eero 6+ mesh Wi-Fi router — $100 ($140)
How Do You Access Amazon Luna?
Once you have a supported device, controller, and internet connection, you can access Luna at any time by using the following methods.
- Access Luna on Fire TV devices: Open Amazon’s app store and search for “Luna,” then download the app. Pair your controller to your device, launch the Luna app, and you’re in.
- Access Luna on web browser: All other devices will need to access Luna via the Chrome, Microsoft Edge, or Safari web browsers. Head over to the Amazon Luna homepage then log in with your Amazon Luna or Amazon Prime account.
Once you’ve logged into Luna and have signed up for Luna+ and/or Amazon Prime, you can start streaming games immediately.
Conclusion
Amazon Luna is a versatile and accessible cloud gaming service that offers a wide range of games across various devices, making it an attractive option for casual and serious gamers alike. If you’re curious about gaming but don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars on a dedicated console or gaming PC, or you’re an avid player looking for a way to access games over the cloud while traveling, cloud gaming with Amazon Luna’s is the perfect solution.