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| Amazon Luna’s growing game lineup highlights how the service brings a wide mix of genres to cloud gaming. |
By Jon Scarr
Cloud gaming has been around for a while, but it still raises a simple question for many people. What does it actually let you do differently from a console or PC? Amazon Luna is Amazon’s answer to that question, built around flexibility, low friction, and the idea that games should fit into your day, not the other way around.
Instead of asking you to buy new hardware, Amazon Luna streams games from the cloud to devices you already own. That can mean playing on a TV in the living room, a laptop at a desk, or even a phone while traveling. As cloud gaming continues to expand, Luna has quietly become one of the more accessible ways to see how that model works in practice.
This guide breaks down what Amazon Luna is, how it works, what it costs, and who it makes the most sense for today.
What Is Amazon Luna?
Amazon Luna is a cloud gaming service that lets you stream games over the internet instead of downloading or installing them locally. Games run on Amazon’s servers and are delivered to your screen in real time, similar to how video streaming services work.
Luna first launched in the United States in 2022 and has since expanded to several regions, including Canada, the UK, and much of Europe. Because it runs through a web browser or supported apps, there is no dedicated Luna console. Your existing devices are the platform.
That approach makes Luna less about replacing traditional gaming hardware and more about offering another way to access games when and where it makes sense.
How Amazon Luna Works
At the core of Amazon Luna is cloud streaming powered by Amazon Web Services. The game itself runs remotely, while your inputs are sent back to the server and the video feed is streamed to your device.
This setup removes the need for long downloads, patches, or storage management. If your internet connection is stable, you can jump into a game quickly without waiting for updates or installs.
Because the heavy processing happens in the cloud, Luna can run on devices that would not normally handle modern games on their own.
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| Amazon Luna streams games directly to supported devices, letting you play without a console or local downloads. |
How Much Does Amazon Luna Cost?
Amazon Luna uses a few different access options, depending on how you want to play.
Amazon Prime members get access to a rotating selection of more than 50 games at no additional cost. This includes Luna’s GameNight titles and a mix of casual, family, and indie games.
Beyond Prime, Luna also supports individual game purchases, a Luna Premium subscription, a dedicated Jackbox Games subscription, and access to select Ubisoft titles through Ubisoft+.
The exact cost can vary based on region and subscription choice, but the overall structure gives people multiple ways to try Luna without committing to a single large library upfront.
What You Need to Play Amazon Luna
You can play Amazon Luna anywhere with a stable internet connection. Amazon recommends a sustained speed of at least 10 Mbps for a smoother experience.
Luna works on a wide range of devices, including PC, Mac, iOS, Android, Fire tablets, and Chromebooks through supported browsers. It is also available on Fire TV and, in Canada, on the Rogers Xfinity Stream Box.
That Canadian availability is part of Luna’s broader push to show up on devices people already have in their homes. We recently covered that expansion in more detail in our article Amazon Luna Arrives on Rogers Xfinity in Canada.
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| Amazon Luna works across supported devices like Fire TV, PCs, phones, and tablets, with standard controllers or compatible remotes. |
Controllers and GameNight
Amazon Luna supports several ways to play, depending on the game.
For Luna’s GameNight library, you can use your phone as a controller. By scanning a QR code on your TV, your phone becomes the input device, which makes it easy for groups or families to jump in without extra hardware.
For other games, Luna supports standard controllers and mouse and keyboard setups. The Luna Controller is designed specifically for cloud gaming and connects directly to Amazon’s servers to reduce latency, but it is not required. Xbox controllers, PlayStation controllers, and other compatible options also work.
The ability to move between screens, such as switching from a TV to a phone, is one of Luna’s more practical advantages.
What Kind of Games Are Available on Luna?
Amazon Luna’s library focuses on variety rather than volume. The service includes casual games, family-friendly titles, indie projects, retro-style experiences, and larger releases.
Prime members have access to more than 50 games, while Luna Premium expands that selection with additional well-known titles. Recent additions from publishers like Electronic Arts have helped broaden the range of genres available.
Instead of trying to mirror a traditional console storefront, Luna’s catalog is curated around ease of access and short play sessions, which fits its cloud-first design.
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| Amazon Luna offers a mix of party games, family titles, indies, and larger releases, all playable through cloud streaming. |
Who Amazon Luna Makes Sense For
Amazon Luna tends to work best for people who value flexibility over owning hardware.
Prime members curious about cloud gaming can try Luna with little effort. Families may appreciate GameNight and the ability to play together without setting up multiple controllers. Casual gamers can jump into games without managing storage or updates.
Luna is not designed to replace a high-end gaming PC or console for everyone. It is another option, one that fits into modern gaming habits where time, space, and convenience matter.
Where Amazon Luna Fits Today
Cloud gaming continues to evolve, and Amazon Luna reflects a quieter approach to that shift. Instead of positioning itself as a replacement for everything else, it focuses on removing friction and meeting people where they already are.
For anyone curious about playing games across screens without committing to new hardware, Luna offers a clear example of what cloud gaming looks like right now. Have you tried Amazon Luna yet, or is cloud gaming still something you are on the fence about?