Amazon opens Luna gaming service to all – but you need Fire TV
Amazon's cloud-gaming service, Luna, no longer requires an invitation and is now available to everyone in the US with access to a Fire TV device.
The platform launched in late-2020 as a rival to Stadia, the gaming service offered by Google, but was only available via an invitation. Now, as of February 2021, anyone in the mainland US can sign up and play on a Fire TV device – and an Amazon Prime membership is not required.
Read More:
- Amazon Luna: Everything you need to know about the cloud gaming system
- Google Stadia review: Gaming in the cloud
- These are the Android phones supported by Amazon Luna
Like how Stadia works on televisions via Google's Chromecast streaming dongle, Luna streams games using Amazon Fire TV. New customers are now able to download the Luna app onto their Fire TV device and enjoy a seven-day free trial of the Luna+ channel, which costs $5.99 a month thereafter.
Subscribing to that channel gives gamers access to a range of games. On top of this, there is the Ubisoft Plus channel, which costs $14.99 a month and grants access to that developer's games, including the new Assassin's Creed Valhalla.
"Adding more customers to early access helps us continue to improve gaming experiences," said Gabi Knight, director of Amazon Luna.
As well as opening up the Luna service to everyone in the US, Amazon has also made the Luna controller accessible to all. It is priced at $70 and is available to buy now.
Which Fire TV devices work with Amazon Luna?
Below is a list of Amazon's Fire TV devices that work with Luna. These include streaming sticks and the Cube box, plus select televisions that use Fire TV as their operating system.
- Fire TV Stick (2nd Gen)
- Fire TV Stick 4K
- Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen)
- Fire TV Stick Lite
- Toshiba Fire TV Edition
- Insignia Fire TV Edition
Being a game-streaming service, there is no Luna console. Instead, the processing of games is done on Amazon's servers, which then stream the audio and video to Fire TV devices, which are in turn controlled by the company's bespoke Luna gamepad. This controller is connected to Wi-Fi instead of to the Fire TV itself, which Amazon claims reduces latency by between 17 and 30 milliseconds compared to a Bluetooth connection.
Alternatively, gamers can also use Luna with a range of other Bluetooth controllers.
Like Stadia, Luna can be played on a range of devices including PC, Mac, Fire TV, iPhone, iPad and select Android smartphones – we have more on which Android handsets work with Luna here.
One big caveat still in place however, is that this week's opening up of Luna to everyone only relates to gaming on a Fire TV streaming device. Those who wish to play Luna on any other device, like a computer, smartphone or tablet, still have to request access instead of being granted it automatically.
Luna Controller – The best controller for Luna, Amazon’s new cloud gaming service
