If Super Mario had three chances to free the princess, why wouldn’t the cloud gaming have the same? This is perhaps what we have been saying at Amazon Canada since the launch, a month ago, of Luna, a catalog of video games available on TV and mobile, as desired.
Amazon will not make Quebecers forget the ephemeral Google Stadia. Stadia even had a design studio in Montreal! But Amazon’s model is more akin to Apple’s and perhaps a bit like Microsoft’s, two multinationals that back their respective catalog of cloud games on other subscription services: movies, TV shows, music, video games and other services that may appeal to more buyers.
It’s the principle of a bag of PartyMix chips: there is always one of the varieties that we like less. But we deal with it.
Luna controller (or not)
Luna is a cost-effective way to access lots of video games all at once. Grandparents who are still looking for a trendy gift for their grandson have a little more sophisticated option here than the Xbox or Apple gift card…
Luna has been available since March 2022 to U.S. subscribers to Amazon’s Prime loyalty program. The formula here is the same: Prime Canada subscribers pay $9.99 a month for a bundle of services, which now includes the ability to play just over 200 games from a TV with Fire TV interface, tablet or smart phone.
This catalog includes a few popular titles, including the gripping Fortnite from Epic Games. It lives better on the big screen, especially since a Fire TV HDMI stick sold by Amazon costs between $50 and $100, depending on the model, and can give a slightly aged TV a second life. It only needs a wifi connection to activate Luna, without too much delay (in video quality up to full HD 1080p), and all the rest of Amazon’s connected services (including Prime Video).
If the urge strikes, more demanding gamers can stretch $90 and purchase the Luna controller, which is designed to go hand-in-hand with the platform.
This controller with wifi, Bluetooth or USB connection has a few aces up its sleeve. The main thing: it connects to anything that moves and can move the player from one device to another in a matter of moments. The teenager who has to leave the TV because the rest of the family prefers to watch Survivor Quebec just press a key to resume the action on the screen of his PC or a mobile.
The Luna Controller is not required to access or play with Luna. Any other controller will do, including your Sony or Microsoft video game console, as long as it can connect via Bluetooth to Amazon’s environment.
From Amazon to Ubisoft
Those who consume video games like others swallow matcha lattes on a chilly Sunday in May can enhance their catalog of games by also subscribing to Luna+, for an additional amount of $9.99 per month. This package adds a hundred not all very recent titles (Contra ?!), but certainly a lot of fun. Ubisoft groups together its Assassin’s Creed and his far cryamong others, in another package sold at $17.99 per month.
Another bouquet of titles from Jackbox Games, apparently designed to entertain guests during a not too refined and possibly well-watered cocktail reception, completes the offer, at $4.99 per month. This one is less appealing to us poor French-speaking North Americans because it contains very American-centric quizzes in English.
When will the console edition of Charivariwe ask you…
Finally, as we are in 2023, the Luna platform allows you to create your own channel and broadcast our video game exploits live on Twitch, which is also owned by Amazon. Like what everyone can play the game of convergence…
Stratus, cumulus, nimbus…
At first contact, Amazon Luna seems to be located by its offer and its presentation somewhere between Apple Arcade and Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass. Apple has created with Arcade an environment for light and casual games. Xbox’s cloud gaming service — playable on the console or elsewhere — more explicitly targets gamers looking for higher-end titles, which pundits call “AAA” titles. It’s like the best quality beef your butcher sells, but aged for less.
At a roughly comparable subscription price, Xbox Game Pass proves to be the best choice for the gamer with more epicurean tastes. Apple Arcade seems more focused on family play, or at least on games that the youngest will play.
without it making older people wince.
Amazon is for gamers looking for a first cloud gaming adventure. If the formula ends up taking off, Luna will definitely take advantage of it. And someone at Google will bite their fingers.