Amazon’s cloud gaming service could arrive next year and offer Twitch integration

mood · Nov 20, 2019

Amazon’s cloud gaming service could arrive next year and offer Twitch integration
2020 is shaping up to be a big year for cloud gaming
November 20, 2019
https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/20...ng-2020-twitch-google-stadia-microsoft-xcloud

[...] we’re already hearing more about Amazon’s rumored entry into the space. CNET reports that Amazon is planning to announce its own cloud gaming service next year. CNET’s story corroborates a January report from The Information, which first revealed the existence of the service and said that it likely wouldn’t launch until 2020 at the earliest.

The Verge found a job listing that’s up right now for a “Principal Product Leader” for a “New AWS Gaming Initiative.” The listing doesn’t reveal any details about what the service might look like, but it does contain, uh, a pretty bold statement about Amazon’s gaming ambitions [...]
After The Information’s original report in January, The Verge previously found two job listings for engineers that would work on “Cloud Games,” including one listing that explicitly mentioned some kind of new games business.

AWS already powers much of the internet (including huge games like Fortnite), which means Amazon already has a massive amount of infrastructure and streaming know-how at its disposal that it could use to try to make a reliable cloud gaming service.
Click to expand...

2020 is shaping up to be a big year for cloud gaming, and Amazon could be one of the big players.
Click to expand...

mood · Apr 3, 2020

Amazon is developing its own cloud gaming platform dubbed Project Tempo
April 3, 2020
https://www.neowin.net/news/amazon-is-developing-its-own-cloud-gaming-platform-dubbed-project-tempo

Amazon appears to be making huge investments in gaming with a planned cloud-based gaming platform and two original game titles set for release next month. According to a new report from The New York Times, the company is working on a Google Stadia rival code-named Project Tempo.

Amazon also plans to release two big-budget games in May, targeted at hardcore gamers.
Its first original title is called Crucible, [...] Another game that's set for rollout next month is New World, [...]
Regarding Amazon's push into gaming, Mike Frazzini, Amazon’s vice president for game services and studios, said:

"The big picture is about trying to take the best of Amazon and bringing it to games. We have been working for a while, but it takes a long time to make games, and we’re bringing a lot of Amazon practices to making games.”
Click to expand...

The upcoming games are part of Amazon's investments in video gaming worth hundreds of millions of dollars. After releasing the two titles in May, the online retail giant also plans to launch interactive games on Twitch in the summer.
Click to expand...

Amazon Pushes Into Making Video Games, Not Just Streaming Their Play

If Crucible and New World succeed, Amazon will not only build a consumer games business but also show the potential of its technology tools.
Mr. Frazzini, Amazon’s game chief, transferred from the company’s book division to its retail game segment in 2009. He quickly spotted an opportunity for Amazon to start marketing cloud computing services to game developers and begin the journey toward making top-end games of its own.

“It was very clear to everyone that people, customers, love video games,” he said. “It was so obviously important to customers that we need to be doing something.”

Game executives and analysts have suspected that Amazon was working on its own cloud gaming service; people close to Project Tempo said that the company had hoped to introduce an early version this year but that it could slip into 2021 amid coronavirus disruptions.
Click to expand...

mood · Sep 24, 2020

Amazon Luna cloud gaming service launches with support for iOS
September 24, 2020
https://venturebeat.com/2020/09/24/amazon-luna-cloud-gaming-service-launches-with-support-for-ios/

Amazon is finally showing off what it’s working on in the cloud gaming space. The company revealed the Amazon Luna streaming platform today, which enables Amazon-device owners to play games on their connected TVs from a remote server.

This includes Amazon’s Fire TV, but it also works with PC and Mac. Amazon even built a web app to ensure that Luna can work on iOS outside of the confines of the Apple App Store. This separates it from Google Stadia and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which are trying to launch apps on iPhone and iPad. Android support is coming later.
Publishers and developers are already working with Amazon on this service.

“We created Luna to make it easy to play great games on the devices customers already own and love,” Amazon entertainment device and services boss Marc Whitten said. “It’s day one for Luna. We are excited to work with gamers, streamers, and publishers like Ubisoft and Remedy Entertainment to build a great gaming experience for everyone.”
Click to expand...

Gaming fans in the United States can begin requesting early access to Luna starting today. A full launch will come after this testing period.
Of course, Amazon is powering all of this with its Amazon Web Services platform.
Gaming channels, 4K, and playing through Twitch
Amazon said that Luna can support for gaming at a 4K resolution and 60 frames per second in “select titles.” It brought this up in relation to its Ubisoft gaming channel.
You can subscribe to the Ubisoft gaming channel and get access to many of its games in 4K60.

On Twitch, which Amazon owns, gaming fans can launch straight into Luna while watching a game.
Click to expand...

Finally, Amazon is also launching the Amazon Luna Controller for an introductory price of $50.
You can, of course, also use a keyboard and mouse or Bluetooth controller.
Click to expand...

mood · Sep 24, 2020

A closer look at Luna, Amazon's cloud gaming service
Spoiler: It’s not a native iOS app
September 24, 2020
https://www.engadget.com/luna-amazon-cloud-gaming-interview-pwa-apple-173948922.html

Luna is what happens when you take the subscription model of Prime Video, mash it up with Twitch, plug that into Amazon Web Services, and wrap it all in an Alexa-powered gamepad. In short, Luna is Amazon’s cloud gaming platform, and the latest rival to Microsoft’s xCloud and Google’s Stadia. It goes live in early access in October, subscriptions start at $5.99 a month, and players in the US can sign up today to receive an invite via Amazon.

Amazon revealed Luna and its low-latency gamepad today during the company’s annual hardware event. We spoke with platform executives -- and briefly went hands-on with Luna itself -- ahead of this morning’s announcement and gathered a handful of details about the platform, some of which have been underplayed or overlooked in Amazon’s own information dump. [...]
Click to expand...

[...]
Stadia has consistently disappointed players since its launch in November 2019.
Microsoft is building xCloud slowly, with prolonged preview and beta periods, and a distinct focus on content.

And then there’s Luna. Twitch integration and the Luna controller are solid selling points, but if Amazon can’t keep the library fresh and affordable, then players won’t have a reason to subscribe. For Luna, partnerships with game developers and publishers -- not just Apple -- will be key.
Click to expand...

Engadget: Amazon's Luna cloud gaming service arrives next month

It features Twitch integration from day one.
Click to expand...

mood · Oct 10, 2020

Its first original title is called Crucible, [...] Another game that's set for rollout next month is New World, [...]
Click to expand...

Amazon pulls the plug on its first AAA game, 'Crucible'
After a rough launch and return to beta, 'Crucible' goes away for good after November 9th
October 9, 2020
https://www.engadget.com/amazon-cancels-crucible-003348633.html

Earlier this year Amazon tried to make a splash with its first AAA title, a free-to-play shooter called Crucible that was originally announced in 2016. The multiplayer game launched in May but quickly returned to beta status as developers cut down the available modes and said they were adding polish.

Today the team published a blog post saying that after evaluating feedback from the closed beta they’ve decided to discontinue development entirely.
All in-game purchases will be refunded, and the team is apparently transitioning to other projects in Amazon Games including New World.
Click to expand...

We've made the hard decision to halt development on Crucible. Click here for more information: https://t.co/eovaB4LITr
— Crucible (@PlayCrucible) October 9, 2020
Click to expand...

mood · Oct 20, 2020

Amazon Luna Now Available In Early Access
If you signed up for an invite, now might be a good time to check your inbox
October 20, 2020
https://www.thegamer.com/amazon-luna-now-available-early-access/

Amazon Luna is now available in early access form to select customers throughout the US. If you're lucky enough to get an invite you'll be among the first group of players to check out Amazon's attempt at crafting a game streaming platform.

Don't worry if you haven't received an email yet– Amazon will be sending out access to more users in waves over the next few months. The team wants to get feedback from everyone, from casual to competitive players, to help craft the service into something that appeals to the widest audience possible.
During early access, you'll be able to test out the following: [...]
Click to expand...

Luna is also built with Twitch in mind, letting you watch streams directly from Luna – then quickly transition to playing games without fussing through a mess of navigation screens.
Amazon Luna looks to be a worthwhile competitor to services such as Stadia, PlayStation Now, and GeForce Now.
Click to expand...

Thank you to everyone who requested an invite to Amazon Luna. We’re overwhelmed by the response. We’ll be granting early access starting today on a rolling basis.
Head over to our blog for the latest updates and news: https://t.co/dcMiyq0lTN
— Amazon Luna (@amazonluna) October 20, 2020
Click to expand...

Amazon: Amazon Luna early access begins today

Some customers will have access to explore Amazon's new cloud gaming service, starting October 20, 2020
Click to expand...

mood · Oct 20, 2020

Hands-on with Amazon’s Luna game streaming service
A first look at Luna
October 20, 2020
https://www.theverge.com/2020/10/20...oud-gaming-streaming-early-access-price-games

Amazon’s Luna streaming service has arrived, with the company rolling out early access to a limited set of customers today. It’s starting with a library of 50 games and support for Mac, PC, Fire TV, and, in a first for a major streaming service, iOS devices — because Amazon has a web app that circumvents Apple’s controversial App Store rules. Luna starts at $5.99 a month.

We’ve spent a couple of hours streaming games with Luna. Here’s what it’s like so far and how it compares to other streaming services out there like Microsoft xCloud and Google Stadia.
Click to expand...

mood · Dec 16, 2020

Amazon Luna is now available for Android, but only for these devices
December 16, 2020
https://9to5google.com/2020/12/15/amazon-luna-android-supported-devices/

One of the closest competitors to Google’s Stadia is Amazon Luna, and now the platform is getting a notable expansion. Amazon Luna is available now on Android devices.

Just like on iOS, Luna for Android is a web app accessed at amazon.com/luna. Amazon says you’ll need to be using the Chrome browser and Android 9 or higher. The company also mentioned that its own Luna Controller, as well as Bluetooth controllers such as the DualShock 4 and Xbox One Controller, are also supported. You can even “install” Luna as a Progressive Web App on your homescreen, complete with a new UI when you do so.
Click to expand...

Oddly, though, Amazon is limiting this web app to only a select few devices. For the time being, you’ll need one of the following to play Amazon Luna on Android: [...]
Regardless of the odd restriction, it’s great to see Luna arrive on Android. Amazon says that more devices will be added while Luna is in early access. You can request an invite to the $5.99/month service here.
Click to expand...

Hey @TheCodeB00K, as Raghu from Team Luna explains below, you won’t have to wait very long for Android support (or, like, at all). Play Luna with early access now: https://t.co/IU81kXZouU pic.twitter.com/aVDCbQcP64
— Amazon Luna (@amazonluna) December 15, 2020
Click to expand...

Log in or Sign up

Amazon’s cloud gaming service could arrive next year and offer Twitch integration

mood Updates Team

mood Updates Team

mood Updates Team

mood Updates Team

mood Updates Team

mood Updates Team

mood Updates Team

mood Updates Team