New York (AFP)
Amazon announced Thursday the launch of Luna, its on-demand video game platform that will allow players to directly access their favorite titles via the "cloud" (remote computing) on the device of their choice.
With this new service, Jeff Bezos' group intends to compete, in a market valued at several billion dollars, with Google, which launched its own digital video game platform in November, Stadia, and Microsoft, which recently added the service. Cloud Gaming for subscribers of its online game library.
Two subscriptions were announced: a Luna + package, with a starting price of $ 5.99 per month, including access to an unlimited number of hours of play and a large catalog of titles as well as a Ubisoft channel, in partnership with the French video game publisher, the price of which has not yet been announced.
For comparison, Google's Stadia Pro subscription costs $ 9.99 per month and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate, which includes Microsoft's remote gaming platform, is billed at $ 14.99 per month.
A Luna controller will be marketed for $ 49.99.
It will be directly compatible with a PC, a Mac or a Fire TV as well as with applications for iPhone and iPad and, later, for Android.
"We created Luna to make it easy to play great games on the devices customers already own and love," Marc Whitten, Amazon vice president of services and entertainment, said in a statement. entertainment products.
“It's Day One for Luna - we look forward to working with gamers, streamers and publishers like Ubisoft and Remedy Entertainment to build a great gaming experience for everyone,” added Mr. Whitten.
Preview access to Amazon's new platform is currently only available by invitation for US customers.
Luna will be operated thanks to Amazon Web Services (AWS), the titanic "cloud" service of the Seattle group, leader in this market.
The service will also integrate Twitch, Amazon's popular video game streaming platform.
© 2020 AFP