Gaming subscription services are still a relatively new concept, but the number of options has steadily grown, and many gamers may be curious where Amazon Luna fits in with the rest. The streaming-only service carries significant drawbacks over alternative game subscriptions that allow for local downloads, but for the few consumers in a position to take full advantage of it, Luna offers an excellent value proposition not tied into any specific console or developer’s ecosystem, at its current price point.
Those who request early access to Amazon Luna will complete a brief survey on their gaming habits, and Amazon will suggest they run speed tests on their internet connection, before being allowed access to Luna. After a seven-day trial period, Luna is $6 per month, a very reasonable rate for access to a large variety of game titles. Some of these games, like Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night and Metro Exodus, have already appeared on other game subscription plans, like Microsoft’s Game Pass service. It also offers some unique, but not prominently advertised, gems, like No More Heroes and its sequel, which are playable on PC only through Luna.
In terms of function, Luna is most comparable to Stadia, as a streaming-only service with no option to download titles. Unlike Stadia, Luna offers access to a large library for a set rate, rather than selling individual game access, making Luna a better value in that respect. Though the streaming aspect is touted as a benefit of Luna, with “No more waiting for lengthy downloads or updates” noted as one of the selling points on Amazon’s page for the service, as a practical matter, it provides very narrow benefits relative to its problems.
Luna's Game Library Offers Good Value At Its Current Price
Gamers with sufficient internet speeds to stream a service like Luna already suffer minimal impact from the delay of downloads and updates, and streaming games impact limited data plans more than downloads. This reduces the selling point of streaming as a value proposition to two edge cases.
It might be useful for gamers who want to try several games they might play only very briefly, or it could be of benefit to consumers who happen to have strong internet connections, but only devices with poor specs that would be unable to run many Luna games locally, using their own hardware. It is an unlikely combination for gamers, though Luna might be a good fit for households that have top tier internet used for work or video streaming, but no habitual gamers, who want to sample the world of gaming without committing to a hardware purchase.
For more dedicated gamers, or anyone attempting to complete a game, streaming-only is a major detriment to the service’s value. Even strong internet connections will encounter slowing issues with extended play sessions on Luna, in some cases total freezes. As some Luna titles require manual saves rather than using auto-saves, this can lead to a great deal of lost progress. A dedicated wired connection, paired with fast home internet, provides the best experience, but this negates one of Luna’s other selling points, the ability to play on iPhone and Android devices in addition to PCs and Mac computers.
Luna is still in early access form, so it is possible Amazon will improve stability before its official launch. The question is whether it will be worth it, at that point. Amazon notes the current $6 per month price for Luna is Early Access pricing. If that price point is maintained, and Luna becomes more stable, it might still hold value, but if the price increases, it has little to offer compared to Xbox Game Pass, PlayStation Now, and other "gaming as subscription" alternatives.
Luna Struggles Against Game Pass & PlayStation Now
An option to download titles rather than stream them could also add value to the service, but the price point would still need to remain low for it to be a viable option, as Game Pass already offers this on PC and Xbox consoles, and PlayStation Now offers local downloads for PS4 titles on PlayStation consoles. Amazon Luna is still working out the bugs on its technology, but it also has a long way to go to make a case for its relevance in the increasingly competitive game subscription space.