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Amazon Fire TVs are getting their own cloud gaming hub featuring Luna

By Cristina Alexander October 26, 2022

Amazon Fire TVs are getting their own cloud gaming hub dubbed Games on Fire TV. The app is similar to the Samsung Gaming Hub, though its focus is specifically on Amazon Luna rather than other streaming services.

Home screen for Games on Fire TV — Amazon

According to a blog post that Amazon published on Wednesday, Games on Fire TV allows players to stream cloud games from their TV. If you’re already subscribed to Amazon Luna, the company’s cloud gaming service, you can stream games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, play a rotating selection of games for free every month on the Prime Gaming Channel, or download games from the Fire TV app store. The games that are currently available on the Prime Gaming Channel include League of Legends, Fallout 76, Total War: Warhammer II, and Middle-earth: Shadow of War.

The hub will also bring new game trailers and Twitch streams, which can be accessed regardless of whether you’re using a game controller or a Fire TV Stick remote. If you have an Amazon Fire TV and want to jump into Games on Fire TV, pair any Bluetooth wireless controller of your choice — PlayStation 5 DualSense, Xbox Elite Wireless Controller, etc. — and you can play your games right away. The app can be accessed via the Games section under the Find tab.

Amazon only mentions Luna integration, so it seems like the app won’t include services like Xbox Game Pass or GeForce Now at launch. It’s unclear if Amazon plans to bring more services to the app down the line, or if its just intended to support its own services.

Amazon’s improvement on cloud gaming comes on the heels of Google Stadia’s looming shutdown in January 2023 and other gaming companies coming up with their own cloud gaming handheld systems. Razer collaborated with Verizon and Qualcomm to create the Razer 5G Edge, and Logitech came out with the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld. Games on Fire TV is just an added bonus for those who have Amazon Luna.

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Cristina Alexander

Gaming/Mobile Writer

Cristina Alexander has been writing since 2014, from opining about pop culture on her personal blog in college to reporting…

Gaming

Logitech made its own lightweight handheld built for cloud gaming

The Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld sits on a stack of comics.

Although I can be tough on cloud services that have faults, I actually do enjoy cloud gaming on Google Stadia and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate quite a bit, and I’m excited about the technology’s potential for both players and developers. Currently, most of my cloud gaming takes place on my phone, but Logitech and Tencent Games want me to start playing cloud games on a new device. In October, the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld starts rolling out, and it hopes to become the way to play cloud games.
During a hands-off preview of the device, Logitech certainly delivered on highlighting an Android-powered device with two native cloud gaming apps that players can use to enjoy games with a Wi-Fi connection. At $350, though, it feels like a solution for a niche usage problem that similarly priced devices already solve. I could see myself enjoying this device if I wanted to stream a video game from my bed or a room without my TV and consoles. Unfortunately, it seems outclassed by just the ability to stream games on a midrange-or-better phone, something anyone reading this can likely do already.

What is the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld?
From a technical perspective, the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld contains specs that wouldn’t feel out of place on a mid-range mobile device. It features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G octa-core 2.3GHz CPU, as well as 4GB of LPDDR4x RAM and 64GB of internal storage that people can expand with an SD card. The display is a 7-inch IPS multi-touch screen that displays at a 1080p resolution with a 60Hz refresh rate. Players can listen to audio through its stereo speaker, a 3.5mm stereo audio jack, or a Bluetooth 5.1 connection.
What sets it apart is that Logitech built the controllers into the device, giving it a Nintendo Switch-like look. It has the d-pad, analog joysticks, buttons, bumpers, and triggers expected of a modern controller, plus a Home button to bring players to the home screen and a “G button” that will access more system-specific settings. Players will be able to remap the controls however they wish, though. On top of that, players can expect the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld to have haptics feedback, a gyroscope, a light sensor, and even a built-in stereo microphone with echo canceling and noise suppression support.
These aren’t top-of-the-line specs by any means, but Logitech made this choice because the device is made for gaming natively on the device. It also allowed them to get the device’s weight down to only 463 grams and give it a battery life of around 12 hours (it uses USB-C to charge), which has never been seen on a gaming handheld. Think of the Logitech G Cloud Gaming Handheld as an Android 11 tablet with built-in controllers, uniquely tailored UI, and access to native Xbox Cloud Gaming and Nvidia GeForce Now, and Google Play Store apps.

Gaming

Samsung Gaming Hub expands with Amazon Luna’s addition

The Amazon Luna app running through Samsung Gaming Hub.

Samsung Gaming Hub's hold on cloud gaming just got a little bit stronger with the addition of Amazon Luna. Starting today, August 3, those who own Samsung's 2022 smart TVs can see what Amazon Luna's cloud gaming subscription service offers.
Samsung previously confirmed that Amazon Luna would come to the service, but it was not part of Samsung Gaming Hub as it originally rolled out on June 30 with cloud gaming services like Google Stadia, Nvidia GeForce Now, and Xbox Game Pass. After today, Samsung Gaming Hub users in North America can access Amazon Luna, which brings the total number of streamable games on the hub to over 1,000.

Amazon Luna is a channel-based cloud gaming platform that first entered beta in late 2020. Digital Trends reviewed the platform earlier this year, but only gave it two-and-a-half stars. "Amazon Luna is a decent cloud gaming platform let down by a lack of compelling experiences," the review says. "Content is king, and with stiff competition from now-restructured Stadia and Game Pass-driven Xbox Cloud Gaming, Luna doesn’t do much to stand out. It has some uses for very specific audiences and situations, but that isn’t enough to justify a monthly subscription for most people."
Although we don't think this is an amazing service, it's still worth checking out for Samsung Gaming Hub users if they have an Amazon Prime subscription. Amazon Prime members can access a few games on Amazon Luna, free of charge, each month, so they'll always have something to play. Throughout August, Amazon Prime members can play Control: Ultimate Edition, Steel Assault, a remake of Myst, and Garfield Kart: Furious Racing for free.
Samsung Gaming Hub is available now on 2022 Smart TVs at the BU8000 model and above and Samsung's Smart Monitors Series.

Gaming

Tencent and Logitech are making a cloud gaming handheld device

The Tencent Games and Logitech G logos on a black background.

Tencent Games and Logitech have joined forces to create a handheld device focusing on cloud gaming. It's currently referred to as the "Logitech G Gaming Handheld" and is scheduled to release later this year.

“Logitech G’s leadership in PC and console gaming gear make them an ideal partner to help us realize the vision of bringing a better gaming experience to gamers around the globe,” said Daniel Wu, general manager of Tencent Games Smart Solution Innovation Lab, in a press release. “Today marks the start of a new opportunity for our companies to further push the frontiers of gaming devices.”