Amazon luna shuts down cloud gaming service amid wider shift in gaming strategy

Amazon has abruptly ended its cloud gaming service, Luna, after six years of development and investment. In a surprise move, the e-commerce giant announced it will cease offering access to third-party stores, game subscriptions, and individual title purchases via its Prime gaming benefits, effective immediately.

Game purchases will still be accessible locally

However, Amazon has clarified that gamers who bought titles through Luna will still be able to play them locally on compatible platforms from developers like GOG, EA, and Ubisoft, as long as they retain their original links. This means the shutdown is not as severe as Google Stadia's, but still poses a problem for those without suitable hardware to run the games.

Amazon also confirmed it will not issue refunds for Luna subscriptions or game purchases, which may impact users without compatible devices.

Luna premium will continue as a game pass-style subscription

Despite the service's closure, Amazon has announced plans to relaunch Luna as a premium, game-pass style subscription service, similar to Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Now, for €10 per month. Some users have reportedly received email invitations for a free trial period, starting June 10, 2026.

The move reflects Amazon's apparent shift away from its earlier aggressive push into cloud gaming, following thousands of layoffs and significant cost-cutting measures aimed at its gaming division. While the company has not announced further changes to its Prime or gaming businesses, the sudden end to Luna suggests it may be re-evaluating its gaming strategy moving forward.