Microsoft and Amazon Are Both Introducing New Cloud Gaming Options

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Credit: Microsoft

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Two tech giants, Microsoft and Amazon, took steps last week to move gaming further into the cloud, with each company aiming at a different part of the (gigantic) gaming demographic.

Microsoft is testing a free (albeit ad-supported) cloud-gaming model for Xbox games. Starting today, gamers who signed up for Microsoft's Xbox Insider Program will be able to play games from their library that are cloud-compatible, without paying for a Game Pass Ultimate subscription. They will, however, have to watch ads at the beginning of the session. Microsoft is currently capping playtime at one hour per session; use up your time and you'll have to watch more ads. There's no word yet on how long the test will be running.

Amazon is embedding games on Fire products

Meanwhile, Amazon announced it is going to embed its Luna cloud gaming service directly into Prime Video—but only if you have a Fire TV device. Fire TV users will see a dedicated "Games" tab next to "Movies," "TV shows" and "Sports." They will be able to play titles like Hogwarts Legacy, EA Sports FC 26 and Clue for the cost of their Prime membership.

The two companies clearly have different targets in mind. Microsoft is catering to the kind of "core" gamers who already own a library of titles but might want to play them on secondary devices like phones and laptops. Amazon is going after more casual gamers, and is trying to put their gaming offerings in front of as many eyeballs as possible. It plans to package its games on the same pages as the movie entries for well-known IP like Harry Potter, so someone might decide to play a little game with their remote before they watch a movie.

If you have an Xbox, here's how to check out some ad-supported cloud gaming.

Download the Xbox Insider Hub app on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, or Windows PC.

Enroll in the Xbox Insider Program. It's free.

That's it! Now you can stream select cloud-compatible games you own (after you check out some commercials, of course.)

How to check out Amazon's Luna gaming service

If you have Prime, you can already try Luna. The company isn't adding any extra content for Fire TV users; it's just changing the way it presents the games it offers. Here's how to check it out.

First, you'll need a n Amazon Fire device. That means Fire TV stick, Fire TV Cube, or a smart TV running the Fire TV operating system.

On the main menu, you should see the new "Games" tab.

Click it and go to town. Pro tip: Play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle because it is fantastic.

You can play Luna games with any Bluetooth controller or use your phone as the controller.