Amazon Luna & Shadow PC: what are the differences between their cloud gaming offers?
Luna is Amazon's take on cloud gaming, aiming to offer an easy way to play retro, indie, and modern games without downloading or installation on many different devices, with a wide variety of subscriptions available. What are the differences between Amazon Luna and Shadow PC? Here’s what you need to know.
Amazon Luna: a complex subscription model
Amazon Luna primarily targets users already enjoying a Prime subscription by offering them the ability to play Fortnite and a limited selection of games for quick fun. To fully access Luna's catalog, players need to subscribe to an additional service, Luna+, which unlocks a wider range of games, including offerings from major publishers (SEGA, Bethesda, Warner Bros) and indie developers. Ubisoft games can be accessed on Luna in two ways: by subscribing to Ubisoft+, which includes all Ubisoft games, including the most recent at launch, at a price higher than Microsoft's Game Pass Ultimate. If you purchased Ubisoft games on Steam or another online shop, it is unfortunately not possible to use them with Luna, unlike Shadow PC, which allows you to play any game you own from any store via cloud gaming.
Free-to-coop
Luna introduces an interesting feature that allows players to enjoy multiplayer co-op games with a single subscription. It is called Luna Couch and simplifies online play with friends. The Luna or Luna+ subscribed host player only needs to launch the game on their end, then they can invite any friends to join by opening a tab in a browser and entering a personal code to join the ongoing cloud gaming session. However, it is important to note that many Luna games do not support mouse and keyboard controls and require a gamepad, not all of which are supported, as Amazon promotes its proprietary controller sold separately. In contrast, Shadow PC is compatible with virtually any USB controller as it offers the most open and flexible cloud gaming environment available and, of course, supports mouse and keyboard controls for all playable games.
Shadow PC, much more than just gaming
With Shadow PC, use your machine for much more than just gaming. Want to play cooperatively? Install Discord and join your friends in-game. Want to edit your family photos or do rendering? Just download and install the software of your choice.
Why choose Shadow PC over Amazon Luna?
With Shadow PC, you can connect your USB peripherals to your cloud PC from your local PC. So, you can directly use all your game controllers (gamepad, steering wheel, and joystick) in your games.
Access a library of games only available in the cloud on Shadow PC. Discover innovative titles and unique experiences without the hardware constraints of your local PC. Experience exceptional adventures, optimized for cloud gaming with Shadow PC.
Shadow PC gives you the flexibility to add external files to your games. Whether it's mods, texture packs, or saves, enjoy the ease of installation directly on your Shadow PC.
Enter a new dimension with Shadow PC and VR. Connect your headset to your Shadow PC and dive into immersive worlds without worrying about your local hardware's power. VR finally becomes accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Transform your living room into a real gaming room. Use your smartphone as a controller with companion mode to play on your TV. A comfortable and friendly gaming experience on the big screen, directly from your couch.
You can easily drag and drop files from your local PC to your Shadow PC. You can also right-click on your Shadow PC to transfer files locally and retrieve your saves or projects.
Whether on an iPad, iPhone, or even an Android tablet, Shadow PC allows you to enjoy the quality and power of a gaming PC in the cloud, thus accessible everywhere, on all your compatible devices. All you need is a good internet connection, launch the Shadow PC app, and you're set.
Your Workstation follows you anywhere, anytime
Get started and start working in seconds using any connected device or a simple Web browser. Cloud Workstations are always accessible, whether your teams are on site or working from home. They can even showcase a project from a third-party device. Securely, and with no need to exchange any file.
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