Comcast Cable Boxes to Stream Amazon Luna Cloud Gaming
▼ Summary
– Amazon’s Luna cloud gaming service is expanding to cable boxes from Comcast in the US and Rogers in Canada.
– The Luna app is already accessible on web browsers, Fire TV devices, smart TVs, and other platforms.
– This expansion to X1, Xumo, and Rogers Stream Boxes will make Luna available on millions more devices.
– A key feature of the recently relaunched service is “GameNight,” offering local multiplayer games using a smartphone as a controller.
– Shortly after Luna’s relaunch, Amazon announced major layoffs and changes to its gaming division, including discontinuing MMOs.
Amazon’s Luna cloud gaming service is expanding its reach, announcing availability on cable boxes from major providers Comcast and Rogers. This move places the streaming platform directly into millions of additional households, integrating gaming into the traditional television entertainment ecosystem. The Luna app will be accessible starting this week on eligible X1 and Xfinity Xumo Stream Box devices in the United States, as well as on the Rogers Xfinity Stream Box in Canada.
This strategic partnership with cable operators represents a significant step in Luna’s distribution strategy, following its recent platform relaunch. The service is already accessible through web browsers, Amazon’s own Fire TV devices and Fire tablets, and a range of smart TVs from manufacturers like Samsung and LG. By embedding Luna into set-top boxes, Amazon removes another barrier to entry, allowing subscribers to jump into games without needing a separate streaming stick or console.
A central feature of the revamped Luna service is “GameNight,” a curated collection of local multiplayer titles designed for social play. This initiative cleverly leverages smartphones as controllers, lowering the hardware cost for group gaming sessions. One notable title in this collection comes from Amazon Game Studios and features an AI-powered character voiced by the iconic rapper and entertainer, Snoop Dogg, acting as an in-game judge.
The expansion onto cable hardware arrives during a period of notable transition for Amazon’s gaming ambitions. Shortly after the new Luna platform went live, the company announced substantial layoffs and “significant” strategic changes within its gaming division. These changes included a decision to move away from developing massively multiplayer online (MMO) games, signaling a sharper focus on different areas like cloud streaming and accessible social gaming experiences like those offered through Luna.
(Source: The Verge)
