Amazon Bypasses Apple App Store Fees With Web-Based Luna Gaming Service
Amazon introduces Luna, a new cloud gaming platform that launches in early access this October. The service cleverly avoids Apple's standard fees by operating as a progressive web application on iOS devices.
Amazon unveils Luna, a new cloud gaming platform that combines elements of Prime Video, Twitch, and AWS into a single subscription service. The platform launches in early access this October for $5.99 a month, positioning itself as a direct competitor to Microsoft's xCloud and Google's Stadia. Players in the US can sign up today to receive an invite for the initial rollout on Fire TV, PC, Mac, and iOS devices.
Notably absent from the initial launch lineup is Android support, though Amazon executives promise that an Android version arrives within weeks of the early access debut. This temporary iOS exclusivity naturally raises questions about Amazon's unique relationship with Apple, especially since Microsoft's xCloud remains completely absent from iOS due to Apple's strict App Store policies and standard 30 percent revenue cut.
Amazon cleverly circumvents these Apple fees by building Luna as a progressive web application (PWA) rather than a native iOS app. Users download the PWA directly from the Luna website, creating a home screen icon that simply acts as a shortcut to Amazon's cloud gaming servers. This browser-based approach allows Amazon to deliver its service to iPhone and iPad users without subjecting itself to Apple's marketplace rules.