Hello and welcome to The Game Business Micro.
It has been a very quiet seven days for video game industry news. This coming week promises to be a little busier, and it certainly will be for us, as we’re travelling around London Games Festival, hosting talks and attending the BAFTA game awards. If you see us, do say hello.
But although last week was quiet, there were a few interesting developments to let you know about. So, let’s take a look.
Amazon simplifies its Luna game streaming service
In Brief: Video game streaming platform Amazon Luna will no longer feature game stores, individual game purchases or third-party subscriptions. This means players will no-longer have access to the EA, GOG or Ubisoft stores via Luna, and Ubisoft+ and Jackbox Games subscriptions are being discontinued on the platform.
What You Need To Know:
A-la-carte game purchases are no-longer available via Luna. Previously purchased titles will stop working from June 10, 2026 and will be removed from Amazon Luna. Players are not eligible for a refund.
Gamers who had bought games via EA, GOG or Ubisoft stores could play these games via Luna. Going forward, that will no-longer be possible.
Luna users will be eligible for a complementary Luna Premium subscription as a ‘thank you’ for supporting the service so far.
My Take:
Amazon says this move is so it can ‘better serve our players’. But what they’re really doing is simplifying their offering and focusing on their own revenue.
On paper, Amazon Luna is a poorer service. And for players, they’re seeing their worst fears play out: losing access to games and unable to get a refund.
It feels typical of big tech and entertainment companies stomping all over video games. For every Sony or Microsoft, there are a dozen others who waste a load of money, disrupt the industry’s talent and upset the fanbase.
