Amazon's Cloud Gaming Service Luna Enters Early Access

Amazon.com, Inc AMZN said Tuesday it is issuing invitations to a “small set of customers” in the United States to access its cloud-based gaming service Luna.

What Happened: The early access program will rope in streamers and players — core, casual, and first-time gamers — for providing feedback, Amazon said in a statement.

Early access gamers will have access to Luna on Fire TV, PC, and Apple.com’s AAPL Mac computers. Access is also available through web apps for the iPhone and iPad. The service will also be available on Alphabet Inc’s GOOGL GOOG Android soon, according to Amazon. 

The Luna+ Game channel is available for the early access users at $5.99 per month with about 50 games available. 

Players can use their own Bluetooth controllers or purchase the Luna controller with Alexa for $49.99, which the Jeff Bezos-led company claims offers a lower latency.

Why It Matters: The Seattle-based e-commerce giant said it would invite more players to join Luna over the coming months.

The cloud-based gaming space is getting increasingly crowded with offerings from Alphabet, Microsoft Corporation MSFT, and Facebook Inc FB vying for market share.

Mirabaud Securities analyst Neil Campling described the war for gaming as “the new mega-cap tech race,” the Financial Times reported.

Luna was launched last month along with a slew of devices by Amazon — including a flying indoor camera.

Price Action: Amazon shares closed nearly 0.3% higher at $3,217.01 on Tuesday and gained 0.22% in the after-hours session.