Amazon Games Head: Cloud Gaming to Rise as Hardware Costs Increase

Amazon's head of gaming, Jeff Gattis, anticipates a future where more players will opt for cloud gaming as the cost of hardware continues to rise. Gattis suggests that purchasing new game consoles may decline as cloud technology matures and becomes more accessible.

These predictions follow Amazon's announcement of integrating its cloud gaming service, Amazon Luna, into the Prime Video app. Luna will be featured alongside Prime Video content, providing users with easier access to the service.

Cloud gaming allows users to play games without downloading them locally or owning powerful gaming hardware. Games are streamed from remote servers directly to the player's device, such as a phone, tablet, or TV.

Gattis highlights that Amazon aims to reach the vast number of players who do not yet own dedicated gaming hardware. Out of an estimated 2.5 to 3 billion players globally, only a small fraction possess specialized gaming devices.

Industry experts note that issues such as latency, unstable experiences, and unproven business models continue to hinder cloud gaming's mass adoption. While increasing hardware prices may become a turning point, a widespread shift to cloud services might not be immediate.