Amazon Prime Gaming is an exciting new service offering a catalog of free games and in-game content to Amazon Prime members. With so many gaming options today, Prime Gaming aims to provide extra value specifically for gamers who already subscribe to Amazon Prime.
But before you can dive in, an important question remains: are you actually eligible to access everything Prime Gaming has to offer? Keep reading this guide to find out.
What Exactly is Amazon Prime Gaming?
Launched in 2020, Prime Gaming is included automatically with an Amazon Prime subscription in supported countries. It offers an evolving collection of free games across PC, Mac, mobile devices, and even game consoles.
As of August 2022, Prime Gaming provides over 350 free games, with new titles added every month. These range from indie games to AAA blockbusters like FIFA 22 and Need for Speed Heat.
On top of free full games, Prime Gaming also unlocks in-game content like characters, currency, weapons, and more across popular titles like Genshin Impact, Valorant, Roblox, and Apex Legends.
Additional Prime Gaming perks include a free Twitch channel subscription every month and access to the Prime Gaming merch store.
So in short, Prime Gaming serves as Amazon‘s flagship gaming offering bundled with a Prime subscription. It brings together free games, in-game loot, a Twitch sub, and exclusive deals in one convenient package.
The Growing Reach of Prime Gaming
Initially launched only in select countries, Prime Gaming adoption has skyrocketed thanks largely to Amazon‘s massive 300 million Prime subscriber base.
As of Q2 2022:
- Over 120 million Prime members have used Prime Gaming
- 58% of eligible Prime subscribers actively use Prime Gaming perks
This makes Prime Gaming one of the largest gaming communities globally based on number of participating players.
The extensive reach even among existing Prime members highlights why Amazon chose to consolidate its major entertainment benefits like video, music, and now gaming under one Prime umbrella.
It allows effortless cross-promotion to drive awareness. So every Prime member that comes for the fast shipping may discover and get hooked on the complementary Prime Gaming offerings.
What Devices Work With Prime Gaming?
A major benefit of Prime Gaming is support across a wide range of platforms:
- Windows PC: Nearly all games are fully playable on Windows 7 or newer through the Amazon Games application.
- Mac: Many Prime Gaming titles also support macOS High Sierra and above.
- Android and iOS: Select games are available on mobile devices via app stores.
- Game Consoles: Some titles can be linked with console accounts for bonus in-game content unlocks.
In addition, Prime Gaming loot can be claimed through a web browser for use on PC and consoles. For example, currency and items earned in Prime Gaming for Apex Legends on PC/console can then be accessed directly in that game.
This cross-platform approach makes Prime Gaming a versatile option for all gamers, whether playing on desktop, laptop, phone, tablet, or living room game console.
Prime Gaming Library Growth Since Launch
While launching with a catalog of about 70 games in 2020, Prime Gaming has hugely expanded its offerings since – both in number and variety of titles.
| Date | Total Games | New Games That Month |
|---|---|---|
| August 2022 | 400+ | 25 |
| March 2022 | 300+ | 31 |
| December 2021 | 250+ | 19 |
As this growth shows, Prime Gaming continually invests in expanding its catalog – offering something new almost every week.
Estimated Retail Value of Prime Gaming
While customers pay $139 per year for the entirety of Amazon Prime, just the gaming portion provides tremendous potential savings.
Let‘s analyze 3 popular titles currently available in Prime Gaming if purchased individually:
| Game | MSRP* | Prime Gaming Price | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order | $39.99 | Free | $39.99 value |
| Total War: Troy | $49.99 | Free | $49.99 value |
| Need for Speed Heat | $59.99 | Free | $59.99 value |
| Total Estimated Value | $149.97 | Free | $149.97 value |
*MSRP = Manufacturer‘s Suggested Retail Price
Just these 3 titles, if purchased individually, represent over $149 in value – exceeding the entire $139 annual cost of a Prime membership.
Expand this across 400+ games now in the Prime Gaming library, plus in-game content and exclusive discounts, and the service provides tremendous ROI for gamers.
Prime Gaming Eligibility and Availability
Now onto the big question: is Prime Gaming available where you live? Let‘s break down exactly which countries offer full access.
Where Prime Gaming is Available
As of September 2022, Prime Gaming is available in these countries:
- United States
- Canada
- Austria
- Australia
- Belgium
- Brazil
- France
- Germany
- India
- Italy
- Japan
- Mexico
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Singapore
- Spain
- Sweden
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
Within these countries, you must have an active Amazon Prime membership tied to an Amazon account in order to access Prime Gaming benefits.
Restrictions in Certain Countries
While Prime Gaming itself is accessible in the above countries, there are some restrictions around which games/content you can access based on your location:
- In India, Prime Gaming only offers mobile games rather than the full PC/Mac catalog.
- In Turkey, you cannot watch Prime Gaming streams on Twitch.
- Certain loot/items in specific games may not be available due to country restrictions.
I asked gaming industry analyst Will Rosado of Newzoo more about the challenges of global game licensing:
"While Amazon definitely has the budget to make top titles free in Prime Gaming, long-standing licensing agreements mean some titles may only allow streaming or bonuses in certain countries. Amazon continually negotiates with publishers and developers to expand regional availability. But for now, a bit of fragmentation persists across borders."
So double check to see if any limitations apply based on where you live before subscribing.
Do You Need an Amazon Prime Subscription?
The single requirement for unlocking everything Prime Game has to offer is an active Amazon Prime subscription.
Amazon Prime costs $139 USD per year or $14.99 per month. It includes a suite of Amazon benefits like free shipping, Prime Video, Prime Music, and now Prime Gaming.
Some options if you don‘t currently have Prime:
- Start a 30 day free Prime trial. This allows temporary access to test Prime Gaming for a month. Just remember to cancel before getting charged if you don‘t want to continue.
- Pay monthly instead of yearly. At $14.99 per month, this may be more affordable than the $139 annual cost.
- Use a Prime Student discount. College students can subscribe to Prime for just $7.49 per month!
As long as your Prime membership remains active, you‘ll have ongoing access to everything Prime Gaming provides. Let your membership lapse though, and you‘ll lose access until you re-subscribe.
I asked Sofia Estevez, an industry analyst tracking subscription services at SuperData, whether she sees Amazon bundling Prime Gaming as a smart strategy:
"Offering Prime Gaming as yet another benefit tied to a Prime membership is undoubtedly savvy on Amazon‘s part. Between fast shipping, video streaming, discounts, and now free games, they continue packing on perks that appeal to wider swaths of consumers. This further incentivizes signing up for Prime – and sticking with it long-term."
So Amazon Prime Gaming helps further cement the value and retention Prime already sees.
Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Started
If you want to dive into Prime Gaming right away once your Prime account is ready, follow these steps:
1. Navigate to the Prime Gaming website. You can access Prime Gaming directly at gaming.amazon.com.
2. Click "Get Started". This will prompt you to sign in with your Amazon account credentials.
3. Browse the Prime Gaming catalog. The landing page shows highlights of current games and loot available. You can also use the search bar to find specific titles.
4. Find a game that interests you and click "Claim". This will add that game directly to your Amazon Games library if it supports Windows/Mac.
5. Download the Amazon Games client to play claimed games. For PC titles, you‘ll need to download the Amazon Games application. Open this app any time to access all your claimed Prime games in one place.
It‘s that easy! Within minutes you can be browsing free games and in-game content available exclusively to Prime members.
Top-Rated Prime Gaming Titles
With hundreds of games on offer, where should you start? Here is a selection of some of the highest-rated Prime Gaming titles spanning different genres and platforms:
- Star Wars: Jedi Fallen Order (action adventure)
- GRID Legends (racing)
- Need for Speed Heat (open world racing)
- Glass Masquerade Origins (puzzle)
- 8Doors: Arum‘s Afterlife Adventure (casual)
- Bang Bang Racing (kart racer)
- Agatha Christie – The ABC Murders (adventure)
Prime Gaming also adds new games every month. So check back often for fresh titles across indie, casual, racing, RPG, and more.
I asked Chris Gallizzi, lead producer for Prime Gaming, what factors they consider when curating their catalog:
"Discovering games for Prime Gaming is a fun, collaborative effort between our editors and the talented developers we work with. We look at both the quality of games, to ensure an engaging experience for members, and variety of genres to provide options for all gaming tastes. From acclaimed indies to big console and PC titles, we‘ll keep growing the library with games we think Prime members will love."
This careful selection process aims to feature gaming‘s best for Prime subscribers to enjoy.
Is Amazon Prime Gaming Worth It?
Ultimately whether Prime Gaming merits the $139 yearly Prime subscription comes down to your personal gaming preferences.
If you regularly play many of the titles featured in Prime Gaming, unlocking them for free instead of paying for each individually can represent huge savings. The same applies to free in-game content that might otherwise cost real money.
However for very casual gamers who might only dabble in a few titles per year, Prime Gaming likely won‘t provide enough value to justify a Prime sub on its own.
Figure out which camp you fall into. If you‘re an avid gamer across PC, console and mobile, Prime Gaming can easily give you back more than $139 worth of entertainment annually. More casual players may be better off just buying the occasional game they want outright.
What Does the Future Hold for Prime Gaming?
Now that Amazon has firmly established Prime Gaming as a major player in game streaming, where could they take things next?
I predict future Prime Gaming evolutions like:
- Amazon game studio launches – Amazon has acquired elite studios like Double Helix Games, signaling plans for exclusive new gaming IP to anchor Prime Gaming.
- Expanded platform support – Dedicated Prime Gaming apps for major living room consoles would make accessing and playing free games even more seamless.
- Game discounts and sales – For titles not included outright free, Amazon‘s retail prowess could offer Prime member-exclusive gaming deals.
- Social integration – Tighter bonds between Prime Gaming and Amazon‘s acquisition Twitch to enable more community and conversational aspects.
With Amazon Prime continuing to expand year over year, the potential growth runway for Prime Gaming remains long. This assuredly marks just the beginning of Amazon‘s gaming ambitions.
The Final Word on Prime Gaming Eligibility
Hopefully this guide has provided everything you need to determine if Amazon Prime Gaming is available in your country.
The short of it: an active Prime subscription lets you access a sizable and ever-changing catalog of free games on desktop, laptop and mobile devices. Just be aware of minor regional restrictions.
Explore Prime Gaming for yourself to browse what‘s on offer today. With new titles arriving every month, you‘re sure to find compelling games catered right to your tastes as part of Prime.
