A new Games tab appeared in the Prime Video app on compatible Amazon Fire TV devices in Canada on October 19. Prime members can now launch selected video games from the same interface they use for movies and television shows, including party games where friends can join using their smartphones as controllers.
Amazon’s expansion of Luna through Prime Video is one example of how cloud gaming is finding its way onto familiar household devices. Instead of installing a game locally, the player connects to a remote computer that handles the processing and sends a live video stream back to their screen.
For Canadian households considering cloud gaming, this creates a practical starting point: the hardware they already have. A smart TV, ordinary laptop or smartphone may be capable of playing games that would normally demand expensive hardware, although the experience depends considerably on the particular device and streaming service.
Among the leading cloud gaming services available in Canada are NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Boosteroid, Xbox Cloud Gaming and Amazon Luna. Their differences become particularly apparent when considering where and how someone wants to play.
Playing Games on a TV Without a Console
A television is an appealing place to try cloud gaming. The screen is already connected to the internet, and a supported wireless controller can provide much of the familiar console experience. However, the software running on the TV determines which services are accessible.
For Amazon Fire TV owners, Luna now offers one of the simplest entry points. Prime members can access a changing selection of included games directly through Prime Video. GameNight titles such as Clue, Ticket to Ride and Taboo are particularly suited to the living room, where several people can play together using smartphones as controllers.
Other services approach television gaming differently. Xbox Cloud Gaming has dedicated applications for selected Samsung and LG televisions and compatible Amazon Fire TV devices. Players can access eligible Game Pass titles and supported games purchased through their Xbox accounts. Microsoft also began testing smartphone controls for Xbox Cloud Gaming on supported smart TVs in November 2026, adding an alternative for households without a physical controller.
GeForce NOW and Boosteroid bring supported PC games to compatible televisions. NVIDIA offers applications for selected LG and Samsung TVs, Android TV devices and other supported hardware. Boosteroid has applications for several television operating systems, including LG webOS, Samsung Tizen and Android TV, as well as selected Fire TV Stick models.
These services are particularly relevant to gamers who already own PC titles. Instead of purchasing a console version of a game, they may be able to play their existing PC-storefront version through the television, provided it is supported by the cloud provider.
There are limitations worth investigating before subscribing. Some television apps require a physical controller, while mouse and keyboard support can be restricted. Boosteroid, for example, provides a smartphone gamepad application for compatible TV sessions, although conventional controllers may offer more comfortable controls for demanding games.
A television’s model year also matters. Two TVs from the same manufacturer can have different cloud gaming compatibility, and an application available on one model may be absent from another. Checking the manufacturer’s app store and the provider’s supported-device list is therefore a sensible first step.
What Can You Play on an Ordinary Laptop?
Laptops offer a different set of possibilities because they already have a keyboard, a trackpad and, often, a convenient way to connect a mouse or controller. They also provide a wider selection of cloud gaming applications and supported web browsers.
For someone with a relatively modest Windows laptop or MacBook, the main attraction is access to more demanding games without replacing the computer. The remote server handles the graphics processing, while the local machine receives the stream and handles input. The laptop still needs sufficient video-decoding capability and a stable internet connection, but its graphics processor can be far less powerful than the one normally required by the game.
NVIDIA GeForce NOW is particularly relevant to people who purchase PC games through Steam, Epic Games Store and other supported storefronts. It connects those accounts to NVIDIA’s remote gaming hardware, allowing eligible titles to run on computers that might struggle with them locally.
Its paid Performance and Ultimate memberships offer different levels of streaming quality, with Ultimate supporting particularly high resolutions and frame rates on suitable equipment. NVIDIA also provides an ad-supported free membership, which offers a way to test the basic experience before committing to a paid plan.
Boosteroid operates on a similar principle, providing access to supported PC games through remote gaming computers. It supports Windows, macOS and Linux, through browsers and dedicated applications, and can stream at up to 4K resolution and 120 frames per second under suitable conditions.
Boosteroid is also a notable independent competitor in a market populated by technology giants. The company operates 29 data centre locations across Europe and the Americas and a catalogue exceeding 2,000 games, making it one of the largest independent cloud gaming providers. Its international infrastructure and advertised high-end streaming capabilities put it in competition with services operated by substantially larger corporations, although actual performance depends on the player’s location and connection.
For existing PC gamers, the main distinction between GeForce NOW and Boosteroid is often the availability of particular titles and the conditions of each membership. Both require users to check that their games and storefront versions are supported.
Xbox Cloud Gaming provides another possibility for laptop owners, particularly those already subscribing to Game Pass. Its catalogue-based access offers an alternative to building a collection of separately purchased PC games.
The laptop is therefore where cloud gaming most closely resembles a conventional computer gaming setup. Players retain access to familiar input methods and a wider choice of services while relying on remote hardware for demanding games.
Playing on a Phone Comes With Different Compromises
Modern smartphones have powerful screens and capable video decoders, which make them suitable for receiving cloud gaming streams. Their limited display size and input options create a different experience from playing on a laptop or television.
Xbox Cloud Gaming supports eligible games through mobile browsers, with touchscreen controls available for selected titles. GeForce NOW similarly supports Android devices and iPhones, although NVIDIA recommends a compatible gamepad for extended play. Boosteroid supports both Android and iOS, with a dedicated Android application and browser-based access on iPhones.
The practical issue is how a particular game is controlled. A title designed around a mouse and keyboard may be awkward on a small touchscreen, while a game originally designed for controllers may be more comfortable with a Bluetooth gamepad or a controller attachment.
Boosteroid’s Android application, for example, can expose supported games that require keyboard and mouse controls when the appropriate peripherals are connected. Its mobile browser experience has different input restrictions. These details demonstrate why checking mobile compatibility for a specific game matters as much as confirming that the service itself runs on the phone.
A phone also introduces another network consideration. Cloud gaming over a mobile connection can consume substantial data, especially at higher resolutions and bitrates. Home Wi-Fi may provide a more predictable experience, while mobile data can be affected by signal strength and congestion.
For someone who already uses cloud gaming on a computer or television, mobile support can extend access to games when another screen is unavailable. The value depends on whether the intended games remain comfortable to play on the smaller device.
The Same Service Can Feel Different Across Your Home
Streaming resolution and frame rate are prominent features in cloud gaming advertising, but they describe the capabilities of the service under particular conditions. The experience also depends on how quickly information can travel between the player’s device and the remote server.
A wired laptop in the same household may provide a more stable gaming experience than a television connected through congested Wi-Fi. Even two devices using the same wireless network can behave differently because of their position relative to the router, video-decoding capabilities and supported applications.
GeForce NOW recommends at least 25 Mbps for 1080p streaming at 60 frames per second and higher bandwidth for more demanding settings. Boosteroid recommends approximately 35 Mbps for 1080p at 60 frames per second using H.264 encoding, with requirements varying by video codec and stream quality. Xbox recommends at least 20 Mbps for a stable cloud gaming connection.
Latency is equally important. Each button press must reach a remote computer before the resulting action can appear on the screen. Faster-paced games make delays easier to notice, and internet routing or distance to the server can affect responsiveness even when download speeds are adequate.
The sensible approach is to test a service on the actual screen and connection that will be used regularly. An internet speed test provides an initial indication, while a cloud gaming session reveals how the complete connection behaves.
How Much Playing Time Does Your Subscription Include?
The subscription model becomes particularly relevant when cloud gaming turns into a regular activity rather than an occasional experiment.
Amazon Prime includes access to selected Luna games, giving existing members a starting point with no additional Luna subscription payment. Xbox Game Pass offers a larger gaming catalogue through eligible plans, although Microsoft introduced monthly cloud gaming allowances in November 2026: 15 hours for Ultimate, 10 for Premium and five for Essential. Additional hours can be purchased where available.
NVIDIA’s paid GeForce NOW memberships include 100 hours of premium playtime per month, with additional time available for purchase. Boosteroid takes a different approach by offering unlimited monthly gaming time across its subscription plans.
For someone who plays only occasionally, these differences may have little practical impact. A person who spends several evenings a week gaming will have more reason to compare allowances, additional-hour costs and subscription renewal conditions.
It is also important to account for game purchases. Luna and Game Pass include eligible games within their subscription offers, while GeForce NOW and Boosteroid primarily provide access to remote hardware for supported games associated with the user’s storefront accounts.
These costs should be considered alongside the games already owned and the entertainment subscriptions already paid for. Canadian customers should also verify the billing currency, taxes and current terms before choosing a longer commitment.
Start With One Screen and One Game
A household exploring cloud gaming can narrow the field considerably before paying for anything. Start with the device most likely to be used, find the services that support its exact model, and check whether a game you genuinely want to play is available through them.
For a Fire TV household with Prime, that might mean trying Luna’s included selection. Someone with an established Xbox account may find their next game through Game Pass, while an existing PC gaming collection makes GeForce NOW and Boosteroid natural candidates for comparison.
From there, the decisive test is practical: launch a game on the intended screen, use the controller or input method you would normally choose, and see how the connection performs.
Cloud gaming provides access to powerful remote hardware through devices many Canadians already own. The strongest reason to choose a particular service is the experience it can deliver on the screen that will actually be used.
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