How Does Prime Gaming Subscription Work?
Prime Gaming is a premium perk included with your Amazon Prime membership, offering a suite of benefits tailored for gamers. Essentially, it’s an add-on to your existing Prime subscription that unlocks free games, in-game content, and a monthly Twitch channel subscription, among other things. You don’t pay extra for it; it’s part of the package you already get with your Amazon Prime membership. So, if you have Amazon Prime, you automatically have access to Prime Gaming, and it simply works by connecting your Amazon account to a Prime Gaming account to start claiming your rewards.
What Does Prime Gaming Offer?
Prime Gaming provides a range of appealing features that cater to different gaming preferences:
- Free Games: Every month, Prime Gaming offers a selection of free PC games that you can download and keep forever. These games span different genres, providing a diverse range of options.
- In-Game Content: You’ll find exclusive in-game content, such as skins, weapons, characters, boosts, and more, for a wide variety of popular titles like Diablo IV, League of Legends, Pokémon GO, and Overwatch 2. This content enhances your gameplay experience and gives you access to items you otherwise would have to purchase.
- Twitch Channel Subscription: Prime Gaming provides you with one free monthly subscription to use on any Twitch Partner or Affiliate channel. This allows you to support your favorite streamers, unlock channel-specific emotes, and gain other subscriber benefits.
- Exclusive Twitch Emotes and Chat Badge: As a Prime Gaming subscriber, you’ll get access to exclusive Twitch emotes to use in chat and a unique chat badge that sets you apart from regular viewers.
How to Access Prime Gaming Benefits
Accessing Prime Gaming is straightforward and requires a few simple steps:
- Ensure You Have Amazon Prime: Prime Gaming is bundled with Amazon Prime and Prime Video subscriptions.
- Visit Prime Gaming Website: Go to the Prime Gaming website using your web browser.
- Sign in to Your Amazon Account: Log in with the same Amazon account associated with your Prime membership.
- Connect Twitch Account (Optional): If you want to take advantage of the free Twitch subscription, you will need to connect your Twitch account to Prime Gaming. This is a quick and easy process.
- Claim Your Rewards: Once logged in, you can start exploring the available free games and in-game content. Click on the claim buttons for any item you want and follow the instructions to add it to your account.
- Download Free Games: For games you claim, you can download them through the Amazon Games app. Once downloaded, you own these games even if you cancel your Prime membership (note that this only applies to games already claimed).
- Use Twitch Subscription: Go to the Twitch channel where you want to use your free subscription and select “Subscribe with Prime” instead of the regular “Subscribe” button.
Connecting Other Accounts
You will often need to connect your Prime Gaming account with the platform where you play your games (for example, the Battle.net account for Blizzard games) in order to claim in-game rewards. Make sure you connect the correct accounts to ensure you receive your rewards.
Prime Gaming is Included in Amazon Prime Membership
It’s important to emphasize that Prime Gaming is not a standalone service; it’s a free perk that comes with your Amazon Prime or Prime Video subscription. Therefore, you don’t need to subscribe to Prime Gaming separately. If you already have Amazon Prime, you can start taking advantage of these benefits immediately. If you don’t have Prime, you would need to subscribe to either Amazon Prime or Prime Video in order to get access to Prime Gaming.
Value of Prime Gaming
For gamers, Prime Gaming offers undeniable value. The free games, in-game content, and the Twitch subscription alone can make the cost of the Prime membership worth it. Consider the fact that you often get triple A titles for free or highly valuable in game items you would otherwise have to purchase on the marketplace. It enhances your gaming experiences and lets you support your favorite Twitch streamers, all at no additional cost.
How Much Does Prime Gaming Cost?
As a benefit of Amazon Prime, Prime Gaming doesn’t have a separate cost. The price of an Amazon Prime membership in the UK is currently £8.99 per month or £95 annually. In the US, it is $14.99 monthly or $139 annually. When you subscribe you get Prime Delivery, Prime Video, Amazon Music, Prime Reading, Amazon Photos and Prime Gaming benefits at no extra cost.
Canceling Prime Gaming
Since Prime Gaming is tied to your Amazon Prime subscription, you don’t cancel it separately. To stop your Prime Gaming benefits, you would need to cancel your Amazon Prime membership. You can easily do this via the “Your Prime Membership” page in your Amazon account. It’s important to remember you do not lose access to games you have already claimed, though you lose access to future free games and the other Prime Gaming perks.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Prime Gaming
Here are some frequently asked questions about Prime Gaming that can help clarify things further:
1. Is Prime Gaming really free with Prime membership?
Yes, Prime Gaming is completely free with your Amazon Prime or Prime Video membership. There are no additional fees involved.
2. Do I keep the games I claim forever?
Absolutely! Once you claim a free game, it is yours to keep, even if you cancel your Prime membership. You will be able to download and play previously claimed games via the Amazon Games app.
3. Can I transfer my Prime Gaming rewards to another account?
No, redeemed Prime Gaming loot cannot be transferred to another account. Always make sure you are using the right accounts when claiming rewards.
4. How often do new Prime Gaming packs and games get released?
New Prime Gaming packs and free games are usually released every month. Be sure to check the Prime Gaming website regularly to claim new goodies.
5. Why am I being charged extra for Prime Video Channels?
Prime Video Channels are separate, paid subscriptions, not part of your standard Prime membership. They allow you to add content from third-party premium networks. They are not related to Prime Gaming and are not included with the standard Prime Video membership.
6. What if I already subscribe to Twitch, can I still claim the Prime Subscription?
Yes, you can still claim the Prime subscription, even if you have an existing monthly subscription, you will receive a new free prime subscription each month.
7. What do I do if I’m not receiving my Prime Gaming rewards?
Ensure you have correctly linked your third-party platform accounts to your Prime Gaming account. Double-check that you are logged in to the correct accounts when claiming your rewards. If issues persist, contact Amazon for support.
8. Can I use Prime Gaming benefits on multiple devices?
Yes, you can use your Prime Gaming benefits on various devices (such as PC, console, or mobile) as long as you use the same Amazon account.
9. Can I get a refund for my Prime membership if I haven’t used Prime Gaming?
You may be eligible for a full refund of your paid Amazon Prime membership if you haven’t used any of the Prime benefits, including Prime Gaming, free shipping, and Prime Video. However, you won’t be eligible for a refund if you use some of these benefits. Free Trial memberships will continue to allow you to use benefits up until the trial ends, you will not be refunded if you have already started using your free trial.
10. Can I link more than one Twitch account?
You can only link one Twitch account to your Amazon Prime account at a time.
11. Is Prime Gaming worth it?
For gamers, Prime Gaming is generally considered a great value, providing free games, in-game content, and a free Twitch subscription, which can significantly enhance gaming experiences.
12. Can two people use the same Prime Gaming account?
Yes, Prime and Prime Student members can share Prime Gaming benefits. You can link up to four Prime Gaming accounts to enjoy exclusive chat icons on Twitch.
13. Why can’t I activate my Prime Gaming?
Common causes for difficulty activating Prime Gaming benefits include using an unsupported location, payment issues or using a VPN. Ensure you are in an eligible country and not using a VPN.
14. How do I activate my Prime Gaming?
To activate your Prime Gaming, you need to visit the Prime Gaming website, log in with your Amazon account, and follow the prompts to link your Twitch and game accounts.
15. How do I cancel my Prime Gaming subscription?
To cancel your Prime Gaming subscription, you would need to cancel your Amazon Prime membership. This can be done from the “Your Prime Membership” page on Amazon.
By understanding how Prime Gaming works, you can make the most of its benefits and enrich your gaming experience without any additional cost if you already have an Amazon Prime membership.