Today, Amazon and Twitch announced Twitch Prime, a new set of Amazon Prime benefits created for gamers. Prime members get exclusive discounts on pre-order and new release games, a rotating selection of free digital games and in-game loot, plus a premium experience on Twitch that includes a free monthly Twitch channel subscription. Twitch Prime now joins the growing list of all-you-can-eat benefits for Amazon Prime members, including guaranteed unlimited fast, free Prime shipping, unlimited access to Prime Video, Prime Music, Prime Photos, early access to Lightning Deals, and more. Gamers and Twitch fans can get all the benefits of Twitch Prime by starting a free 30-day trial, while Amazon Prime members can unlock their Twitch Prime benefits by linking their Prime accounts to Twitch at www.twitchprime.com.
“Twitch Prime is one of those unique cases where we have an opportunity to build a product that is equally great for all of our customers—streamers, viewers, and game developers,” said Emmett Shear, CEO of Twitch. “Offering subscriptions free through Prime saves money for viewers, while supporting streamers to build their community. Free games and in-game content are always a hit with gamers, but they also let developers reach millions of new potential players. When Amazon acquired Twitch, the first thing the community asked was, ‘when will Twitch be bundled in with Amazon Prime?’ Twitch Prime answers that question in a way that speaks to our community.”
Member Benefits:
-
Free Digital Games and Game Loot: Twitch Prime members will receive a consistently updated selection of free digital video games and in-game loot like skins, characters, and boosts from the most popular games on Twitch. Starting today and until November 6, the newest hero in Hearthstone from Blizzard Entertainment, Tyrande Whisperwind, and an accompanying custom card back, will be available only for Twitch Prime members to claim and keep. Additionally, in October, members will get an exclusive Twitch Prime branded skin for Hi-Rez Studios’ action MOBA, SMITE; and a free copy of Streamline, a new game built for Twitch by Proletariat Studios.
-
Premium Twitch + Monthly Twitch Channel Subscription: Twitch Prime builds on the benefits of Twitch Turbo, Twitch’s original monthly subscription program, including ad-free Twitch viewing, custom emotes, special chat badges, and expanded chat colors. Plus, members receive one free Twitch channel subscription each month, normally $4.99 (equivalent to $59.88/year), to support their favorite streamer. When Twitch Prime members use these free channel subscriptions, the streamer is paid the same as if the member purchased the subscription separately.
-
Member Savings on New Release Games: Prime members receive exclusive discounts on new-release physical games sold by Amazon during the pre-order period and for the first two weeks after launch. Members also enjoy free Release Day Delivery on pre-order games, ensuring they get to play the latest games, like Gears of War 4 and Battlefield 1, immediately at launch, without waiting in line.
To celebrate the launch of Twitch Prime, Twitch has partnered with the GameChanger Charity, an independent non-profit that raises money and creates life-changing experiences for children with terminal illnesses. Between Friday, Sept. 30 and Wednesday, Oct. 5, Twitch will donate $100,000 to the GameChanger Charity for every 100,000 channel subscriptions made by Twitch viewers (up to $1 million total). All subscriptions count, including those using the free channel subscription that comes with Twitch Prime.
Yesterday TwitchCon 2016, Amazon Game Studios announced its first three games: Breakaway, New World, and Crucible.
In addition to announcing the games, Amazon Game Studios previewed and provided the first public, hands-on demo of Breakaway, a mythological sport brawler that will begin accepting a limited number of gamers into alpha later this year. Amazon Game Studios is building all three titles on the Amazon Lumberyard game engine, and each will include new Twitch features that put broadcasters in the spotlight and bring spectators into the action.
Here’s a little more about the games:
Breakaway: Legends alone. Champions Together.
Breakaway is a 4v4 mythological sport brawler built for fast action, teamwork, and live-streaming. Players assemble a team from an expanding roster of legendary warriors, including the relentless gladiator Spartacus, the twisted sorceress Morgan Le Fay, and the bloodthirsty warlord Vlad the Impaler. At the start of each round, warriors can summon persistent buildables onto the playing field that dynamically alter the game. Buildables can besiege foes, shield teammates, or create new pathways through the arena. Players fight for dominance across fabled locations such as El Dorado, Atlantis, and Styx. They battle to control the Relic–the center of Breakaway’s action–passing it to teammates, defending it from attackers, and smashing it into an opponent’s base to score.
Breakaway is powered by Amazon Lumberyard and integrates directly with Twitch. Breakaway introduces four new ways for the Twitch community to interact with broadcasters. Metastream allows streamers to customize their broadcasts with real-time stat overlays. Broadcaster Match Builder lets broadcasters invite their followers to join their matches. Broadcaster Spotlight adds to the excitement of streaming. It tells players when they’re in a match that’s being broadcast, and lets them follow the broadcaster with a single click. Stream+ gives broadcasters new ways to interact with their viewers through polls, and by allowing viewers to wager loyalty points that are redeemable for in-game rewards.
-
Sign up for the Breakaway alpha: www.playbreakaway.com
-
Watch Breakaway action throughout TwitchCon at www.twitch.tv/playbreakaway
-
Read Amazon Game Studios Orange County studio head Patrick Gilmore’s blog: https://games.amazon.com/article/build-for-twitch
New World is a massively multiplayer, open-ended sandbox game that allows players to carve out their own destiny with other players in a living, cursed land. Players decide how to play, what to do, and whom to work with–or against–in an evolving world that transforms with seasons, weather, and time of day. Players can band together to reclaim monster-haunted wilds and build thriving civilizations, or strike out alone, surviving in the face of supernatural terrors and murderous player bandits. With emergent gameplay and rich social features, including deep Twitch integration with broadcaster-led events, achievements, and rewards, the only limit in the New World is a player’s ambition.
Crucible is a battle to the last survivor on a hostile, alien world. Players choose and customize heroes, making alliances and betraying allies on their path to victory. An additional player heightens the drama by triggering events, live-streaming the battles, and interacting with viewers.
@amazongames
Good morning, World!
Today we are treated to the world premiere of the Gears of War 4 launch trailer. Check it out below and let us know you thoughts in the comments section and on our social media!
The countdown to October 11th has officially begun as Gears of War 4’s Launch Trailer releases today. Featuring never-before-seen action…and a few surprises.
25 years ago, Marcus Fenix and Delta Squad made Sera safe for tomorrow’s generation. His son JD has lived with that peace, until now. A new threat called the Swarm has emerged and now JD, along with his friends Del and Kait, must fight together and survive the night.
Narrated by John DiMaggio, the voice of Marcus Fenix, the new trailer features high-intensity action orchestrated by a cover of Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters,” as performed by Lissie. You can also catch the trailer’s television debut later tonight during Monday Night Football on ESPN (5:30PM PT/8:30PM ET).
With the October 11 launch date just a few short weeks away (or on October 7 with early access for Gears of War 4: Ultimate Edition owners) Gears of War 4 encourages players to ‘Never Fight Alone’ by teaming up with a friend through cross-platform co-op gameplay on Xbox One and Windows 10 platforms. As Gears of War 4 is an Xbox Play Anywhere title, you’ll be able to play across both Xbox One and Windows 10 PC, as all game progress, Gamerscore, and Achievements are saved on and accessible through Xbox Live.
For more on Gears of War 4, stay tuned to Xbox Wire and GearsofWar.com.