Are Amazon Prime Games Permanent?

Are Amazon Prime Games Permanent? Unpacking the Truth About Your Free Titles

So, you’ve snagged some cool free games through Amazon Prime Gaming, and now you’re wondering: do these games stay with me forever? It’s a great question, and the answer isn’t always as simple as a yes or no. Let’s dive into the details and figure out exactly what happens to those free goodies.

The Core of Prime Gaming: How It Works

Amazon Prime Gaming, if you’re new to it, is a perk that comes with your Amazon Prime membership. Just like getting free shipping and access to Prime Video, you also get free games and other in-game content each month. It’s like a monthly treasure chest for gamers! But here’s the main thing to keep in mind, the way you get your free games is very important when thinking about if they are yours to keep or not. It can also be different for every game. It is important to know that games that are ‘claimed’ are different from games that are provided ‘free to play’ through the cloud.

Claiming vs. Free to Play

This is where things get interesting. Amazon Prime Gaming typically offers two kinds of “free” games:

• Claimable Games: These are games you “claim” and add to your library. Think of it like picking up a free item at the store – once it’s in your bag, it’s yours.
• Free-to-Play Games Through Cloud Gaming: Sometimes, Amazon offers games to play instantly through cloud gaming. This means you can play right away without downloading.

The key difference is that claimed games can usually be kept while free-to-play cloud games may not be.

Delving Deeper into Claimable Games

So, if a game is “claimable,” what does that actually mean? It usually involves a few steps:

1. You see a game being offered on the Prime Gaming page.
2. You click the “Claim” button (it might say something similar).
3. Sometimes you receive a code or a link that you then need to redeem on another platform, like the game’s own website or a digital store.
4. Once you redeem the code or link and the game is added to your account on that platform, you own it.

This means you can download and play it whenever you want, even if you cancel your Amazon Prime subscription. The important aspect is that the game becomes a permanent part of your library on the platform where you redeemed it, such as EA App, GOG or Epic Games. Think of it as moving your game from Amazon to its permanent digital home.

The Role of Redemption Platforms

It’s very important to remember where you redeem your claimed game. This is where the game ultimately lives, and where you’ll download, install and play it from.

Here are some typical places you might redeem your Prime Gaming games:

• GOG: If your code is for GOG (formerly Good Old Games), your game will be added to your GOG account. You can then play it on your computer through the GOG Galaxy launcher.
• Epic Games Store: Similarly, Epic Games codes put the game into your Epic Games library.
• EA App: If the game is an EA title, it gets added to your EA App library.
• Amazon Games app: Certain games are directly redeemed and playable via the Amazon Games app for PC.
• Other platforms: Depending on the games given away, sometimes other platforms will be used, each has its own specific way to install and play them.

Keep a careful record of where you redeemed each game, as this is where you’ll manage it in the future.

The Nuances of “Free to Play” via Cloud Gaming

Now, let’s talk about cloud gaming. Instead of claiming a game, Amazon sometimes offers games to play instantly through their cloud platform. These work very differently from claimed games.

How Cloud Gaming Works

Cloud gaming means you’re not actually downloading or installing the game on your computer. Instead, the game runs on Amazon’s servers, and the video and sound are streamed to your device, kind of like how you watch a movie on Netflix.

Here’s the thing – because the game is not “claimed” and is provided as a service, it is only available to play while you have an active Prime subscription and the offer to play is available.

Cloud Game Availability is Temporary

Unlike claimed games, these free-to-play cloud games are usually available for a limited time. Amazon may provide access for a specific number of days or weeks. Once that period is over, the game is no longer playable for free, even if you keep your Prime subscription. You might need to pay to continue playing after the promotion ends.

It is important to read the details and rules associated with each cloud gaming offer, as time limitations can vary. Also, if you have the cloud game on your game library in other platforms, that will remain yours. For example, a free to play cloud game via prime that is also on Epic, would remain yours if you already claimed it from there. Cloud gaming via Amazon does not claim a game for you or copy your game to a new library.

What Happens if You Cancel Amazon Prime?

This is a common worry: what if I stop paying for Amazon Prime? The good news is that this has no impact on claimed games.

Claimed Games Remain Yours

As long as you claimed and redeemed the games on the other platforms (like GOG, Epic Games, etc), they are yours to keep, even if you cancel your Prime membership. They are tied to your accounts on those platforms, not your Amazon Prime account.

Cloud Gaming Access Ends

However, access to cloud games will end if you cancel Prime. This is because cloud gaming is a service tied directly to your Prime membership. Once that membership is gone, so is access to those cloud games.

Key Differences Summarized

Let’s break it down further with a helpful table:

Think of it this way: claimed games are like getting a free DVD that you can watch anytime; cloud games are like borrowing a movie from a library – you have access for a while, but you have to give it back.

Keeping Track of Your Games

With so many freebies coming through Prime Gaming, it’s a good idea to keep track of what you’ve claimed and where.

Tips for Organizing Your Digital Library

• Use a Spreadsheet: Create a simple spreadsheet with columns for game name, where you redeemed it (GOG, Epic, etc.), and notes about any important details.
• Check the Claimed Games Page: Amazon Prime Gaming has a page for seeing the games you’ve already claimed. Use this to double check all that you own.
• Platform Libraries: Familiarize yourself with the library sections of each game platform (GOG, Epic, EA App). This is where you’ll manage and play your games.
• Create Folders: Organize your game launcher’s library into folders for easy navigation.

Avoiding Confusion

• Always Claim: Make sure you always click the ‘claim’ button for the monthly games to add them to your Amazon library. This should be the first step to claiming a game permanently.
• Redeem Promptly: Redeem the codes and links as soon as you receive them. Sometimes they can have an expiration date.
• Double-Check: If you’re unsure if a game is a cloud game or a claimable one, read the description carefully. Amazon will normally indicate how the game is available.

Keeping organized can save you from missing out on free games or struggling to find them later on.

A Word on In-Game Content

Besides games themselves, Amazon Prime Gaming also offers lots of in-game content like skins, weapons, and other items for various games. These also have different rules.

How In-Game Content Works

• Codes or Direct Transfers: Some in-game content is delivered as a code you need to redeem within the game, or is automatically applied to your linked game account.
• Limited-Time Offers: Like cloud games, these items are often available for a limited time, and could even require an active Prime subscription to use them.

Pay close attention to the details of each offer. They usually have a specific time limit for claiming and sometimes, they require a Prime subscription to keep using them.

Will you lose content if you cancel?

Usually, if the in game content is redeemed to an account, it stays. But, for games that require prime to be active to even play it, the associated in-game content that depends on that game, won’t be available to use if your Prime is not active anymore.

Amazon Prime Gaming is a great perk for subscribers. The free games are a nice addition to your game collection, as long as you understand the rules. Claimable games are permanently yours after redemption. Cloud games, on the other hand, only last as long as the offer or your Prime subscription. By staying organized, you can ensure you get the most out of your Amazon Prime Gaming goodies. This way, you’ll always know what’s yours to keep and what’s not.