Amazon has introduced its new Vega OS platform, marking the beginning of a shift away from Android-based Fire OS on Fire TV hardware.
The first device to feature Vega OS is the Fire TV Stick 4K Select, which launched this week. The Linux-based operating system has been designed to be lighter and faster than Fire OS, with Amazon claiming improved app launch times despite modest device specifications. The stick delivers 4K picture quality with HDR10+ support.
To maintain continuity, Amazon has unveiled a Cloud App Program, enabling Android versions of apps not yet ported to Vega to be streamed to Vega OS devices. For many publishers, Amazon will cover the cost of this cloud streaming service for nine months.
Unlike Fire OS, Vega does not support sideloading, restricting installations to apps distributed through the Amazon Appstore. Support for Xbox Gaming, Luna, and Alexa+ is promised at a later stage.
Amazon says it will continue to release new Fire TV products on Fire OS during the transition and confirmed that existing devices will remain supported. Developers are being offered tools to help port apps, including Vega WebView and React Native support.
The move reflects Amazon’s ambition to tighten integration of hardware and software, while also limiting dependence on Google’s Android ecosystem.
