Amazon is set to revolutionize its Fire TV devices by transitioning from Android to a custom-built operating system known as Vega. This innovative, Linux-based OS will debut on TV streaming hardware before the end of the year, according to a recent job listing for a software development manager position within the company’s Prime Video service. The listing emphasizes the goal of creating a Vega OS product that will “delight customers worldwide,” indicating Amazon's commitment to enhancing user experience.
The job listing also highlights that the official launch of the Vega app is planned for 2025, providing the new engineering leader an opportunity to shape both the product and the team's culture. Interestingly, Amazon revised the job listing to remove any references to Vega following inquiries, and the company has declined to make any further comments. However, insiders suggest that an official announcement could occur as early as next Tuesday during Amazon’s scheduled event in New York, where the company is expected to unveil its fall devices lineup.
Since the introduction of the first Fire TV device in 2014, Amazon has relied on a forked version of Android for its Fire TV Sticks and smart TVs running on Fire TV OS. However, the company has been planning a transition away from Android for several years, a move that was initially reported two years ago. The Vega operating system, designed in-house, is based on Linux and aims to function seamlessly across various devices. Utilizing React Native as its application framework, Vega allows developers to create native apps with JavaScript, ensuring compatibility across multiple TV operating systems.
Although Amazon has not yet officially acknowledged Vega OS, the company has already launched several devices powered by this new system. The latest models of the Echo Show 5 and Echo Hub smart displays, along with the Echo Spot smart clock, are all operating on Vega. Reports suggest that Amazon plans to extend Vega to certain Fire tablets as well, further expanding the OS’s reach.
Over the years, there have been several leaks regarding Vega. A recent job listing for a “Software Development Engineer, Vega OS” indicated the need for expertise in getting Vega operational across various devices, including those for multimodal, TV, and automotive applications. This week’s job listing serves as the most definitive indication yet that the launch of TV devices running on Vega is imminent.
In addition to the anticipated 2025 launch, the job listing notes that the team will be responsible for the dedicated Prime Video app on Vega OS, as well as all Prime Video experiences on the Vega Launcher. This suggests that, similar to the existing Fire TV OS, Vega will offer a content-first homescreen experience, which prioritizes showcasing individual shows and movies rather than merely listing apps.
Amazon has been collaborating with prominent app developers to transition their applications to the new OS, actively encouraging partners to ensure their apps are ready for launch. However, enthusiasm for the project appears to be tempered, as smart TV app developers are already tasked with creating applications for various platforms, including Google TV/Android, LG webOS, Roku, and Samsung’s Tizen OS. Notably, Amazon does not plan to integrate Vega into existing Fire TV devices, allowing TV manufacturers to continue producing Android-based Fire TVs for the foreseeable future. This means developers will need to target two operating systems while creating Fire TV apps.
In light of these challenges, Amazon developer advocate Giovanni Laquidara recently released a project called TVChameleon, aimed at assisting developers in transitioning native Android TV applications to React Native TV. This initiative is designed to facilitate the migration to the new OS and support developers in adapting to the evolving landscape.
Additional details regarding Vega OS may emerge during Amazon’s fall devices event in New York next Tuesday. Media invites for the event hint at announcements related to new Kindles, smart speakers, and TV hardware, with sources indicating that Vega will likely be introduced as a TV OS. However, one source cautioned that the announcement may be relatively low-key, with no specific hardware details available at this time.
Earlier in the year, multiple sources indicated that Amazon intended to initially launch Vega on a lower-powered Fire TV Stick, although this information has yet to be confirmed. The company had previously planned to unveil such a device last year but delayed announcements regarding Vega multiple times. As the launch date approaches, there remains the possibility that Amazon could postpone the release once more, potentially pushing it back to 2026.
