Amazon could be replacing Android on Fire TV devices with the custom “Vega OS” as soon as next week. The new system is apparently Linux-based and set to launch before the end of 2025.
According to The Verge, Amazon is going to announce Vega OS during its Devices & Services event, which will take place on September 30 in New York. The retail giant announced the event last week, but has remained pretty tight-lipped about what it plans to showcase next Tuesday.
The reveal was spotted in a since-altered job listing that confirms both the existence of Vega OS and its potential release window.
“The Prime Video Fire TV organization is seeking an engineering leader that will help in building a Vega OS product that will delight customers worldwide. With the app launching in 2025, you will get to shape the future of this product as well as the culture of the team,” the job listing reportedly read.
Amazon apparently edited the job listing after being contacted about Vega OS, and declined to comment on the post.
What’s happening with Vega OS?
Amazon has been attempting to move on from Android for a while. Several reports form 2023 claimed that Amazon was building its own OS, codenamed Vega, with tests being done on Fire TV streaming sticks as well as the 3rd generation Echo Show 5.
Earlier this year, it was reported that Amazon is “courting major publishers” to bring their apps onboard Vega.
The Verge’s report claims that Vega will only be available on new Fire TV devices, so Amazon won’t be completely divorced from the forked version of Android in FireOS just yet. Allegedly, Amazon is also going to let TV manufacturers continue making Android-based Fire TVs for some time as well.
A Reuters report from August said that Amazon is revamping its Fire Tablet lineup by fully embracing Android in its tablets. However, it was also reported that some “lower-priced tablet” might utilize Vega OS.
A split lineup of Android and Vega devices seem counterintuitive to Amazon’s plans but LowPass claimed that Amazon is struggling to get developers excited about Vega OS, as it’s another system for them to create apps.
Despite reports that next week’s event will be “low-key,” it seems likely it could be where we see Vega OS for the first time.
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