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Amazon is developing a new Fire OS dubbed “Vega” to replace Android across its Fire TV and smart home devices, according to LowPass. The move signals Amazon’s aim to control its software stack and reduce dependency on Google’s operating system.
Vega is based on Linux and uses a web-centric React Native framework for building apps. This allows developers to build once and deploy across iOS, Android, and Amazon’s platform. Vega has already been tested on Fire TV and Amazon has briefed partners about transitioning to the new OS.
Sources say Amazon could ship Vega on Fire TV products as early as next year, eventually replacing Android entirely across Fire tablets, Echo Shows, and more. The ambitious OS even aims to power future products like in-car entertainment systems.
The custom OS gives Amazon more control and frees it from following Android’s slower update cadence. It also reduces Android’s unnecessary mobile-focused code for smart home devices. While competitive pressures with Google likely factored in, Amazon is focused on reaching users across devices and monetizing through ads and services.
Vega represents a big bet on Amazon’s custom software expertise. Migrating the Fire TV ecosystem from Android won’t be easy. But Amazon has the scale and incentive to pull it off over time. If Vega delivers on its promises, it could supercharge Amazon’s ambitions to be the operating system for the next generation of immersive, connected experiences.
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