Amazon Fire TV announced, will get games from 2K, Ubisoft, and more

As expected, Amazon has announced an Android-based set-top box. Fire TV looks a lot like Vita TV, and features a quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, and will support games.

Andrew Yoon

April 2, 2014 9:00 AM

As expected, Amazon has announced an Android-based set-top box. Fire TV looks a lot like Vita TV, and features a quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, and ports for HDMI, optical audio, and Ethernet. Much like its other Fire devices, it'll have a heavy emphasis on media, launching with Hulu, Netflix, and Amazon Prime, of course. However, gamers will be most curious about the device's gaming capabilities. According to Engadget, a number of publishers have signed up to bring content to the platform, including 2K, Double Fine, and Ubisoft. Minecraft is also coming to Fire TV, just in case you don't already own the PS3 or Xbox 360 version. You'll be able to play games with the included remote, a custom Amazon app for your phone or tablet, or a game controller (sold separately). Here's what it looks like:

Amazon jumps into gaming

Fire TV is available right now on Amazon for $99. The controller is sold separately for $40.

Andrew Yoon

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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April 2, 2014 9:00 AM

Andrew Yoon posted a new article, Amazon Fire TV announced, will get games from 2K, Ubisoft, and more.

As expected, Amazon has announced an Android-based set-top box. Fire TV looks a lot like Vita TV, and features a quad-core CPU, 2GB of RAM, and will support games.
- evilbabygenius
  
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  April 2, 2014 9:34 AM
  
  specs look worrisome for gaming. I'll stick to console/PC. However...it hasn't been very clear on whether or not it can play files from your network. Apple TV can, WDTV can, and all the rest seem to rely on another app like PLEX (ew). I run all of my files from a small read-only HDD hooked to my router. If the FireTV cant play those, then why bother?
  - HyperionAlpha
    
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    April 2, 2014 9:43 AM
    
    Because you're someone who would rather use Amazon Prime and stream what you get from there than torrenting or DVRing your own shows and movies, because you don't mind dropping $3 for a movie the day it's released, etc. etc. etc.
  - daggot
    
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    April 2, 2014 9:43 AM
    
    The specs are pretty much in-line with a phone/tablet. Probably the same specs as the HD or even HDX. I assume someone will crack it open by next week and we'll know what cpu it has at least. It'll probably be more powerful than Ouya, so maybe a rung higher than Wii U. Bigger question will be about the controller and how well it responds. Can't tell if this only plays Fire TV version of games or if you can play anything from the current app store. Interesting that Sonic CD is the free app today. That would be a good game to test the controller with.
    
    The unit has a USB port on it, but nothing was mentioned about what it could do. Maybe external storage.
    - cetra00
      
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      April 2, 2014 9:52 AM
      
      They announced detailed specs a bit ago:
      
      Qualcomm Snapdragon 8064 SOC:
      -Qualcomm Krait 300 quad-core @1.7 Ghz CPU
      -Qualcomm Adreno 320 GPU
      - daggot
        
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        April 2, 2014 10:50 AM
        
        Ah.. I missed that then. Yeah, pretty much mi-spec tablet then.
      - daggot
        
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        April 2, 2014 5:57 PM
        
        Had to look this up. So the Adreno 320 is probably the same one in the N7 (2013). That would be in alignment with the price. Guess I shouldn't expect 330 performance at this price point.
  - Fred Garvin
    
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    April 2, 2014 10:01 AM
    
    From what we've been told it's about 360/PS3 level performance wise.
    - daggot
      
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      April 2, 2014 12:02 PM
      
      That seems reasonable.
    - skankcore
      
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      April 2, 2014 1:49 PM
      
      Right. Let me know when this thing can play GTAV.
    - st4rdog
      
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      April 2, 2014 2:16 PM
      
      Fred, you are taking the mickey. There is 0 chance this is even close to 360/PS3. It is a mobile device. Just because a tablet has 2GB+ RAM it doesn't mean it can get one quarter the graphics of 360/PS3.
      - Grape Flavor
        
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        April 2, 2014 3:08 PM
        
        I don't know if you realize how powerful modern mobile chips are or just how old the last-gen consoles are.
        
        If mobile devices in 2014 aren't yet as powerful as a games console from 2005, they will be soon.
        
        Pettytheft
        
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        April 2, 2014 4:35 PM
        
        I don't think you realize just how much tablet and phone devices leave out. Let me know when you have a game with a remotely decent draw distance or that can have several characters on screen during a multiplayer battle. Or like someone above said, GTA V.
  - prime8
    
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    April 2, 2014 10:24 AM
    
    It's android based so your not going to see full PC type games. You're going to see the same type of stuff you see on the Play store.
    - [deleted] 1271987451
      
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      April 2, 2014 10:42 AM
      
      [deleted]
      - derelict515
        
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        April 2, 2014 11:33 AM
        
        those companies make mobile games already
    - daggot
      
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      April 2, 2014 10:51 AM
      
      I think we could given they built this to go with the controller. I get that they didn't include the controller to keep the price down, and for those that won't care about the games - like my parents. But, pretty much if you're go game on this you'll have a controller, so that opens up a lot of game play options vs touch.
    - Fred Garvin
      
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      April 2, 2014 10:57 AM
      
      They are courting devs that have bigger titles in mind.
    - threeup
      
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      April 2, 2014 11:31 AM
      
      I expect the big publishers will add the gamepad control schemes to their existing android games and the smaller devs wait and see if people buy the controller. It is a massive risk to target android fire tv only and you can't really throw it in last minute or as a patch because the input experience can be extremely different.
- EnhancedInterrogator
  
   reply
  April 2, 2014 10:16 AM
  
  I imagine this will be a pretty popular device. It could take a lot of marketshare from Roku and Apple TV.
  
  I'm excited for the indie games we'll see on here if it gets popular enough, because whatever's good will eventually come to PC too.
- dumb.
  
   reply
  April 2, 2014 10:51 AM
  
  Amazon TV shares name with online porn site by our boy Chris Morris
  
  http://www.cnbc.com/id/101548651
- Visceral Monkey
  
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  April 2, 2014 11:57 AM
  
  Has 7.1 pass through, 2 gigs of ram and a plex client. Nice.
  - evilbabygenius
    
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    April 2, 2014 12:25 PM
    
    but doesn't the PLEX client require a pc/mac/device running the server software in order to stream? Or have they implemented the ability to get files from a network hard drive or NAS?
    
    I don't see the point...if Im turning on my PC, i'll just watch a movie on that, but if I want to save power, ill use the firetv, if it can stream from a NAS.
    - daggot
      
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      April 2, 2014 12:56 PM
      
      There is Plex for NAS.
      https://plexapp.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/201373823
      
      The point of Plex to be able to play that content in more places; especially the larger screen in the living room, or at least the living room usually much more comfortable seats than your pc chair. As nice as my chair is, the couch is still more comfortable. :) Plus the surround sound and big o' sub.
- [deleted] 1338166980
  
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  April 2, 2014 1:41 PM
  
  [deleted]
- Firefly1985
  
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  April 2, 2014 2:10 PM
  
  I want to see this thing formatted with Steam OS, and then used to stream.
  - [deleted] 439710436
    
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    April 2, 2014 2:13 PM
    
    [deleted]
- st4rdog
  
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  April 2, 2014 2:14 PM
  
  The controller is almost half the price of the device. This thing isn't even as powerful as my phone!
  - CptPlankton
    
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    April 2, 2014 2:17 PM
    
    you're phone probably costs way more!
    - CptPlankton
      
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      April 2, 2014 2:17 PM
      
      fuck, wrong your
- [deleted] 362342491
  
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  April 2, 2014 7:39 PM
  
  [deleted]