Amazon's new device is teeming with features and services that stream the latest movies and TV shows into the living room. Yet the Fire TV, (out in the US now, and expected autumn/Christmas in the UK), is more than just another set-top box, as beneath its tiny casing lurks a powerful games console. It may not fit the bill for the hardcore gaming fanatic but not since the Wii has there been an affordable console that's suitable for the whole family.
Here are five reasons why it might just be one of the most promising new games devices coming out this year.
It's affordable
PS4, Xbox One and Wii U are impressive machines with brilliant games, but they're also expensive – ranging from £250 up to £400. That means there's a gap in the market for a wallet-friendly games console.
Fire TV will set you back just $99 (expect it to be between £80-£100 in the UK), and Amazon says game prices will average at little over £1.
There are exclusive games
Fire TV is not the only set-top box that boasts video game functionality, but what separates Amazon's device is the exclusive software. The company has internal development studios, including the likes of Double Helix (the team behind Killer Instinct on Xbox One). Amazon has got a number of Fire TV-only games, but the big exclusive is Sev Zero. The hybrid tower defence/third-person shooter is visually lacking compared with some of the other titles on the platform, but it's been built specifically for the machine, runs smoothly, and even boasts local multiplayer options.
It has a real controller
The Fire Game Controller is available separately and at $40 (£23), not cheap, although it comes with a free copy of Sev Zero. But what Amazon is offering here is a robust controller that is akin to traditional game pads; in fact it even looks like the Xbox 360 controller (right down to the X, Y, A and B buttons). The controller means Fire TV can host "serious" games.
Voice and tablet control
As with Kinect on Xbox, Fire TV lets users search for content using voice. A microphone is built into the remote control and vocal commands are then sent back into the cloud, with the results presented in a matter of seconds. Fire TV also offers Wii U-like second-screen gameplay. There are a number of games, including the aforementioned Sev Zero, that lets one player control the game on the TV, while another helps out using a tablet.
Minecraft is coming
Several publishers have committed to Fire TV, such as EA, 2K, Ubisoft, Sega and Square Enix, and there are a number of big games confirmed, such as the acclaimed adventure The Walking Dead. But arguably the biggest release is Minecraft. The hit construction game has sold around 50m units across PC, Xbox 360, PS3 and smartphones worldwide, and it will be available from day one on Fire TV.
