Amazon Locks Down Fire TV With Proprietary Vega OS, Eliminating Sideloading

Amazon is fundamentally shifting Fire TV from an open platform to a tightly controlled ecosystem by requiring all future Fire Sticks to run on proprietary Vega OS, which prohibits sideloading of third-party apps. This move gives Amazon complete control over software availability and monetization through its Appstore, significantly limiting user freedom and developer flexibility. The transition signals a broader industry trend toward walled gardens in consumer hardware.