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Amazon working on a new Android based gaming device: Report

Amazon working on a new Android-based gaming device: Report

By Anupam Saxena | Updated: 12 August 2013 17:29 IST

After entering the tablets segment, it looks like Amazon is now eyeing the gaming devices market.

According to a new report by Game Informer, the online retail giant is working on an Android-based gaming console for release by the end of this year. The report cites unnamed sources to inform that the device could be launched on Black Friday, the day following Thanksgiving day in the US which falls on November 29, this year.

The report adds that the console will also have its own, dedicated controller and that Amazon will be leveraging the titles already available on its platform.

VentureBeat's GamesBeat also says that it had "independently heard rumblings of an Amazon game console," and that a developer had told the website about Amazon showing a version of its gaming device to developers and that Amazon was seeking content, especially casual games, for the device. It also adds that Amazon has also been hiring a large number of game developers.

A TechCrunch report also cites a reliable source to inform that the said device could be powered by a Qualcomm MPQ chip, the Snapdragon processor line that powers smart TVs and set top boxes.

It says that it refrained from reporting the development as a couple of sources were not sure if Amazon was serious about creating such a device.

As expected Amazon has refused to comment on the matter stating that the company does not comment on rumours or speculation.

Other Android-based gaming consoles include Nvidia's Shield, that went on sale in US and Canada on July 31 and Ouya and GameStick, which are crowd funded gaming consoles that got funding via Kickstarter.

The Nvidia Shield is a handheld console sporting a 5-inch multi-touch display with a resolution of 720x1280 pixels. It's powered by a Tegra 4 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM. Shield allows gamers to play games from Nvidia's TegraZone, Google Play and Valve's Steam. Meanwhile, Ouya plugs into televisions and was launched with more than 150 games that provide some degree of free play. However, both devices are not really mainstream.

If a player like Amazon enters the Android gaming device segment, we can expect it to create buzz and take the segment to a new level reaching out to more gamers, even casual ones.

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