back to article GG n00b lol! Amazon frags support for its own games controllers

In a bold move, Amazon has ended support for its own games controllers on its own streaming box. A recent update to its Fire TV caused the official Fire TV Game Controller to stop working. Users initially though it was a bug that would be ironed out with a quick update but it turns out that the decision was intentional. …

  1. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Presumably no consumer laws were broken

    Actually, on second thoughts, I'd confident that to specifically and intentionally disable a capability that the device had when it was sold would comfortably breach consumer protection laws in all civilised countries.

    I wonder if Amazon will be held to account?

    No, I don't think so either; Amazon are presumably assuming that the las of the most consumer-hating of all US states can be unilaterally applied to all other US states, and indeed the rest of the world.

    1. Mark 85

      Re: Presumably no consumer laws were broken

      I would think that some sort of action should be taken. They crippled and disabled much of it's capability and then continue to sell it? I feel sorry for anyone who bought one at this point but not so sorry for anyone buying one from here on out.

      1. Dan 55 Silver badge

        Re: Presumably no consumer laws were broken

        I think they think if it works with at least one other piece of hardware (Fire TV Stick) they've got a get-out clause, which would be very wrong in the EU.

        It also doesn't say much for their development if maintaining support for the same controller on four different devices is so difficult.

        1. MiguelC Silver badge

          Re: Presumably no consumer laws were broken

          Except if you bought the controller to use with your fire TV a week or a month before support was cut. Indeed, if you bought it at any time during your warranty period you should be granted the right, at the very least, to a full refund

          1. mazenn

            Re: Presumably no consumer laws were broken

            I would think that some sort of action should be taken. They crippled and disabled much of it's capability and then continue to sell it

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Presumably no consumer laws were broken

        Have to disagree somewhat ... Not really fair on non-techie parents who get bugged to buy one by their little treasure(s). If Amazon continue selling what now amounts to a brick, they should clearly state it's a brick.

    2. mazenn

      Re: Presumably no consumer laws were broken

      I wonder if Amazon will be held to account?

      No, I don't think so either; Amazon are presumably assuming that the las of the most consumer-hating of all US states can be unilaterally applied to all other US states, and indeed the rest of the world.

  2. Richard 12 Silver badge

    They did it to me a few years back

    I ended up getting a full refund on the 18 month old bluray player and a half price Fire TV.

    However I had to kick up quite a fuss and mention the Sale of Goods Act a couple of times.

    1. Richard 12 Silver badge

      Re: They did it to me a few years back

      BTW- the SoGA is updated/superseded by the Consumer Rights Act 2015, which added a lot of rights regarding digital content and services - and does explicitly cover this type of loss of functionality.

      (The CRA implements EU regulations, so is one of those pesky things that Brexiteers are so upset about...)

  3. OffBeatMammal

    sad

    I'm not a big gamer (bejewelled is still my go-to!) but I do enjoy kicking back at the weekend and playing a bit of Asphalt8 on my FireTV with the gaming controller.... if it's stopped working with this latest update I'll be a bit disgruntled (it's not quite the same playing it with the FireTV remote!)

  4. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Shouldn’t affect anyone here.

    Real adults don’t play computer games. Fact.

    1. m0rt

      Re: Shouldn’t affect anyone here.

      I'll just stick to Unreal Tournament then..

      (Real adults don't hide behind anon.)

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        (Real adults don't hide behind anon.)

        m0rt's on your birth certificate is it?

        1. m0rt

          Re: (Real adults don't hide behind anon.)

          "m0rt's on your birth certificate is it?"

          OF course not.

          Despite the whole use of '*Real* adults' inferring that you have a very rigid definition of labels, and the fact that biological and legal adults *do* in fact play computer games, as indeed use false names on forums, as well as hide behind AC, means that those two comments, mine and yours, are bullshit.

        2. Kane
          FAIL

          Re: (Real adults don't hide behind anon.)

          "m0rt's on your birth certificate is it?"

          Anonymous Coward is on your birth certificate is it?

    2. Kane
      Trollface

      Re: Shouldn’t affect anyone here.

      "Real adults don’t play computer games. Fact."

      See, my first reaction was "RRAAAAARGGHHHH!!!" (I've been playing the 2016 version of Doom a lot recently, it seems to have been affecting my emotional state - damned Cacodemons...), as it's such a spurious statement to make, but then I noticed you posted as an Anonymous Coward, and then I thought "Ahhh, just another Troll".

      But then I also noticed the very last word of your statement. "Fact."

      You are Donald Trump, and I claim my £10 Game voucher! Here's the link, you can email it to me later!

    3. Captain Scarlet
      Trollface

      Re: Shouldn’t affect anyone here.

      Ah so you stopped playing computer games after being t-bagged for the 50th time in a row

    4. A. Coatsworth Silver badge

      Re: Shouldn’t affect anyone here.

      >> Real adults don’t play computer games. Fact.

      Damn right! real adults are too broke to buy *computer* games... a Master Race rig is way too expensive! So they stick to one-gen-behind cheaper consoles.... at least is what I do.

      For my part, I'll continue exploring the Mojave waste in New Vegas, thank you very much

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Billion dollar US tax-dodging megacorp fucks over it's customers

    Colour me surprised.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Billion dollar US tax-dodging megacorp fucks over it's customers

      it's = it is.

      its = possessive...

      Why the hell do most people who would probably claim to be not stupid not know this!

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Billion dollar US tax-dodging megacorp fucks over it's customers

        Because grammar is no longer taught. This is why we have cretins using "of" instead of "have" and words like "fucken" and "bigly".

        The world is becoming dumber...

        1. Geoffrey W

          Re: Billion dollar US tax-dodging megacorp fucks over it's customers

          The world was always dumb, it's just staying dumb but in different ways.

          PS Everyone is dumb in some way.

  6. 0laf
    WTF?

    So I spend £30 on an Amazon Controller to use on an Amazon TV box whilst always having Amazon subscription and they decide that after a year or so, naa we're going to brick your kit coz we can't be arsed.

    There is a reason Car manufacturers have to provide support and parts for a minimum period of time. I think we need to look at this for tech manufacturers as well especially if the current crop of politicals are allegedly so interested in plastic waste.

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Stop fucking whining...

    and buy something else. #firstworldproblems #noactionjustmoaning #keyboardwarrior #barista

    1. Kane
      Trollface

      Re: Stop fucking whining...

      "Stop fucking whining...and buy something else."

      What if the product has already been purchased?

      #ConsumerRights #SaleofGoodsAct #ICan'tBeBotheredToComeUpWithAnotherHashtag

  8. RaspberryPi1

    Looks like time to research this thing.

    If anyone knows anything about how the protocols and such work on the 2nd gen controllers work please reply.

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