Amazon Fire TV Game Controller is “Under Review” and “Currently Unavailable” due to customer complaints

Amazon’s Fire TV Game Controller is no longer available to purchase. A message on the product page states that the item is “under review” and the listing is “currently unavailable” due to customer feedback. This is very likely due to Amazon dropping support for their game controller on all newer generation Fire TV devices earlier this year. The product page states that the controller is only “compatible with Fire TV Stick,” but that doesn’t seem to be enough warning to avoid making numerous customers upset who purchased the controller thinking it would work with their newer Fire TV model.

The review rating of the Fire TV Game Controller has dropped from a 4.0 star to a 3.7 star since Amazon removed support for the controller on the Fire TV Cube and Fire TV 3 (pendant). Amazon’s game controller has been available for over 3 years, yet about a quarter of all 1 star reviews have come in during the last 3 months.

It’s a shame because Amazon’s Fire TV Game Controller is actually a fantastic device. It was introduced back in 2015 in conjunction with the 2nd-gen Fire TV, which was offered in a gaming edition bundle that included the controller. Later Fire TV models, including the Fire TV Stick 2, the Fire TV 3, and the Fire TV Cube, all supported the game controller as well.

The 1st generation Fire TV Edition televisions from Westinghouse and Element were the first Fire TV devices not to support the game controller. The 2nd generation Fire TV Edition televisions from Toshiba and Insignia also didn’t support the game controller, but that was to be expected. The Fire TV Stick 4K was the first Amazon hardware to launch without support for their own game controller and, as already stated, the Fire TV Cube and Fire TV 3 dropped support with a recent software update.

Amazon’s own hardware has gone “under review” in the past, only to become available again within a few hours, so it’s likely that the Fire TV Game Controller will become available again. Amazon just needs to make it clearer which models support the gamepad. Saying “Compatible with Fire TV Stick” isn’t clear enough because many Fire TV Stick 4K owners will surely think that includes their devices. I’ve seen plenty of people refer to the Fire TV 3 pendant as a “4K Firestick,” so there’s certainly confusion there as well.

21 comments
  1. Dennis says:

    Does the controller work at all with the new Fire TV stick???

    • OscarLeif says:

      No it will not work

    • Alonna says:

      Yes it works on Firestick 2nd gen I use to use it before I switch to a Game Sir 4S Bluetooth controller

    • AFTVnews says:

      It only works with the 1st-gen Fire TV Box (released in 2014), 1st-gen Fire TV Stick (released in 2014), 2nd-gen Fire TV Box (released in 2015), and 2nd-gen Fire TV Stick (released in 2016, Current Model).

      It does not work with any other Fire TVs, including the new Fire TV Stick 4K.

      • Nene Ward says:

        I bought this games controller in black friday now i see is not worked for me, my question is with what device i can use it because im trying to pair with my android phone and nothing work for play, can give some tips please?

      • Tango says:

        … 4k stick…
        ne1 got the Logitech wired f310 to work?
        or any other peripherals?
        here is my list:
        Logitech k400 keyboard:yes
        usb flash drive:yes
        f310:no
        wired matricom xyba:no
        Bluetooth matricom:connects, but random bt lockups so:no
        latest firmware is installed.

  2. Mark says:

    I use one with my Fire TV Cube with no issues

  3. KIen says:

    Now I see it is available again on amazon.

  4. Dumb says:

    If I knew that controllers were such a issue new fire stick I would not have purchased it, quite unhappy with this issue. Can still return it, think I will. Just get cube instead.

  5. Ujn Hunter says:

    “Fire TV Cube and Fire TV 3 dropped support with a recent software update” <—This should not even be legal. Sounds like a case for a class action lawsuit. Not that it would do any good… when Sony dropped Other OS from the PS3, 5-6 years later they ended up giving people $10.16 for their trouble.

  6. Tony Ramirez says:

    The first gen Fire TV controller was great it used bluetooth and I used it all the time on my retropie setup. The battery’s lasted a long time.

    The new one although looks better uses that Wifi crap, no blutooth support which it does not work on the retropie or even the newer devices. Also it drains your batteries when not in use. Reminds me of the Wii controller you put fresh batteries then you don’t use it for a week then you go to use it and it is low battery.

  7. Radar says says:

    Amazon needs to have a “compatibility guide” similar to auto parts for many accessories.

  8. Tango says:

    To add to the confusion, it is now “Amazon’s Choice” for Fire TV wireless controllers. Good lord, what a cluster!

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