Amazon reportedly working on games console

Amazon is working on an Android based console that will launch later this year, according to several reports.

Sources close to GameInformer say that it would play games "already available on its platform" and will come with its own controller.

Games industry insider Superannuation also noted that Amazon has been hiring several key personnel recently.

They include former Square Enix CEO Mike Fisher, Microsoft Studios' executive producer David Holmes, business strategy and development director for Kinect Nick Dimitrov and former vice president of third-party development at Trion Worlds David Luehmann.

Meanwhile Amazon product manager Grady Karp has a LinkedIn profile which claims the retailer is working on a "new, unannounced consumer device".

If the reports are true it would likely mean Amazon's console would go up against other Android based platforms such as the recently released Ouya.