Google Announces Nexus Player, An Android TV-Based Over-The-Top Device

Thanks to its $35 Chromecast dongle, Google provides a competitive option for TV watches looking to “cut the cord.” Now, Google is adding a more advanced device to its over-the-top (OTT) offering. Today, it announced the Nexus Player, a $99 OTT player that will run the Android TV platform.

The Nexus Player is a hockey puck-shaped device that will cost $99, giving it the same price tag as competing devices like the Roku 3, Apple TV, and Amazon Fire TV. Of those three, the Nexus Player most closely resembles Amazon’s set-top box, since it will also give users the ability to play video games. As with Fire TV, Nexus’ game controller will cost an additional $39.

The Nexus Player is the first device to run Android TV, which is essentially a rebranded version of the Google TV service first launched in 2010. The original Google TV was poorly received, and Google made the decision to transition to Android TV earlier this year. While Android TV’s basic function is the same as its predecessor–it lets users watch video from their favorite online video platforms through their TV screens–it features a streamlined approach that more closely resembles its competitors.

Curious cord-cutters can preorder the Nexus Player from the Google Play store beginning on October 17.