The launch of the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and its Linux-based Vega OS operating system has been a bit of a mess for Amazon, with third-party app support being pretty sparse when it comes to more niche tools and platforms.

Since the Fire TV Stick line's release a decade ago, the streamer has run Android-powered Vega OS, but with the low-power Fire TV Stick 4K Select, Amazon made the jump to Vega OS. Outwardly, the company says it made this change because Vega OS is less resource-intensive, but in reality, the shift likely has more to do with curbing piracy apps than anything else.

Sideloading less than legal apps on the Fire TV 4K Stick Select isn't possible, and the streaming stick is entirely locked to Amazon's own app store. The move to a new operating system also means that Amazon and third-party app developers need to develop new in-house app designed specifically for Vega OS. While most of the bigger streaming platforms are already available on the Fire TV 4K Select, including Netflix and Prime Video, several more niche apps haven't landed on the new operating system yet.

The VPN floodgates are finally open

Third-party app support for Vega OS will likely continue to improve

One of the most notable missing app categories on Vega OS has been VPN apps, but several weeks after the streaming device's release, that has changed. As first reported by Pocket-lint, several notable VPN apps, including IPVanish and NordVPN, are now available on the Fire TV 4K Stick Select.

"We are excited to bring the most downloaded VPN on the Amazon Appstore to new Fire TV Vega OS devices," said Subbu Sthanu, the Chief Commercial Officer at IPVanish, in a statement to Pocket-lint. "We want to make sure all Fire TV users, no matter the OS, get the online protection and security they deserve through IPVanish. That's why we've launched our app on day one of VPN support."

To make sure your Fire TV Stick 4K Select is updated to the latest firmware (OS 1.1), head to Settings > My Fire TV > Check for Updates. After you install that update, you should then be able to search and find VPN apps in Amazon's Vega OS apps store.

Amazon recently confirmed that it plans to support Vega OS and Fire OS moving forward, emphasizing that it's a "multi-OS company." However, I wouldn't be surprised to see Vega OS come to the next-generation version of streaming devices like the Fire TV Stick 4K Max, Fire TV Stick 4K Plus, and possibly even Fire TV's in the future, especially if the tech giant's ultimate goal is to combat piracy.

It's also important to note that third-party app support for Vega OS will likely continue to steadily improve in the coming weeks and months.