A decade after its influential release, Google is sunsetting the original Chromecast. Launched in 2013, the 1st generation Chromecast was one of the first devices to make internet streaming on a household TV simple and accessible to the masses. A notification posted to several of Google’s support pages, first reported by 9to5Google, tells users that the company’s support for the original device has come to an end.
“Support for Chromecast (1st gen) has ended, which means these devices no longer receive software or security updates, and Google does not provide technical support for them,” Google’s message reads. “Users may notice a degradation in performance.”
See also: Google responds to reports of 3rd party Android TV boxes loaded with malware
According to Google’s records, firmware for the 1st generation Chromecast was updated as recently as April, so they should continue to function as normal, at least for now, until they eventually are rendered inoperable.
The Chromecast line was slowly transitioned out over the last decade, shifting into the more powerful Android TV boxes that offer the same features and a whole lot more.
