Apparently, Google quietly ended support for its very first Chromecast last month, ending a ten-year run of updates. The first Chromecast made its debut in 2013, and since then, many more have been announced and released. As far as the last update the device received, the Chromecast was updated in November 2022 with software version 1.36.159268, which only brought "bug fixes and improvements." If you're still using the original Chromecast, you can still continue using it, but Google does warn that there could be issues in the future.
The information was found on Google's Chromecast Help support page by 9to5Google, stating that support for the first generation Chromecast has ended. Apparently, this was updated sometime last month, and is now only coming to light. As far as what this means, users of first generation Chromecast will no longer receive any updates. Furthermore, Google will no longer provide any kind of technical support for the product. While the devices will continue to work, Google does warn that "Users may notice a degradation in performance."
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Google Chromecast with Google TV (HD)
The Chromecast with Google TV (HD) is a cheaper Chromecast that can only do 1080p playback, but for a lot of people, that's all you need.
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Google Chromecast with Google TV (4K)
The Chromecast with Google TV is a simple and relatively affordable streaming device for casual users that'll also offer you personalized recommendations.
So, if you're still using the first generation Chromecast, you might want to upgrade once you start noticing things aren't working so well. Luckily, pricing hasn't changed much since the initial Chromecast that was released a decade ago, with the latest model coming in at just $30. Google has also expanded its lineup, offering a 4K version of the Chromecast, which is perfect for most modern televisions.