In 2012 a new kind of video game console was announced by OUYA inc. called the OUYA. This console was based on the Google Android OS and would allow users to play mobile games on their TV with a controller. The idea was novel and the possibilities promising. But now, almost 5 years later it is time to ask the question, what happened with the OUYA?.
The OUYA was set up to shake up the gaming world, an independent competitor that challenge the order of things and take a piece of the pie. Sony, Microsoft and for a small part Nintendo ruled (and still do) the gaming console market.
Maybe it was that everybody felt that it was time for a change, maybe it was the idea that finally Android gaming would be possible on a console but the Kickstarter ended up raising 8.5 million dollars, of which $3.7 million in the first two days.
The OUYA became the fifth-highest grossing project on the open source funding program Kickstarter.
OUYA set out to deliver something new and refreshing to a market that was dominated by the 2 same companies for a long time. Casual gaming for the gamers, support from Twitch, XBMC (now KODI), a platform where indie developers could release their games without the interference from Microsoft and Sony, and all that for the more than reasonable $99 price tag. This was retro, indie, independent gaming console with untapped potential. The console was aimed at the casual gamer much like what Nintendo achieved with the Nintendo WII, even more the OUYA with its mobile focus might be able to seduce some of the mobile gamers.
Surely this was the device every casual gamer was waiting for?
The OUYA did not became the success story that OUYA inc. thought it would be. Although the public's reaction to the premise of the OUYA was overwhelming, the initial enthusiasm made way for criticism as the project reached the pre-release phase.
There were doubts about the ability of the new unknown company to pull of a undertaking of this magnitude. Because let's be honest trying to take away some of the market share from the likes of Microsoft and Sony is no small matter. But OUYA inc. managed to deliver their pre-release OUYA's to the reviewers in time.
However the reviews were not kind. The reviewers noted that the openess and potential are the only good things about the console. They were brutal about the shoddy quality of the hardware, the bad interface and the lack of good games. But most important of all people started to question the why?
Why would you play games on a TV when you can play them on your phone? Exactly what was the point of the OUYA?
Ouya inc. could not convince the public of the unique selling points of the console and when the OUYA was officially released in 2013 sales were disappointing to say the least. The buzz surrounding the OUYA had died down and OUYA inc. made thing even worse with their "Free the Games Fund".
This fund promised to support game developers and pledge dollar-for-dollar if a minimum of $50,000 was raised. However the developers were obligated to make the game exclusive for the OUYA for a period of six months. With this move OUYA was placing restrictions on the indie game developers much like Microsoft and Sony. The project bombed and OUYA inc. found themselves in financial trouble.
In 2015 OUYA inc. announced that they were going to sell the company. Razer, well known for their quality gaming products, stepped in and merged the OUYA game library into their own Android project called Forge. Razer discontinued the OUYA hardware and urged owners of the OUYA micro console to migrate to Razer's Forge.
The OUYA is still alive but in name only.
The OUYA started out as an interesting and exciting project but time and reality caught up with the promising console. I am sure that there is a market for a casual gaming console but it will take a lot of innovation and perseverance to succeed in bringing this to market
Read more about: OUYA | Kickstarter | Death of the OUYA |
Thanks for this where are you from?
I am from the Netherlands, and you?
South Africa. Why did you decide to live there?
LoL, I was born here :) So I guess it was decided for me.
You can move you know! LOL
No need, life is good in the Netherlands. Only that climate though.....
What's wrong with the climate?
Excellent post, it's a really interesting story that OUYA has. I remember around the time they were raising funds how revolutionary and big it was going to be. Unfortunately it just never lived up to the hype.
Thank you sjackson. It was a weird chain of events. At the time of the Kickstarter it was huge but as time went by people became less enthousiastic. I think that OUYA missed their window. When the console was finally released people weren't that interested in the concept any more and OUYA was unable to come up with something to rekindle the hype.
It's a shame because it was a neat idea but I think at the end of the day, when someone's sat at home they want as much power as possible and unfortunately OUYA couldn't deliver that with it's Android focus. I like to think that it helped play a part though in making mobile gaming in particular as big as it is as it really started to shine a spotlight on the kind of games possible on Android.
It was certainly a victim of it's own success
I agree, usually the pioneers don't get rewarded for their hard work. Chances are someone will copy the idea now and get the real success. I still believe that a casual micro console like the OUYA has a future.
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Quality post, I really like the layout and the separators, looks nice, following you.
Also, resume fairly well the Ouya story, but what I'd love to see is an interview of someone who worked for Ouya to see how it went from an inside point of view.
Thank you very much. I would love to get the inside scoop also. Just to learn where it went wrong.