In a twist to the story that has been rumored for a while now, Razer has purchased the Ouya software assets. Ouya has been struggling for a while now, having not hit the market it was hoping from when it launched it’s Kickstarter a while ago now.
The Android console that featured outdated hardware never caught on with consumers and the company has been struggling for a while now. It seems Razer has stepped in and rescued part of the company. Razer will be buying all software assets, including content catalog and online retail platform. It seems the team from OUYA will also be joining Razer as they work to bring even more Android games to the living room.
Full press release below:
CARLSBAD, Calif. – Razer™, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today confirmed it acquired the software assets of OUYA, including its content catalog and online retail platform. The technical team and developer relations personnel behind OUYA, the leading Android game platform for the television, have joined the software team of Razer, the company additionally reported. Financial details of the transaction, which closed on June 12, 2015, were not disclosed.
“Razer has a long-term vision for Android TV and Android-based TV consoles, such as the Xiaomi Mi Box and Alibaba Tmall Box, to which OUYA already publishes,” says Razer Co-Founder and CEO Min-Liang Tan. “OUYA’s work with game developers, both triple A and indies, went a long way in bringing Android games to the living room and Razer intends to further that work. This acquisition is envisaged to usher more developers and content to the Android TV platform.”
In the near future, Razer will be providing existing OUYA users with a clear path of migration to the more advanced Forge TV micro-console and Serval controller bundle. Razer’s intention is to allow OUYA users to bring their games, controllers, and accounts to the Cortex TV platform on the Forge micro-console, advancing the experience of Android gaming on TV that they have previously enjoyed. Additionally, Razer is planning deep product discounts for incoming OUYA users to purchase Razer hardware, and a spate of freebies, giveaways, and promotions to enjoy on their new Forge consoles.
Moving forward, Razer plans significant development of the Forge TV micro-console, controllers and software solutions to enhance the home entertainment experience. The company also intends to bring myriad additional games to the Android platform it purchased, through increased investment in developer and publisher programs, and with complementary technology partner initiatives.
The OUYA store acquired by Razer will in time be re-launched as Cortex for Android TV, a premier destination for Razer Forge TV games and other content.
While Razer is not retaining interest in OUYA hardware or related other assets, it does plan to publish Android TV content and Android-based TV console games under the OUYA moniker as a separate interest.
“When it comes to gamers, Min clearly knows what he is doing,” says Brian Fargo, video game designer, producer, programmer and founder of Interplay Entertainment and inXile Entertainment. “I’m certain that he has clever ideas on how to make his many initiatives with Forge TV fit well with all the titles and hard work that OUYA put in.”
Over the past year, Razer unveiled its Razer Forge TV, a high-performance Android TV micro-console to bring Android gaming into the living room, accompanied by a gaming controller, the Razer Serval. The Razer Forge TV ecosystem is based on an open platform. Content for the micro-console is provided by Razer, partners, independent developers and publishers alike, and is serviced through the Google Play store. More about Razer Forge TV is here:http://www.razerzone.com/gaming-systems/razer-forge-tv.
“Razer is the perfect home for OUYA and the team that made it all happen,” says OUYA co-founder and CEO Julie Uhrman. “They can take the OUYA platform to new places, inspiring developers and embracing gamers, everywhere.”
ABOUT OUYA:
Launched in 2013, OUYA enables any creator to publish a video game for televisions. OUYA’s marketplace now has over 1,000 games from established AAA developers to emerging game artists. Since 2014, OUYA has enabled the distribution of its platform and content to other devices through the OUYA Everywhere initiative.
OUYA, built on an open platform, was created by founder and CEO Julie Uhrman. The OUYA console was designed by award-winning designer Yves Behar.
ABOUT RAZER:
Razer™ is a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers.
Razer is transforming the way people play games, engage with other gamers and identify with the gamer lifestyle. Having won the coveted “Best of CES” award consecutively for five years, the company’s leadership in product innovation continues to create new categories for the gaming community that is estimated to have over 1 billion gamers worldwide.
Razer’s award-winning design and technology include an array of user interface and systems devices, voice-over IP for gamers and a cloud platform for customizing and enhancing gaming devices.
Founded in 2005, Razer is backed by Intel Capital, IDG-Accel and Heliconia Capital Management (Heliconia), a wholly owned subsidiary of Singapore investment company Temasek. For more information visit http://www.razerzone.com/about-razer.
