Razer Acquires OUYA Software Assets

[btarunr]

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.

"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."

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[AsRock]

That's all we need, more crap on the market.

 

[NC37]

That's all we need, more crap on the market.

Someday, people will realize the cold hard truth. Android consoles just don't work.

 

[AsRock]

Someday, people will realize the cold hard truth. Android consoles just don't work.

Well to me consoles don't work period, although there is a massive market for them.

 

[GreiverBlade]

That's all we need, more crap on the market.

R.I.P OUYA you were good (kinda) but now Razer will Razerify you ...

Someday, people will realize the cold hard truth. Android consoles just don't work.

nope ... they technically work but dedicated console are not a good option : i prefer my Nvidia Shield Tablet (console mode with a PSP emu or PSX or even a DOSBOX or Gamestream mode from the main rig xD ) sometime it's a bit refreshing to lay on the sofa and play on the TV

 

[PLAfiller]

I was kinda interested with Ouya project. Mainly because of Dead Space for Android. Haven't found other game that I liked so much on Android. Let's see what Razer does with it, but I guess the end product won't be cheap.

 

[NC37]

Well to me consoles don't work period, although there is a massive market for them.

Its a market based on casual cell phone games. They think, cell phone gamers = console gamers. Trouble is, cell phone games are anytime, anywhere, quick distractions. You don't walk around, whip out a PS4 and play it wherever.

Where it does work is in the handheld console devices as others have noted.

Real consoles are made for the living room. They are designed around their hardware and made for gaming. Why I knew Ouya would flop was because they literally were trying to take cell phone gaming and slap it onto hardware and call it a console. There was no real R&D behind that. I felt no remorse when they were kicked out of E3. IMO, Android gaming is the "me too" gaming scene of the industry. Cheap crap hardware, trying to roll with the big guys.

It could potentially compete with Nintendo and Sony because it already is in Japan where handheld gaming is much stronger. But you'd be hard pressed to find a console gamer willing to dump their Xbone or PS4 for a ramshackled together Android console. It can be a complementary device like Shield/etc, but it cannot be a centerpiece device. At least not until Android steps out from under the shadow of cell phone gaming and gets serious about console gaming.

 

[GreiverBlade]

I was kinda interested with Ouya project. Mainly because of Dead Space for Android. Haven't found other game that I liked so much on Android. Let's see what Razer does with it, but I guess the end product won't be cheap.

we are talking of Razer .... they always do overpriced piles of dung... (if we except what they did when they started ...: Boomslang, Copperhead, Diamonback... )

Its a market based on casual cell phone games. They think, cell phone gamers = console gamers. Trouble is, cell phone games are anytime, anywhere, quick distractions.

and this is where my Shield Tablet has his advantages, anytime anywhere and also in console mode hooked on a TV via micro HDMI streaming/emu/original games, the price tag is nice, the Tegra K1 is still a freaking beast, not thermal throttled unlike the Xiaomi MiPad and the Nexus 9 and the build quality is nice (cracking edge issue seems corrected as i have mine since around a year and no cracking or whatsoever).

 

[AsRock]

Its a market based on casual cell phone games. They think, cell phone gamers = console gamers. Trouble is, cell phone games are anytime, anywhere, quick distractions. You don't walk around, whip out a PS4 and play it wherever.

Where it does work is in the handheld console devices as others have noted.

Real consoles are made for the living room. They are designed around their hardware and made for gaming. Why I knew Ouya would flop was because they literally were trying to take cell phone gaming and slap it onto hardware and call it a console. There was no real R&D behind that. I felt no remorse when they were kicked out of E3. IMO, Android gaming is the "me too" gaming scene of the industry. Cheap crap hardware, trying to roll with the big guys.

It could potentially compete with Nintendo and Sony because it already is in Japan where handheld gaming is much stronger. But you'd be hard pressed to find a console gamer willing to dump their Xbone or PS4 for a ramshackled together Android console. It can be a complementary device like Shield/etc, but it cannot be a centerpiece device. At least not until Android steps out from under the shadow of cell phone gaming and gets serious about console gaming.

My bad for the misunderstanding, But lets face it the consoles of yesterday are on phone's of today or at least could be and sure you cannot put a PS4 in a phone "yet".

Razer phone HAHAHAHHA, better watch out the keys be made of cheapest plastic and will start to shine after a few months usage.

EDIT:
CEO already left as is so make of that what ya will.

 

[remixedcat]

Ouya was a stupid name and stupid design.

 

[GreiverBlade]

Ouya was a stupid name and stupid design.

well Razer is also ... aherm ... pardon me the French expression "rasoire"...