Razer 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."
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."
