The OUYA game console project raised $8.5 million on Kickstarter in 2012 with the goal of creating a $99 game console with a library of inexpensive downloadable games. Credit: OUYA, Inc.
Three years ago, Kickstarter history was made when a video game project called OUYA raised nearly $8.6 million from 63,416 backers. The concept was a tiny $99 game console that would play inexpensive games built for mobile devices on your TV. But it may be nearing the end of the road for OUYA, whose team and software has been purchased by the game company Razer, it was announced this week.
In 2013, OUYA and its CEO Julie Uhrman was the subject of a contentious SXSW Interactive keynote presentation that raised doubts about the company's viability. It turns out the doubters were correct. OUYA stumbled in its relations with game developers and never proved to be a serious competitor to more expensive game consoles. The OUYA hardware itself does not appear to be continuing, and Uhrman has left the company.
Razer has promised to keep the OUYA game service open to current hardware owners for at least another year.
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