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Ouya Founder Julie Uhrman Exits As Razer Completes Buyout
In June, news quietly emerged that Razer had struck a deal to acquire some assets of Android microconsole company Ouya. The arrangements are final, and Ouya founder Julie Uhrman has confirmed her departure this morning.
Razer issued a statement indicating that it will not be continuing Ouya hardware. Rather, it will be using the Ouya brand to publish some Android TV content and console games.
The Ouya Store will be rebranded as “Cortex for Android TV,” as part of Razer’s Forge TV Android microconsole platform. Razer says it will be further investing in programs to incentivize developers and publishers.
Ouya began as a Kickstarter initiative, raising nearly $8.6 million from more than 63,000 backers. Things took a turn for the worse as the console met with shipment delays and a failed developer incentive program, before finally scrambling for a buyer earlier this year.
Forge TV launched earlier this year and is available for $150.
Update: This story was amended to make clear that Razer is only purchasing some of Ouya's assets and not the entire company.
Our Take
Razer has had success with its peripherals and laptops, but the Android microconsole market is a difficult one. The audience for these isn’t well-defined, and I’ve not seen marketing or promotion that helps clear that up. Perhaps Razer can fix that with its built-in audience, but it’s going to be uphill.
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