Ouya Android games console roars past US$2m on Kickstarter

11 Jul 2012

OUYA, a new game console for the TV, powered by Android

A new games console based on Android 4.0, running off a Tegra processor, and designed by Yves Behar, has so far raised US$2.3m on crowdfunding site Kickstarter. The console is aimed at disrupting the console gaming experience and making games available for free on the console platform.

Yesterday, Ouya went live on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform and within eight hours had soared past its goal of US$950,000 pledged.

At the time of writing, the console project had attracted US$2,337,016 from 18,694 backers with 28 days to go.

The aim of the Ouya project is to bring to market a US$95 console.

It aims to invade the console market with a new paradigm where games are free to play and the hardware can be hacked to be improved upon.

The console’s creators aim to bring the consoles to market by 2013.

Kickstarter is emerging as a new route to market for budding hardware entrepreneurs.

In just 45 days, Pebble Technology led by Eric Migicovsky, raised US$10.3m on crowdfunding site Kickstarter from 69,000 backers after seeking just US$100,000 to design a new smart watch. So far 89,000 watches have been ordered before it goes on sale in August.

Kickstarter announced yesterday via Twitter that people in the UK will be able to launch their creative projects on its crowdfunding platform from this autumn. Up to now, only US-registered projects had been able to use the site.

Ouya 2

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com