Ouya is cheap, runs Android and is totally open. Can it take on the Xbox and PlayStation or does it offer little more than mobile games on your TV?
After a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign which saw a whopping $8.5 million raised by the general public, the open-source Ouya games console is finally a reality.
This diminutive cube-like device runs Android 4.1, boasts a Bluetooth controller and costs less than £100 – little wonder then that many within the games industry are predicting that it could steal away precious market share from the likes of the Sony PS4, Microsoft Xbox One and Nintendo Wii U.
However, while Ouya is the most famous of a new wave of Android-based gaming platforms, it’s not unique in the field – this year will also see the launch of GameStick, Mad Catz has M.O.J.O. in development and the Nvidia Shield handheld console is also being prepared for launch in June – all of these rival systems are running Google’s OS as well.
Being first to market doesn’t always assure success, and while the concept behind the console is certainly exciting, it’s fair to say that Ouya comes with its fair share of niggles.
