The OUYA Android gaming console was launched back in 2012 on Kickstarter where it has since managed to become the 3rd most funded project on the website of all time. While the concept of the OUYA was good, unfortunately it seemed that the console failed to live up to the hype and numerous delays did not sit well with its backers and gamers.
So far we haven’t really heard much from the company since then, but it looks like they could soon be getting a new lease on life, thanks to Chinese company Alibaba, who for those unfamiliar managed to set an impressive record for an IPO valued at $25 billion. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, Alibaba was said to have invested $10 million into OUYA.
The investment is hardly an altruistic move on Alibaba’s part as one of the conditions was that OUYA’s software and library of more than 1,000 games would also be incorporated into Alibaba’s own set-top box, which we guess is a fair tradeoff. Alibaba’s investment would also help OUYA grow in the Chinese market where the ban on consoles was lifted back in 2014.
Previously we had heard the rumors that OUYA was potentially looking to be acquired by Chinese-based companies, but so far it looks like the rumors have not proven to be true and the rumored investment by Alibaba is probably the closest thing to it. It remains to be seen how helpful the investment will be for OUYA, but in the meantime it definitely seems that the company has gotten a new lease on life.