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Ouya has a program called "Free the Games" that essentially allowed Ouya to give out some games for free to Ouya consumers with the promise that Ouya themselves would pay the developers later on. Problem was, Ouya went the way of the Dodo. Prior to that happening, Ouya crafted a new agreement that essentially said they had no responsibility to pay anything owed to the developers of those games should Ouya go bankrupt.Well, Ouya went bankrupt and thus left roughly $620,000 unpaid towards developers. The developers are, understandably, upset. Along comes Razer, who recently purchased Ouya, to save the day. Just moments ago, Razer announced that they will fulfill the Free the Games payment obligations that Ouya left behind.
WHAT:
Razer and a new OUYA publishing entity will work to satisfy previously involved Free the Games (FtG) developers, while creating a more open, sustainable distribution model that benefits gamers and expands revenue opportunities for all parties involved.
Razer plans to back the new OUYA to fulfil an estimated $620,000 fund established for FtG developers who had signed FtG agreements with the original OUYA and who fulfil their FtG agreement milestones and related commitments on Kickstarter.
Qualified FtG developers will need to sign up with the new OUYA for a new publishing agreement.
Financial terms will remain largely the same with one notable exception. Advances under the FtG agreements demanded commercial exclusivity to the OUYA platform. Under the proposed new agreements, Razer and OUYA publishing will forgo exclusivity in favor of developers providing an equitable amount of their FtG-funded titles to gamers for free on the Cortex TV platform. For example, if $10,000 is funded toward a $1 game, then 10,000 games at $1 would be given away at no cost to gamers on Cortex TV. OUYA publishing will not limit developers in any instance to one or another platform, but will promote publishing to all Android platforms—Google Play, Cortex TV, XiaoMi, Alibaba, and the likes.
WHY:
Razer has a real interest in supporting indie developers and furthering the expansion of Android gaming on TV. Moving forward with this plan will ensure that both interests are met, as openly, widely, and beneficially as possible. Razer did not acquire hardware, agreements, pre-existing liabilities or debts from OUYA—only software related to the OUYA store and content catalog. Razer must sign new agreements with FtG developers, since there are no existing legal or non-legal developer relationships. Razer’s credo is “By Gamers. For Gamers.” Giving back to gamers, game developers and those who support the gaming lifestyle is what it’s all about.
Razer and a new OUYA publishing entity will work to satisfy previously involved Free the Games (FtG) developers, while creating a more open, sustainable distribution model that benefits gamers and expands revenue opportunities for all parties involved.
Razer plans to back the new OUYA to fulfil an estimated $620,000 fund established for FtG developers who had signed FtG agreements with the original OUYA and who fulfil their FtG agreement milestones and related commitments on Kickstarter.
Qualified FtG developers will need to sign up with the new OUYA for a new publishing agreement.
Financial terms will remain largely the same with one notable exception. Advances under the FtG agreements demanded commercial exclusivity to the OUYA platform. Under the proposed new agreements, Razer and OUYA publishing will forgo exclusivity in favor of developers providing an equitable amount of their FtG-funded titles to gamers for free on the Cortex TV platform. For example, if $10,000 is funded toward a $1 game, then 10,000 games at $1 would be given away at no cost to gamers on Cortex TV. OUYA publishing will not limit developers in any instance to one or another platform, but will promote publishing to all Android platforms—Google Play, Cortex TV, XiaoMi, Alibaba, and the likes.
WHY:
Razer has a real interest in supporting indie developers and furthering the expansion of Android gaming on TV. Moving forward with this plan will ensure that both interests are met, as openly, widely, and beneficially as possible. Razer did not acquire hardware, agreements, pre-existing liabilities or debts from OUYA—only software related to the OUYA store and content catalog. Razer must sign new agreements with FtG developers, since there are no existing legal or non-legal developer relationships. Razer’s credo is “By Gamers. For Gamers.” Giving back to gamers, game developers and those who support the gaming lifestyle is what it’s all about.
Not only has Razer bought a dying company, but they also are going to pay off the debts they owe to developers. That seems nice of them.
