Co-founder of the Ouya Muffi Ghadiali leaves the company of his own volition. The news comes after a statement to TechCrunch regarding Ghadiali and the future of Ouya:
“OUYA is focusing more on the next phase of the business and product development. We’ve made some recent changes including the departure of Muffi Ghadiali who was invaluable during the launch of OUYA. As is to be expected, OUYA is an ever-changing business, and as we continue to grow our needs shift accordingly.”
Ghadiali led key teams at Ouya responsible for hardware and firmware development and design. Before joining the company he was in charge of devices such as HP media and all-in-one touchscreen PCs. The Ouya hasn’t been doing well in the consumer market, and sales of software on the system have been suffering as well. Perhaps this may have prompted Ghadiali to leave the company due to its rocky standing in the market.
In any case, people jumping ship on a company is never a good thing. The future of the Ouya and indeed Android based consoles has seen better days. Something definitely needs to change in order for cheap Android consoles like the Ouya to become profitable. At the moment, the overall quality of games on the store is low, and even reductions in price (or even the free titles) aren’t enough to warrant good sales. Ouya just doesn’t have the brand power that Steam does, it’s more like the oddity your friend buys and you play over at his house. Then it either gathers dust or becomes a low power media streaming PC, which it actually does a great job at. I hope it doesn’t die, but it isn’t looking good.
Last Updated: January 16, 2014
TiMsTeR1033
January 16, 2014 at 14:47
The guy looks kinda like Ghandi!
Hammersteyn
January 16, 2014 at 14:49
Maybe he’s gonna work for EA and maybe is looking to build their own ATM, I mean console.
Kensei Seraph
January 16, 2014 at 14:51
Sorry but I have to ask, in light of Gavin’s article http://www.lazygamer.net/general-news/australia-links-gambling-to-ipad-games-for-kids/ and you being an Australian correspondentt, Stephen, do you gamble?
TiMsTeR1033
January 16, 2014 at 14:57
Its Geoff! Chinese people gamble on Rooster fights! lol (wanted to say cock fights but sounds so wrong)
Sir Rants A Lot Llew. Jelly!!!
January 16, 2014 at 15:01
Zoe. She’s gambling by saying she will be ION if she becomes Batman
Stephen Snook
January 16, 2014 at 15:07
I waste enough money on arcade machines xD
Rags
January 16, 2014 at 14:53
This was probably a kickstarter success story that should never have been. Their purpose was to go into the consumer market, but the backers was probably the only market it really had. The KS funding may have given them false hope and not enough funding to actually market their product. Another issue I suspect is that the backers are more hackers and tinkerers than gamers, oh and hipsters. None if which is going to support the Ouya market apart from killer apps.
To me it was never more a gimmick and it should now rest in peace.
Alien Emperor Trevor
January 16, 2014 at 15:13
I never saw the point either. Why have an android console when most of your market will have a tablet or phone capable of streaming to the tv if they really want to. And if you want a console to play games, buy a PS3 or 360 & get far more for your money.
Sentient_slug
January 16, 2014 at 16:26
Its kinda all the indie fanboys were screaming about the OUYA and how revolutionary its going to be. Then they realized that mobile games are meant for exactly that, mobile devices. Now everyone is jumping ship, the staff and the fans. Sorry OUYA….. Cant we just agree that yes we get milked by the big corporates who pump out AAA games, but hell at least they really are AAA games. Take my money!!
Rags
January 16, 2014 at 17:33
Who needs AAA when you have a gazillion platformers going at $15 a pop? 😛