Android gaming on TVs is slowly but surely taking off. Companies like Google and Amazon have created products that allow people to play Android games via a controller on their TVs. Ouya emerged on the scene not too long ago with a gaming device of its own. Now the company is looking to capture a completely different market, teaming up with a popular hardware manufacturer to bring its independently developed Android games to millions of potential customers.
Ouya has confirmed to Reuters that it has struck a partnership with Xiaomi, often referred to as China’s Apple, which will put its games on the popular Chinese manufacturer’s smart TVs and set-top boxes.
Julie Uhrman, Ouya’s CEO, says that while the finer details of this partnership are still being worked upon, its likely that Ouya will get a channel of its own on Xiaomi software installed on the company’s devices. Through the channel gamers will be able to shop for new titles and play them once they have been downloaded. She also said that Xiaomi might commit to marketing Ouya’s games as well.
After trying its hand with hardware Ouya developed software through which developers can sell games on other manufacturers devices. Over 40,000 developers have added more than 900 games to Ouya’s platform.
It remains to be see if Android gaming on TV takes off in China. Ouya may get the kind of exposure it wants given that Xiaomi is one of the most popular companies in China and its devices often sell like hot cakes, but ultimately it depends upon the people who actually buy games for this partnership to prove fruitful for Ouya.