In a rather unceremonious fashion Razer, who acquired Ouya’s staff and library of titles in 2015, has confirmed that online services and storefronts for the Ouya, as well as the Android-based Forge TV and the MadCatz MOJO will be shut down on June 25th, 2019. The Razer support page is appreciably flush with answers but not so many explanations. Why are they being shut down? The FAQ offers only that the “game stores are no longer being supported”, and that’s that. No apology, no “thanks for your support”; clearly Razer is shoring up its financial loose ends here.
You can read the full Q&A below but if you own any of these platforms here is Razer’s critical piece of advice:
“Your account will be deactivated on June 25, 2019. After this date, you will no longer be able to access your account, games on the server, previously purchased titles, or be able to purchase new ones. You will continue to have access to games that have been downloaded. Users should download games before June 25, 2019 to avoid losing access after the shutdown.”
I’m glad to see that the consoles will continue to work as long as the games have been downloaded. For anyone looking to grab their past purchases, here’s my critical piece of advice: USB storage. The Ouya and Forge TV both support USB hard drives but unfortunately the MOJO doesn’t appear to.
Full FAQ from Razer’s support page:
Why is Forge TV/OUYA shutting down?
The Forge TV, OUYA, and MadCatz MOJO game stores are no longer being supported, and therefore will be shut down.
When does the Forge TV/OUYA service shut down?
The services will shut down on June 25, 2019.
What happens to my Forge TV hardware?
The hardware will still function. You will still be able to use it as you would any Android TV set top box.
Will the Forge TV iOS or Android apps still function?
Yes, they will operate the Forge TV device normally.
What happens to my funds?
Please note that your account or wallet funds are not permitted to be redeemed for use outside of the Forge TV / OUYA / MadCatz MOJO services, have no cash value and are not exchangeable for cash. Funds that are deemed unclaimed property may be turned over to the applicable authority. So, we encourage you to utilize your account funds prior to the shutdown.
What happens to my account?
Your account will be deactivated on June 25, 2019. After this date, you will no longer be able to access your account, games on the server, previously purchased titles, or be able to purchase new ones. You will continue to have access to games that have been downloaded. Users should download games before June 25, 2019 to avoid losing access after the shutdown.
Will I still be able to play games on OUYA?
You will be able to play games via the OUYA platform until June 25, 2019. Once it has been shut down, access to the Discover section will no longer be available. Games downloaded that appear in Play, may still function if they do not require a purchase validation upon launch. Contact the game developer for confirmation.
Will the games be available on another platform?
Each game is managed by the developer and availability will vary. Once the platform shuts down, the games will no longer be available via OUYA. For Forge TV and MadCatz MOJO, you will still have access to the Google Play store, as well as other platforms. After the shutdown the developer may choose to activate the game on another platform. If you have further questions, contact the developer directly.
What will happen to the websites?
The websites will be disabled and non-accessible.