Ouya, the Kickstarter-grown home console with mobile phone/tablet innards, will also be subject to mobile-style yearly iterations, according to Ouya’s Julie Uhrman. The company plans to avoid punishing early adopters by making all Ouyas backwards compatible and marrying games to user accounts for an easy transition between yearly versions of the console.
Yearly Iterations and Backward Compatibility
“There will be a new Ouya every year. There will be an Ouya 2 and an Ouya 3,” she explained. “We’ll take advantage of faster, better processors, take advantage of prices falling. So if we can get more than 8GB of Flash in our box, we will.” This approach aims to keep the console competitive with the rapid advancements in technology, ensuring that users always have access to the latest hardware improvements without being left behind.
The commitment to backward compatibility is particularly noteworthy. By ensuring that all games are tied to user accounts, Ouya is making it easy for gamers to transition from one version of the console to the next without losing access to their purchased games. This is a significant advantage over traditional consoles, where new hardware often means starting a game library from scratch.
Driving Factors Behind Annual Refresh Rates
However, there’s no word on what the company is doing to drive an annual refresh rate, which in the mobile industry is driven by a combination of carrier pricing and marketing. In the mobile market, yearly updates are often justified by significant improvements in hardware and software, as well as aggressive marketing campaigns that encourage users to upgrade. For Ouya, the challenge will be to create a similar sense of urgency and value in the gaming console market.
One potential strategy could be to focus on exclusive content and partnerships. By securing exclusive games or features that are only available on the latest version of the console, Ouya could create a compelling reason for users to upgrade. Additionally, leveraging community feedback to continuously improve the user experience could help build a loyal customer base that is eager to adopt new versions of the console.
Another important aspect to consider is the pricing strategy. In the mobile industry, carrier subsidies often make it easier for consumers to afford yearly upgrades. For Ouya, finding a way to offer competitive pricing while still delivering significant hardware improvements will be crucial. This could involve exploring different pricing models, such as trade-in programs or subscription-based services that provide access to the latest hardware.
Moreover, the modular design of the Ouya console could be an area of innovation. If future versions of the console allow for easy upgrades of individual components, such as the processor or storage, users might be more inclined to invest in the latest hardware without feeling the need to purchase an entirely new console each year.
In conclusion, Ouya’s plan to release yearly iterations of its console while maintaining backward compatibility and tying games to user accounts is an ambitious strategy that aims to keep the console relevant in a rapidly evolving market. By focusing on hardware improvements, exclusive content, and innovative pricing models, Ouya has the potential to carve out a unique niche in the gaming industry. However, the success of this approach will depend on the company’s ability to deliver meaningful upgrades and create a compelling value proposition for its users.
Source Engadget
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