Ouya UK Launch: Open-Source Console Hits Amazon For £99

Open-Source Android Games Console Launched In UK For £99
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The Ouya open-source Android console has launched in the UK.

The console first debuted on Kickstarter in 2012 - raising more than $8.5 million from fans who rushed to support its open development platform.

And while hands-on impressions of the device (or, rather, the 'beta' version) have been mixed since it reached those early adopters earlier this year, the machine has now moved onto its official release.

Open Image Modal

The Ouya is now available from online retailers including Amazon for £99, including one controller.

It is a small, sleek little box - about three inches cubed - with a Tegra 3-based chipset and 1080p graphics.

Running Android 4.1.1 and featuring more than 170 games at launch, including Chronoblade, Beast Boxing, Final Fantasy III, Saturday Morning RPG, No Brakes Valet and Sega's Sonic The Hedghod.

Ouya says it has 17,000 studios and games creators on board to produce titles for the machine.

"It's incredible to think that a little under a year ago Ouya was just an idea -- we wanted to do something completely new in console gaming: build a $99 game console, with no discs to buy, open to all developers, and affordable to all gamers," said Julie Uhrman, CEO and co-founder, Ouya.

"Today, Ouya is real. Console gaming has never needed something new more than it does now."

Meanwhile some of the early backers are complaining that they haven't received their devices yet, even as it goes on sale to the general public.

According to Techcrunch Ouya has apologised, but also blamed its distribution partner, and the fact that some backers are located in hard-to-reach countries for the delay.