Mojo (microconsole)
An Android microconsole that plays Google Play games directly.
The MOJO (stylized as M.O.J.O.) is an Android-based video game microconsole built by Mad Catz. It launched on December 10, 2013, in the United States and the United Kingdom. Because it runs a standard version of Android and links directly to the Google Play store, the device can play any Android game—including ones already purchased—rather than requiring games made specifically for the console.
Mad Catz first mentioned the system as "Project Mojo" in a June 6, 2013, investor release. The company then unveiled the final name, MOJO, at E3 2013. CEO Darren Richardson called it the "keystone product" of the GameSmart initiative, a line of Bluetooth mobile gaming accessories for smartphones that work across multiple devices and platforms. The announcement emphasized hardware performance and an open platform, and Mad Catz said the console would ship during the 2013 holiday season. In early October 2013, they set the release date for December 10, 2013, with a price of $249 USD, though only limited quantities would be available at launch. They also released the hardware specifications at that time.
In January 2014, rooting the console became possible through MoDaCo mod, and Mad Catz supported that process. In March 2014, the company cut the price to $199.99 in the USA and £179 in the UK. As part of the Ouya Everywhere deal, Mad Catz announced that all Ouya gaming content would arrive in spring 2014. In June 2014, an OnLive streaming app was added, letting players stream OnLive games and their own titles using the CloudLift feature. On June 30, 2014, an update brought the Ouya Everywhere feature, enabling MOJO to play Ouya games, and also added 4K UHD output for games and videos. On January 22, 2015, the price dropped again to $149.99 in the USA, £119 in the UK, and €149 across Europe. The M.O.J.O. Game Store was shut down on June 25, 2019.
Quick Facts
- Manufacturer
- Mad Catz
- Release Date
- USAUK · December 10, 2013 / EU · Released, but unknown date, probably either 2014 or 2015
- Price
- $249.99 USD
- Os
- Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean
- System On Chip
- Nvidia Tegra 4 T40S
- Cpu
- 1.8 GHz Quad-Core ARM Cortex-A15
- Graphics
- Nvidia GeForce ULP GPU
- Storage
- 16 GB internal flash memory
- Memory
- 2 GiB DDR3 SDRAM
- Display
- HDMI · 1080p, 720p
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi a/b/g/n / Ethernet / USB 3.0
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The console was announced as "Project Mojo" in a Mad Catz investor release on June 6, 2013, and revealed under its new name, MOJO, at E3 2013. Mad Catz CEO Darren Richardson described it as the "keystone product" in the company's GameSmart initiative, a series of mobile gaming accessories for smartphones that work with various devices and platforms via Bluetooth. The announcement stressed hardware performance and an open platform, with a planned holiday 2013 release. In early October 2013, Mad Catz announced the December 10, 2013 release date and a launch price of 249 USD, though the console would be available only in limited quantities at launch; hardware specifications were also revealed at that time.
Post-release, in January 2014, rooting the console was made available by MoDaCo and was supported by Mad Catz. In March 2014, Mad Catz announced a price drop to $199.99 in the USA and £179 in the UK. Additionally, as part of the Ouya Everywhere deal, all of Ouya's gaming content was promised for spring 2014. In June 2014, streaming OnLive games became available through an app that allowed players to stream OnLive's games and their own games using the OnLive CloudLift feature. On June 30, 2014, an update added the Ouya Everywhere feature, enabling players to play OUYA games on the MOJO, and also added 4K UHD output for games and videos. On January 22, 2015, the price was further dropped to $149.99 in the USA, £119 in the UK, and €149 across Europe. The M.O.J.O. Game Store was shut down on June 25, 2019.
Reader's Guide
The MOJO occupies a niche in the fifth generation of video game microconsoles as an Android-based system that did not require specially developed games, instead leveraging the existing Google Play ecosystem. Its significance lies in Mad Catz's attempt to bridge mobile gaming and the living room through the GameSmart initiative, positioning the console as a hub for Bluetooth accessories. The console's open platform and support for rooting reflected a developer-friendly approach, while later updates such as Ouya Everywhere and OnLive streaming expanded its library and functionality. However, its relatively high launch price of 249 USD and limited initial availability may have constrained adoption. The price drops in 2014 and 2015, along with the eventual shutdown of its proprietary game store in 2019, illustrate the challenges faced by dedicated Android microconsoles in a market dominated by more established platforms. The MOJO's legacy is tied to its role as a hardware-agnostic Android gaming device that relied on third-party content rather than exclusive titles, and its support for 4K UHD output was ahead of many contemporaries.
Did You Know?
- It was the keystone product of Mad Catz's GameSmart initiative for Bluetooth mobile gaming accessories.
- Rooting the console was made available by MoDaCo in January 2014 and was supported by Mad Catz.
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