You could argue that the Google Stadia announcement last March crushed a lot of dreams and hopes. After staying out of the gaming industry for over two decades, the behemoth corporation finally decided to test the waters with the theoretically groundbreaking technology that is their streaming engine. Some giants of the industry, such as Ubisoft, were at the announcement, likely planning to hit the ground running as the technology will definitely disrupt the industry in the 2020 decade.

Meanwhile, the market of niche gaming consoles was in the back, probably watching nervously as they realized what Google Stadia means for the industry. One of these projects is the Mad Box console, first announced on Twitter by Slightly Mad Studios CEO Ian Bell.

https://twitter.com/bell_sms/status/1080468977019584512

Yesterday we reported that Slightly Mad had withdrawn their trademark application. Today, following another report from PC Games Insider, it emerges that the Mad Box investors are pulling out. Slightly Mad Studios Online Marketing Director Nathan Bell told PC Games Insider that following the announcement of Google Stadia, two of their investors backed away from the project, and as such, the future of the Mad Box is deemed questionable at best.

Google's announcement of Stadia hasn't helped the project with our investors We had some solid investment lined up but Google saying 'the future of gaming isn't in a box' hasn't done us any favors. Two investors pulled out after the announcement of Stadia. All I can say at this stage is the future of the project is questionable.

The name Mad Box is also under evaluation, as they were met with opposition from a French casual games company called Madbox . That's why Slightly Mad has withdrawn their application for the trademark, in order to avoid confusion between the two brands. So the name is up for debate, and the console itself is facing an uncertain future, if it will have one.

What do you think of Slightly Mad's circumstances? Is there room for such niche consoles in a market that will have to compete with Google Stadia? Let us know in the comments below!