amBX Hardware Development Kit

San Diego, January 08, 2010

Mad Catz® Interactive, Inc. (AMEX/TSX: MCZ), a leading worldwide third-party interactive entertainment accessory provider, today announced an amBX Hardware Development Kit (HDK) which will be available to the software development and publishing community. Designed to assist developers with the integration of amBX compatibility into PC games, the Hardware Development Kit consists of the amBX enabled Cyborg Gaming Lights and an amBX enabled Cyborg keyboard.

amBX (short for "ambient experiences") is a technology that delivers full “sensory surround” entertainment, enabling gamers to enjoy a more immersive game play experience through incorporating dynamic real world effects such as light and color. The HDK will be made freely available to qualified publishers and developers.

Consisting of two Light Pods which sit on either side of the player’s monitor and plug into any USB port, the Cyborg Gaming Lights envelop the user in up to 16 million colors, producing immersive lighting for a fully atmospheric gaming environment. Benefiting from dynamic lighting effects which react authentically to on-screen game play, the ingenious multi-hinge design allows for flexible positioning of the Gaming Lights in order to fully maximize the immersive spread of color. In addition, the Gaming Lights have been designed to facilitate multiple lights to be plugged in simultaneously, allowing the user to appreciate the full sensory surround capabilities of the amBX technology.

The amBX enabled Cyborg keyboard is an interactive backlit keyboard, capable of producing real time lighting effects through the integration of amBX technology. Featuring laser-etched keys, the Cyborg keyboard features full RGB back lighting capable of displaying up to 16 million colors which react dynamically to on screen game play. The keyboard will allow publishers and developers the chance to test their amBX enabled games on actually hardware.

Darren Richardson, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mad Catz commented, “We believe that amBX is an exciting breakthrough in creating interactive and immersive entertainment and are proud to be working alongside amBX. By providing the HDK, we are enabling PC game developers and publishers to optimize their amBX enabled games. At Mad Catz, we will continue to support new technologies in our products as part of our strategy of developing products that evoke a passionate consumer response.”

Neil MacDonald, CEO of amBX UK Ltd commented, “We're extremely pleased that Mad Catz have made an amBX HDK available for developer studios. Having the HDK ahead of the commercial release of the amBX-enabled Cyborg products, and with our free amBX SDK, game studios will have all the tools they need to quickly and easily implement amBX immersive effects into games. The fantastic new amBX Cyborg range will bring new dimensions of immersive gaming to PC gamers and represent a leap ahead for the gaming experience.”

The Mad Catz Hardware Development Kit is expected to be available Spring 2010. Interested parties should contact Richard Neville, Category Marketing Manager for Mad Catz at: rneville@madcatz.com for further information.

For further information please contact:

Media

Alex Verrey: Global PR & Communications Manager

t. +44 (0) 1908 336 538

e. averrey@madcatz.com

Michael Greco: Vice President of Marketing

t. +1-619-321-3564

e. mgreco@madcatz.com

Investors

Stewart Halpern: Chief Financial Officer

t. +1-619-321 3550

e. shalpern@madcatz.com

Joseph Jaffoni, Norberto Aja and Jim Leahy

Jaffoni and Collins Incorporated

t. 212/835-8500

e. mcz@jcir.com

About Mad Catz Interactive, Inc.

Mad Catz is a global leader in providing innovative peripherals for the interactive entertainment industry. Mad Catz designs and markets accessories for videogame systems and publishes videogame software, including the industry-leading GameShark videogame enhancements, under its Mad Catz, GameShark and Joytech brands. Mad Catz also designs and markets mice, keyboards, headsets, PC gaming controllers and other PC peripherals through its Saitek and Cyborg brands, and manufactures and markets proprietary portable earphones under its AirDrives brand. Mad Catz distributes its products through most of the leading retailers offering interactive entertainment products across North America and Europe, and is increasing its distribution reach in Asia. For additional information please go to www.madcatz.com, as well as www.gameshark.com, www.airdrives.com and www.saitek.com.

Safe Harbor for Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements about the Company's business prospects that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information or future events or developments. You can identify these statements by the fact that they use words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "should," "plan," "goal," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the ability to maintain or renew the Company's licenses; competitive developments affecting the Company's current products; first party price reductions; the ability to successfully market both new and existing products domestically and internationally; difficulties or delays in manufacturing; or a downturn in the market or industry. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other matters can be found in the Company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators.

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