Yearly, the largest names in tech head to Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to indicate off their upcoming {hardware}, software program, and a wealth of equipment. Every thing competes for consideration with big contrasts between cutting-edge automobiles, vehicles, and the tiniest devices, however some stand out with outrageous idea gadgets designed to catch the attention and fish for reactions.
Razer persistently unveils the wildest idea gadgets, some extra theoretical than others, nevertheless it has a wealthy historical past of delivering the products in particular person. Reactions range, and never every thing makes it to the manufacturing line, however its idea designs are all the time intriguing and at the very least fascinating. Generally, they’re just a little too fascinating, as at the very least one ‘venture’ pattern left the conference middle within the fingers of thieves.
CES 2025 is mouth-wateringly shut, working between January 7 and 10, 2025. Nevertheless, just a few bulletins occur a few days earlier than the present formally opens to guests in Las Vegas, Nevada. Razer is not one for subtlety, often providing essentially the most highly effective gaming {hardware} in RGB-wrapped shells, and its idea gadgets are sometimes essentially the most entertaining a part of its sales space. I am feeling nostalgic, so let’s look again at its varied ideas and whether or not they made it to market.
Undertaking Switchblade (2011)
Razer recognized a need for moveable PC gaming with out sacrifices way back to CES 2011 when it revealed Undertaking Switchblade. This gaming handheld appeared curiously much like a Nintendo DS however with a set of animated buttons replicating a keyboard, very like you may see in a modern-day Elgato Stream Deck. A touchscreen would replicate mouse enter, however full-size USB-A ports offered the concept of connecting a devoted gaming mouse because it confirmed fast-paced FPS titles of the time, like Quake Stay.
Maybe most entertaining from a retrospective angle is Intel’s definition of its “highly effective” Atom processor platform as supporting “wealthy 3D graphics, high-definition video and lifelike animation.” Nonetheless, that is a complete decade earlier than Valve’s Steam Deck would depend on a purpose-built AMD Zen 2 APU to lastly make no-holds-barred PC gaming a practical prospect with a battery-powered handheld, and it isn’t like Razer had a lot alternative on the time, so the comparatively weak Atom chip made sense for an idea.
Does the Switchblade nonetheless make sense going into 2025? I might prefer to assume so. There is no higher time for Razer to get into the PC gaming handheld market since Lenovo’s upcoming Legion Go S and ASUS’ mid-gen ROG Ally X refresh push for specification bumps and even encroach on RGB in its controls, which is undoubtedly Razer’s stomping floor. The chunky backlit buttons are maybe just a little outdated, however a small touchscreen with devoted instructions would not go amiss instead of the Steam Deck’s iconic touchpads.
Undertaking Fiona (2012)
There’s writing on the wall when a 12 months passes, and Razer shifts from forcing a standard handheld chassis to a then-flourishing format in tablets. Undertaking Fiona, in hindsight, was truly fairly ugly with its hard-mounted joysticks that resemble some mashup of Nintendo’s Wii distant and Sony’s PlayStation Transfer controllers, nevertheless it caught with conventional PC {hardware}, choosing Intel’s third Gen Ivy Bridge processors.
On this, it nonetheless wished to enchantment to PC players who wished to skip Android ports of their favourite titles and keep on with full-fat variations from their desktops and laptops. Certain, it might need been formidable to promote visually wealthy video games of the time, like Murderer’s Creed Revelations working on the Switchblade, however even that made its solution to the Nintendo Swap in time.
From a practical perspective, the Switchblade was big and impractical, competing towards the market-leading tablets of the time that continued to benefit from the useful ports of widespread video games like Grand Theft Auto for iOS and Android. Then again, it was an idea machine that made it out into the world and allowed Razer to study from its reception as an above-average pill that achieved most of its objectives. Adore it or hate it, there isn’t any denying Razer’s tenacity and keenness for genre-shifting gaming {hardware}.
Undertaking Christine (2014)
At a look, it is obscure what Undertaking Christine truly is. Poised as a modular gaming desktop PC, it is probably the most visually putting ideas I might ever seen from Razer. Virtually resembling a server rack marketed in the direction of players, this tower of elongated modules may swap and alter components to complement its base station and join with proprietary ports for implied comfort.
Seasoned customized PC builders would rightly furrow their brows on the idea, as desktops are inherently modular by design. However, simplifying the PC improve course of for a novice PC gamer with a beneficiant funds may enchantment thanks to 1 standout characteristic. Sure, you may discover that the thin modules do not depart a lot room for conventional followers and even customized liquid cooling, however Undertaking Christine was set to be virtually solely cooled with oil.
Admittedly, this modular design had extra diversified parts to think about, given its age. Bodily Blu-Ray disc drives, doubled-up graphics playing cards working in SLI (Scalable Hyperlink Interface) for additional GPU efficiency, and extra chunky {hardware} had purpose to exist in modules of this dimension. Trendy-day PCs may be ultra-compact and are arguably simpler to improve than ever due to fewer obligatory cables, with M.2 solid-state drives performing extra like plug-in modules than wired-up disks.
Was it formidable and possibly just a little over-the-top? Certain, nevertheless it’s an idea I might like to see return, albeit with conventional connectors instead of proprietary dead-ends. Becoming a part right into a single module earlier than sliding it into place is actually a extra easy idea for a novice to know than wrestling with cable administration in a customized PC case, so why not?
Undertaking Ariana (2017)
In a not-so-unrealistic experiment, Undertaking Ariana was Razer’s try to provide ‘gaming projectors’ extra of a novel enchantment by increasing the bounds of your present show. Not too dissimilar to a modern-day effort in Govee’s AI gaming sync box G1, the intention was to have your recreation escape the perimeters of your monitor or TV and have it venture round your room. Nevertheless, this answer initiatives precise gameplay footage onto your partitions, accounting for objects and shifting shapes moderately than utilizing easy RGB colours.
It is one thing we had been fortunate sufficient to experience at CES in 2017, which fills among the trendy staff with envy since Undertaking Ariana by no means made it out of the idea section. Gaming projectors are in a difficult class to start with, usually struggling to maintain up with the lightning-fast refresh charges of displays and even some televisions, so it is simple to see how desynchronization may impair the enchantment of Ariana and no matter its latency restrict might need been. Nonetheless, chroma {hardware} lives on, and Razer Gamer Room fills in at the very least a few of our gaming immersion wishes.
Undertaking Valerie (2017)
In what ought to have been an fascinating perception into the potential multi-monitor capabilities of gaming laptops, two prototype samples of Razer’s Undertaking Valerie had been sadly stolen from the present flooring at CES in 2017. It got here with a $25,000 reward for anybody who may present a dependable tip in the direction of discovering the thief (or thieves,) nevertheless it wasn’t earlier than we had an opportunity to see this trio of 17-inch 4K displays for ourselves.
Touted with an auto-expanding mechanic that exposed two additional displays from behind its main panel, players can be handled to an general 11520 x 2160 decision and additional chroma RGB lighting projecting downwards from beneath the prolonged chassis. Moderately than an add-on show, Undertaking Valerie was truly an entire gaming laptop computer with pop-out displays in-built, focusing on an ‘fanatic’ crowd who wished ultra-wide gaming and higher productiveness in inventive apps.
It’d look uncommon at a look, however there was, and nonetheless is, a marketplace for this sort of know-how. A fast search round retailers for ‘laptop screen extenders’ exhibits low-effort imports that clip onto present gadgets and join through HDMI or USB-C, little question feeling like my Recreation Boy did in 1998 after I tacked on a magnifying glass, plug-in lamp, prolonged controller rests, and who is aware of what else. Razer wished to make it a pure inclusion with a discreet hideaway answer, and I am unhappy it by no means noticed even a restricted launch.
Undertaking Linda (2018)
Taking place as probably the most lamented idea gadgets that by no means noticed the sunshine of day, we known as Undertaking Linda the Continuum Microsoft dreams of, however sadly, it by no means made it previous the ‘dream’ stage. The machine itself is inherently the shell of a gaming laptop computer with a definite phone-shaped cutout the place the touchpad can be, good for inserting a Razer Phone. The Android-based smartphone would take over processing obligations and even deal with audio with its built-in audio system, with room left to entry its fingerprint sensor.
With out the Razer Telephone, there is not a lot purpose for Undertaking Linda to exist, so its lifespan would have mirrored that of its drop-in counterpart. It isn’t unattainable to think about that Razer might need manufactured adapters for inserting its future telephones, so long as they remained both precisely the identical dimension or shrank their dimensions a contact, and possibly that might have expanded to third-party manufacturers, too. It is a disgrace we’ll by no means know for positive, as this might have been the premier ‘dockable cellphone’ answer for years to return.
Final Racing Simulator (2020)
That is the place Razer begins to get formidable with its viewers’s wishes. Certain, as a fan of driving simulators (sure, Euro Truck Simulator counts,) I’ve dreamt of setting one thing so extravagant as Razer’s eRacing Simulator up in my storage or attic, however the “Final Racing Simulator idea” was destined to stay a prototype until Razer wished to interrupt into the arcade market. Totally gigantic and all-encompassing, this gigantic rig had completely every thing you’ll have wanted for an immersive racing simulator expertise.
Whereas Razer by no means did break into the racing wheel scene, I’ve examined sufficient of the best wheels to understand how costly the premium-grade choices change into, and that is earlier than you add a set of pedals or a racing seat, by no means thoughts a wraparound display screen and projector. Selfishly, I might say that I want Razer did observe by with at the very least some components of this monstrous cage, even when it offered them individually, however it could have suffered a mix of being too ultra-niche and ultra-expensive to outlive.
Undertaking Brooklyn (2021)
Now, this is what refinement is all about. Brooklyn is an ideal instance of going again to the drafting board to strip away pointless components and tweak what works into one thing even higher. At its core, Project Brooklyn is a wild gaming chair with a set of space-age tech constructed into its body, stitching, and cushions, however its enchantment soars a lot larger than a rig targeted solely on sim racing. Together with its still-beloved HyperSense tech for vibrating suggestions and the identical cable administration system used on its Razer Raptor 27 gaming monitor from the identical 12 months, the first enchantment was in that massive show.
Realistically, the notion of a fold-out OLED display screen that expands to 60 inches is one which, if nothing else, makes my pockets scream out in anticipated ache. Nevertheless, it is ticking extra of the appropriate packing containers for a manufacturing guidelines as Razer sticks to its weapons and expands on among the classes it does greatest: gaming chairs and peripherals. Since this idea was left as a blueprint, we now have seen a few of its DNA floor in different Razer merchandise, however the collapsing display screen stays on the chopping room flooring. Different manufacturers are making breakthroughs in rolling and foldable screens, so I am longing to see Undertaking Brooklyn’s return.
Undertaking Hazel (2021)
CES was an all-digital affair in 2021 for apparent causes. Most of us had been both caught at house or compelled into work with ultra-strict guidelines and restrictions as face coverings grew to become the norm for on a regular basis life and never simply sanitary touring on public transport. Initially revealed as Project Hazel, a smart N95 medical-grade mask, it adopted Razer’s humanitarian efforts to supply over 1,000,000 disposable masks and aimed to be extra of a long-term answer for a altering world.
Hazel was later launched because the Razer Zephyr smart mask, turning right into a fully-fledged product for buy, however the firm later ran right into a authorized dispute over its N95 certification claims.
After the settlement, all mentions of Undertaking Hazel and the Razer Zephyr have been successfully scrubbed from the corporate’s official web site, primarily demoting it again to the identical standing as its unreleased prototype siblings. It is one of many strangest tales from Razer’s time at CES and has hardly ever been introduced up in associated conversations since then. There’s (hopefully) unlikely to be any purpose for the Zephyr to return — so chalk this one as much as a studying expertise.
Undertaking Sophia (2022)
Is it a PC, or is it a desk? Properly, truly, it is each. Project Sophia was a concept desk for “gaming in the future” that housed an Intel processor and NVIDIA GPU alongside swappable modules for additional features. As weird because it was to see a desk with part specs, it was an thrilling prospect that appealed to space-conscious players who did not wish to stack a tower PC on prime of some low cost flat-packed furnishings and name it a day.
Class | Undertaking Sophia |
---|---|
Show | 65-inch | 77-inch OLED |
Processor | “Newest” Intel processor |
Graphics | “Newest” NVIDIA GPU |
Modules | 13 |
Lighting | Chroma RGB Lighting |
Design | Customized PCB, Magnetic chassis, Glass desktop |
Its modular design would permit programmable hotkeys, touchscreen system monitoring modules, chat views for livestreaming, and even a Thunderbolt-powered eGPU like the Razer Core to suit flush into the desk itself. Razer initially marketed 13 modules for Undertaking Sophia, however its enchantment broadened to anybody invested in its ecosystem, as Kiyo webcams and Seiren microphones may, in idea, be mounted onto its OLED display screen chassis with out cumbersome desk clamps. A wild thought, however one I’ve seen tried by DIY Youtubers, so it isn’t too loopy for me to consider it may have existed.
Enki Professional HyperSense (2022)
Previously few years, Razer has put much more focus into its gaming chairs when testing the waters for ideas, which dramatically elevated its probabilities of them turning into a actuality. This modified model of the Razer Enki Pro we reviewed would push vibrating haptic feedback motors into its premium Enki Pro HyperSense working all through its cushions, all the best way as much as the headrest, itself prominently that includes RGB in its stitching.
It revisited the idea for a Dolce&Gabbana collaboration with the identical Enki Professional chair, however this time, loading the RGB all through the backrest. It is just a little totally different from the same old vibrating chairs that may appeal to those that make money working from home, selling extra visceral suggestions from explosions and gunshots in video games moderately than a deep tissue therapeutic massage for good posture and vascular well being.
Technically, it by no means had a venture codename, and the Razer Enki Professional HyperSense hasn’t seen a full launch simply but. Moreover, RGB in chairs has me feeling the identical approach about its inclusion in Razer Hammerhead earbuds; it is cool for some time, however the novelty wears off. Nevertheless, the haptic suggestions characteristic will return a few years later.
Undertaking Carol (2023)
The codenames return for Undertaking Carol, which continues the theme of HyperSense in gaming chairs however focuses the haptic feedback tech entirely in this custom headrest. Distancing itself from the earlier ideas, this prototype was truly designed to be appropriate with virtually any gaming chair and never simply these manufactured by Razer. It was wi-fi, too, working 2.4GHz indicators on to a appropriate PC or laptop computer and working from a battery with an 8-hour cost.
It is one of many extra life like ideas proven at CES, however Razer by no means introduced it to market. As a substitute, the haptics-for-your-head enchantment moved to its headsets, with the Razer Kraken V4 Pro sporting the corporate’s trendy Sensa HD as a substitute of HyperSense. I put on my headphones actually each day whereas I am working and once more within the night when taking part in video games, so I am drawn to the enchantment of a high-quality speaker set that does not need to be cranked up all day, upsetting my neighbors — possibly Undertaking Carol remains to be inside an opportunity to exchange the Leviathan V2 Pro soundbar?
Undertaking Esther (2024)
Lastly, and one other instance of the latest profitable transfer from idea to actuality is Undertaking Esther, revealed alongside the Iskur V2 gaming chair at CES in 2024. It separated the HyperSense-turned-Sensa HD haptics from Razer’s chairs and moved it right into a devoted cushion, which might later change into the Razer Freyja after 9 months.
Naming it “a uniquely immersive addition to your PC gaming arsenal” in our Razer Freyja review, it retained the one-size-fits-all mentality of Undertaking Carol and pushed an advanced model of the Enki Professional HyperSense with a reasonably lowered price ticket. It nonetheless launched at $300 MSRP, which is not nothing, nevertheless it made sufficient of an impression on Managing Editor Richard Devine to justify its price and rating at our CES 2024 awards.
What may Razer be planning for CES 2025?
There are two distinct predictions working in my head, one logical and the opposite made up solely of hope and crossed fingers. The primary appears pretty apparent: Razer will in all probability convey a brand new Razer Blade laptop computer to CES 2025, touting new NVIDIA graphics playing cards with that 50-Series branding we’re not supposed to know about. I nonetheless attest that the Razer Blade 18 (2024) is the best gaming laptop I’ve ever utilized in my life, owing to its absolute top-of-the-line {hardware} combo.
It is hardly an idea prediction, however utilizing the most recent and best GeForce RTX GPUs may afford Razer to convey Undertaking Valerie again to life, albeit with elevated safety. Perhaps it could be surrounded by armed guards this time or maybe encased in bulletproof glass, however I might like to see a totally insane laptop computer prototype make a return this 12 months moderately than one other gaming chair modification. In any other case, possibly Razer will go for discrete desktop GPUs and revisit the modular vibes of Undertaking Christine; who is aware of?
Nonetheless, my second and extra lofty prediction is that Razer may give us a glimpse at a brand new PC gaming handheld, maybe utilizing yet-unannounced parts that drive it to stay an idea till later within the 12 months. In spite of everything, loads of different gaming manufacturers have tried, some extra efficiently than others, and the class is ready to develop at an alarming charge when SteamOS inevitably opens to third-party devices.
If MSI can have a second shot at the ‘Claw’ and Lenovo continues to expand its Legion Go range, I can not perceive why Razer’s engineers would take a backseat and watch different manufacturers eat their lunch. It feels all of the extra apparent after I sit to play some video games on my ASUS ROG Ally and see the RGB-laden controls gentle up, pondering, “should not this be Razer’s gig?”
Sure, it ought to, and I am hoping to see at the very least a touch of Razer delivering its age-old Undertaking Switchblade idea with ultra-modern domination by utilizing every thing it realized from Blade laptops. CES 2025 is not too distant, and my suspicions will both be confirmed or denied in a matter of weeks. Till then, I am wanting again at Razer’s distinctive mix of genius and madness with these historic ideas.