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Razer is a global technology company that develops gaming hardware, software, digital services, and esports-focused products
Razer Inc. is a technology company focused on gaming hardware, software, digital services and related consumer technology. It was founded in 2005 by Min-Liang Tan and Robert Krakoff and is headquartered in Irvine, California, and Singapore, with regional operations in locations including Hamburg and Shanghai. The company is known for gaming peripherals such as mice, keyboards and headsets, as well as its Razer Blade laptop range, gaming controllers, streaming hardware and other accessories.
Razer also operates software platforms including Razer Synapse and Razer Chroma RGB, which the company states collectively form part of a software ecosystem used by more than 200 million users. Its digital services include Razer Gold, a payment service for games and digital content, and Razer Silver, a loyalty and rewards programme.
The company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2017 and returned to private ownership in 2022 following a scheme of arrangement and withdrawal of its listing. In the 2020s, Razer has expanded its activities into sustainability initiatives, AI-related gaming tools and developer hardware while continuing to operate primarily within the gaming technology market.
Razer was formally established in 2005 by Min-Liang Tan and Robert Krakoff. Its origins were connected to earlier work on the Razer Boomslang, a high-DPI mouse developed by Karna LLC, a predecessor company associated with the Razer brand. Following the creation of Razer Inc., the company established operations in both the United States and Singapore and began developing hardware specifically for PC gaming. One of its early products was the Razer Diamondback gaming mouse.
During its early years, Razer expanded through gaming peripherals and esports partnerships. In 2006, it worked with Microsoft on the Habu gaming mouse and Reclusa keyboard, while the following year saw the launch of the Razer DeathAdder, which became one of the company's longest-running product families. Razer also established a European headquarters in Hamburg and progressively increased its sponsorship of professional gaming teams and players.
Between 2008 and 2011, the company expanded its international operations and research activities. It opened research and development facilities in locations including San Francisco, Austin and Taipei and established a regional headquarters in Shanghai. During this period, products such as the Razer Mamba wireless mouse, BlackWidow mechanical keyboard and Onza console controller broadened the company's range beyond conventional PC mice. Razer was also increasingly involved in esports through sponsorship agreements with teams including Evil Geniuses and Team Liquid.
Razer entered the gaming-computer market more directly in the early 2010s. In 2011 and 2012, it presented concepts such as the Switchblade and Project Fiona and introduced the Razer Blade gaming laptop. It also launched Razer Synapse, a software platform for managing device settings, and expanded its audio portfolio through the Kraken headset range. These developments moved Razer from being primarily a peripheral manufacturer toward a broader gaming-hardware and software company.
The company continued expanding into new categories during the middle of the decade, including microphones and products for streamers and content creators. It also increased its involvement in esports through Team Razer, sponsoring professional players and organisations across multiple competitive titles.
Razer became a publicly traded company in November 2017, when its shares began trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under stock code 1337. The listing provided additional capital for international expansion and product development. During this period, the company continued to build its Blade laptop range, gaming peripherals, software services and payment products.
The late 2010s and early 2020s saw further diversification. Razer developed productivity-focused devices alongside its gaming products and expanded technologies such as THX Spatial Audio, following its earlier acquisition of THX. It also broadened its digital payments activities through Razer Gold and other financial-technology initiatives.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Razer established the Razer Health initiative and created surgical-mask manufacturing capacity in Singapore. The company also launched productivity products including the Razer Pro Click mouse and Pro Type keyboard and continued developing its gaming and streaming hardware.
In 2021, Razer introduced its #GoGreenWithRazer programme, a ten-year sustainability roadmap focused on renewable energy, materials, recycling and environmental impact. The company subsequently introduced emissions-reduction targets and increased its use of recycled materials in major product categories.
Razer returned to private ownership in 2022. Hong Kong Stock Exchange records document a scheme of arrangement to privatise Razer and the subsequent withdrawal of its shares from the exchange in May 2022.
The company continued developing gaming hardware and software after privatisation. By 2023, its portfolio included gaming laptops, PC and console peripherals, mobile gaming controllers, streaming equipment and digital services. The company also reported that it had become the leading PC gaming-headset brand in the United States over the 2020–2023 period, based on Circana retail-tracking data.
In 2025, Razer marked its 20th anniversary, reflecting two decades of development across PC, console, mobile and esports products. By 2026, it was also placing greater emphasis on artificial intelligence. At CES 2026, the company presented an AI-focused gaming ecosystem that included Project AVA, an AI desk companion and gaming assistant; Project Motoko, a wearable AI headset concept; the Razer Forge AI Developer Workstation; and Razer AIKit, an open-source toolkit intended to support local AI workflows.
Razer describes its core mission through the phrase “For Gamers. By Gamers.” In practice, this has meant designing products and services around gaming performance, interaction and digital entertainment. The company develops its own hardware, software and service platforms while working with game developers, esports organisations and technology partners. Its stated mission has also expanded to include responsibility toward the gaming community and environmental sustainability through programmes such as #GoGreenWithRazer.
Razer's stated direction is centred on developing technology around the needs of gamers, reflected in its long-standing “For Gamers. By Gamers.” positioning. Its broader product strategy extends beyond individual gaming peripherals toward an ecosystem combining hardware, software, services, esports and digital platforms. More recently, the company has also incorporated artificial intelligence and sustainability into its long-term development plans, including AI-assisted gaming tools, developer systems and lower-impact product design.
Razer's main business is built around gaming hardware. Its peripheral portfolio includes gaming mice, keyboards, headsets, mouse mats and other accessories. Major product families include the DeathAdder and Basilisk mice, BlackWidow and Huntsman keyboards, and Kraken and BlackShark headsets. Products are designed across different price and performance categories for casual players, competitive gamers and esports users.
The company's computer business is centred on the Razer Blade range of gaming laptops. Blade models combine high-performance processors and graphics hardware with displays designed for gaming and creative applications. Razer has periodically expanded the line into different screen sizes and configurations, while maintaining the Blade brand as its principal computer product family.
Razer also produces console and mobile gaming hardware. Its console portfolio includes Wolverine controllers and headset ranges such as Kaira and Kraken. In mobile gaming, the Razer Kishi family provides physical controls for smartphones, including support for mobile games and cloud-gaming services.
Another part of the company's hardware business serves streamers, creators and broadcasters. Products include Razer Seiren microphones, webcams, capture-related devices and audio equipment. The company has also developed chairs, speakers, lighting products and other equipment intended to form part of complete gaming or streaming setups.
Razer operates a substantial software ecosystem alongside its hardware. Razer Synapse allows users to configure supported devices, adjust functions and store settings. Razer Chroma RGB manages lighting and integrations across Razer products and compatible third-party hardware, games and applications. The company states that its software ecosystem has more than 200 million users.
Digital payments and rewards form another area of Razer's business. Razer Gold is a gaming-focused payment service that can be used to purchase games and digital content across tens of thousands of titles, while Razer Silver operates as an associated loyalty and rewards programme. Razer describes Gold as one of the largest game-payment services globally.
Razer has also operated in esports for much of its history through Team Razer, providing equipment, sponsorship and partnerships to professional players and teams. The company has worked with organisations and athletes across games including League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Dota, StarCraft and other competitive titles.
Sustainability has increasingly become part of Razer's operational and product strategy. Through #GoGreenWithRazer, the company has committed to renewable-energy adoption, greater use of recycled and recyclable materials, improvements in product lifecycle management and recycling programmes. In 2024, Razer stated that its 2030 emissions-reduction targets had been validated by the Science Based Targets initiative, including a targeted 90% absolute reduction in certain direct emissions and reductions in value-chain emissions intensity.
By 2026, Razer had also begun presenting products and development platforms specifically aimed at artificial intelligence. The Razer Forge AI Developer Workstation is intended for local AI development workloads, while Razer AIKit provides tools for local-first AI applications. Experimental concepts such as Project AVA and Project Motoko extend AI into gaming assistance and wearable computing.
