“Razer Unplugged: A Journey Through Bold Innovations, Mysteries, and Future Gaming Insights at CES”

Each year, the most prominent figures in technology converge in Las Vegas for the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) to showcase their forthcoming hardware, software, and an array of accessories. Everything vies for attention amid significant contrasts between state-of-the-art vehicles, trucks, and the smallest devices, yet certain items shine with extravagant concept creations meant to attract interest and elicit feedback.

Razer consistently presents the most extraordinary concept gadgets, some more speculative than others, yet it boasts a rich legacy of delivering impressive products in reality. Reactions vary widely, and not everything transitions to the production stage, but its conceptual designs are always captivating and at least appealing. Occasionally, they are a bit too appealing, as at least one ‘project’ specimen departed the convention center in the possession of thieves.

CES 2025 is tantalizingly close, scheduled between January 7 and 10, 2025. However, several announcements occur a few days prior to the event officially welcoming attendees in Las Vegas, Nevada. Razer is not known for subtlety, frequently showcasing the most powerful gaming gear in RGB-embellished cases, and its concept gadgets often constitute the most entertaining aspect of its exhibition. Feeling nostalgic, let’s revisit its various concepts and examine whether they reached the market.

Project Switchblade (2011)

Razer pinpointed a demand for portable PC gaming without compromises way back at CES 2011 when it introduced Project Switchblade. This gaming handheld bore a strong resemblance to a Nintendo DS but featured a set of animated buttons emulating a keyboard, similar to what one might see on a modern-day Elgato Stream Deck. A touchscreen would emulate mouse input, while full-size USB-A ports made the idea of connecting a dedicated gaming mouse appealing as it demonstrated high-octane FPS games of the era, like Quake Live.

PC gaming has always been unattainable in a portable format.

Perhaps the most entertaining aspect from a retrospective viewpoint is Intel’s characterization of its “powerful” Atom processor platform as capable of handling “rich 3D graphics, high-definition video, and lifelike animation.” Nonetheless, this was a full decade before Valve’s Steam Deck would utilize a specially designed AMD Zen 2 APU, finally making unrestricted PC gaming a feasible option with a battery-operated handheld, and it wasn’t as if Razer had many alternatives at that time, so the comparatively weak Atom chip was understandable for a concept.

Does the Switchblade still hold relevance looking ahead to 2025? I would like to think so. There’s no better moment for Razer to enter the PC gaming handheld sector with Lenovo’s upcoming Legion Go S and ASUS’ mid-gen ROG Ally X refresh pushing for enhanced specifications and even encroaching on RGB features in their controls, undeniably Razer’s domain. While the chunky backlit buttons may feel somewhat outdated, a compact touchscreen with dedicated commands would certainly be a welcome replacement for the Steam Deck’s signature touchpads.

Project Fiona (2012)

A year passing reveals trends when Razer transitions from imposing a conventional handheld structure to a then-burgeoning tablet format. In retrospect, Project Fiona was rather unattractive with its rigidly mounted joysticks that resembled a mixture of Nintendo’s Wii remote and Sony’s PlayStation Move controllers. However, it adhered to traditional PC components by opting for Intel’s 3rd Gen Ivy Bridge processors.

This model aimed to appeal to PC gamers who sought to bypass Android adaptations of their favorite games and stick with full-fledged versions from their desktops and laptops. While it might have seemed ambitious to promote visually rich games of the time, like Assassin’s Creed Revelations running on the Switchblade, even that eventually found its way to the Nintendo Switch.

From a practical viewpoint, the Switchblade was large and unwieldy, competing against the leading tablets of its time that were enjoying successful ports of popular games like Grand Theft Auto for iOS and Android. Conversely, it was an innovative concept that managed to emerge in the market and allowed Razer to learn from its reception as an above-average tablet that accomplished most of its objectives. Whether one loved it or loathed it, there is no question regarding Razer’s determination and enthusiasm for transforming gaming hardware.

Project Christine (2014)

At first glance, it’s challenging to discern what Project Christine truly represents. Promoted as a modular gaming desktop PC, it’s among the most visually arresting concepts I’ve ever witnessed from Razer. Almost resembling a server rack aimed at gamers, this tower of elongated modules had the capability to swap and modify components to enhance its base station and connect through proprietary ports for supposed convenience.

Experienced custom PC builders might rightfully express skepticism towards the concept, given that desktops are inherently modular.

by creation. Yet, streamlining the PC enhancement journey for a beginner PC gamer equipped with a substantial budget might be enticing due to one exceptional characteristic. Indeed, you may observe that the slender modules leave minimal space for conventional fans or even custom liquid cooling, but Project Christine was designed to be predominantly cooled with oil.

With a truly modular structure, construct your very own remarkable machine without the requirement for extensive technical expertise.

It’s true that this modular framework included a variety of components to contemplate, considering its era. Physical Blu-Ray disc drives, stacked-up graphics cards operating in SLI (Scalable Link Interface) for enhanced GPU performance, and more substantial hardware had justification to exist in modules of this size. Contemporary PCs can be extremely compact and are arguably simpler to upgrade than ever, thanks to fewer required cables, with M.2 solid-state drives functioning more like plug-in modules instead of wired disks.

Was it aspirational and perhaps a bit extravagant? Certainly, but it’s a notion I’d be eager to see make a comeback, albeit with standard connectors replacing proprietary dead ends. Inserting a component into a single module before sliding it into position is undoubtedly a more intuitive concept for a novice to comprehend rather than grappling with cable management in a custom PC case, so why not?

Project Ariana (2017)

In a rather plausible experiment, Project Ariana was Razer’s endeavor to give ‘gaming projectors’ a more distinctive allure by broadening the boundaries of your current display. Not too unlike a modern initiative in Govee’s AI gaming sync box G1, the aim was to allow your game to overflow beyond the edges of your monitor or TV and project it around your space. However, this solution displays actual gameplay footage on your walls, considering objects and changing shapes rather than relying on simple RGB colors.

This was something we were fortunate enough to experience at CES in 2017, which fills some members of the current team with envy since Project Ariana never transitioned beyond the concept phase. Gaming projectors exist in a challenging category to start with, often struggling to match the rapid refresh rates of monitors and even some televisions, making it easy to understand how desynchronization could diminish the appeal of Ariana and whatever its latency threshold might have been. Nonetheless, chroma hardware persists, and Razer Gamer Room addresses at least some of our gaming immersion desires.

Project Valerie (2017)

In what should have been an intriguing glimpse into the potential multi-monitor capabilities of gaming laptops, two prototype examples of Razer’s Project Valerie were regrettably stolen from the show floor at CES in 2017. A $25,000 reward was offered for anyone who could provide a trustworthy lead toward identifying the thief (or thieves), but it was before we had an opportunity to see this trio of 17-inch 4K screens for ourselves.

I’ve just been informed that two of our prototypes were stolen from our booth at CES today.

At first glance, it may seem peculiar, yet there existed, and continues to exist, a demand for such technology. A brief exploration amongst sellers for ‘laptop screen extenders’ reveals effortless imports that attach to pre-existing gadgets and connect through HDMI or USB-C, surely reminiscent of my Game Boy in 1998 when I added a magnifying glass, a plug-in light, extended controller rests, and who knows what else. Razer aspired to create it as a seamless addition with a concealed storage option, and it’s regrettable it never experienced even a limited rollout.

Project Linda (2018)

Going down in history as one of the most mourned conceptual devices that never transitioned to reality, we referred to Project Linda as the Continuum Microsoft imagined, but unfortunately, it never advanced beyond the ‘dream’ phase. The device itself is fundamentally the chassis of a gaming laptop with a unique phone-shaped indentation where the touchpad would normally be, ideal for accommodating a Razer Phone. The Android-based smartphone would assume processing duties and even manage audio through its integrated speakers, with an opening left for accessing its fingerprint sensor.

Envision a future where the capabilities of the Razer Phone blend flawlessly with the adaptability of an ultra-portable laptop.

Without the Razer Phone, there’s limited justification for Project Linda’s existence, so its viability would have mirrored that of its counterpart. It’s not beyond reason to consider that Razer might have developed adapters for integrating its future phones, provided they either retained the same size or reduced their dimensions slightly, and perhaps this would have extended to third-party brands as well. It’s unfortunate we will never ascertain the truth, as this could have been the leading ‘dockable phone’ solution for years ahead.

Ultimate Racing Simulator (2020)

This marks the moment Razer begins to reach for its audience’s aspirations. Sure, as a devotee of driving simulators (yes, Euro Truck Simulator qualifies), I’ve envisioned establishing something as extravagant as Razer’s eRacing Simulator in my garage or attic, but the “Ultimate Racing Simulator concept” was destined to stay a prototype unless Razer aimed to enter the arcade industry. Enormous and all-encompassing, this colossal rig had everything required for a fully immersive racing simulation experience.

A motion platform powered by two actuators and a gaming control box for a professional racing training setup that translates terrain surfaces, G-force, and sounds into motion for a fully immersive experience.

While Razer never penetrated the racing wheel market, I’ve tried enough of the top-tier wheels to recognize how costly premium options can get, and that’s without even adding a set of pedals or a racing seat, let alone a surround screen and projector. Selfishly, I would have liked Razer to have completed at least some components of this gigantic structure, even if they were sold separately, but it would have likely been hindered by being overly ultra-niche and ultra-expensive to persist.

Project Brooklyn (2021)

Now, this exemplifies what refinement is all about. Brooklyn stands as a prime example of returning to the drawing board to eliminate unnecessary components and refine what functions into something significantly better. At its essence, Project Brooklyn is an extravagant gaming chair equipped with an array of state-of-the-art technology integrated into its frame, stitching, and cushions, but its charm extends well beyond a rig solely focused on sim racing. It includes its still-admired HyperSense tech for vibrating
“`feedback and the identical cable management solution utilized in its Razer Raptor 27 gaming monitor from the same year, the main attraction lay in that colossal display.

Attached to the chair’s spine and operable at the mere press of a button is a 60″ full surround OLED screen delivering breathtaking visual clarity.

Realistically, the idea of a foldable OLED display that extends to 60 inches is one that, if nothing else, causes my wallet to wail in foreseen agony. Nonetheless, it’s checking off more of the correct boxes for a production list as Razer remains steadfast and broadens its expertise in some of the areas it excels: gaming chairs and accessories. As this concept was left as a design plan, we have observed traces of its essence in other Razer products, but the retractable screen remains discarded. Other manufacturers are achieving advancements in rolling and foldable displays, so I’m eager to witness Project Brooklyn’s revival.

Project Hazel (2021)

CES was entirely digital in 2021 for evident reasons. Most of us were either confined to our homes or compelled to work under stringent regulations as face coverings became routine for everyday living and not merely a hygienic necessity while using public transport. Initially unveiled as Project Hazel, a smart N95 medical-grade mask, it was part of Razer’s charitable efforts to produce over a million disposable masks and intended to serve as a more sustainable solution for an evolving world.

Hazel was subsequently launched as the Razer Zephyr smart mask, evolving into a commercially available product, but the company later encountered a legal challenge regarding its claims about N95 certification.

We contest the FTC’s allegations and did not confess to any misconduct as part of the settlement. It was never our goal to mislead anyone, and we opted to settle this situation to prevent the distraction and disturbance of litigation and to maintain our concentration on creating excellent products for gamers.

Following the settlement, all references to Project Hazel and the Razer Zephyr have been largely erased from the company’s official site, effectively relegating it back to the same standing as its unreleased prototype counterparts. This is one of the oddest narratives from Razer’s experience at CES and has seldom been mentioned in related discussions since. There’s (hopefully) little chance for the Zephyr to return — so declare this one a learning opportunity.

Project Sophia (2022)

Is it a PC, or is it a desk? Well, it is both. Project Sophia was a conceptual workstation for “gaming in the future” that integrated an Intel processor and NVIDIA GPU along with interchangeable modules for additional functionalities. As peculiar as it was to encounter a desk with hardware specifications, it presented an exhilarating option that attracted space-conscious gamers who didn’t want to pile a tower PC atop some inexpensive flat-packed furniture and call it a day.

Its modular configuration would accommodate programmable hotkeys, touchscreen system monitoring modules, chat views for livestreaming, and even a Thunderbolt-enabled eGPU like the Razer Core to fit seamlessly into the desk itself. Razerinitially promoted 13 components for Project Sophia, but its attraction expanded to anyone engaged in its ecosystem, as Kiyo webcams and Seiren microphones could, theoretically, be attached to its OLED screen framework without cumbersome table clamps. A bold concept, yet one I’ve observed attempted by DIY Youtubers, so it’s not too far-fetched for me to consider it could have been feasible.

Enki Pro HyperSense (2022)

Over the past few years, Razer has directed even greater emphasis towards its gaming chairs while exploring innovative ideas, significantly enhancing their likelihood of coming to fruition. This altered rendition of the Razer Enki Pro we evaluated would incorporate vibrating haptic feedback motors throughout its premium Enki Pro HyperSense cushioning, extending all the way to the headrest, which prominently features RGB in its stitching.

It revisited the idea for a Dolce&Gabbana partnership with the same Enki Pro chair, this time integrating RGB into the backrest. It’s a tad distinct from the typical vibrating chairs that might appeal to remote workers, promoting a more tangible reaction from blasts and gunfire in games rather than a deep tissue massage aimed at good posture and vascular well-being.

Technically, it never bore a project codename, and the Razer Enki Pro HyperSense hasn’t achieved a complete launch yet. Furthermore, RGB in chairs gives me the same sentiments as its presence in Razer Hammerhead earbuds; it’s intriguing for a time, but the novelty diminishes. However, the haptic feedback feature is expected to resurface in a couple of years.

Project Carol (2023)

The codenames make a return for Project Carol, which maintains the HyperSense theme in gaming chairs but centers the haptic feedback technology entirely within this bespoke headrest. Distancing itself from previous concepts, this prototype was specifically crafted to be compatible with virtually any gaming chair and not solely those produced by Razer. It was also wireless, operating with 2.4GHz signals directly to a compatible PC or laptop and powered by a battery that boasts an 8-hour charge.

It’s among the more plausible concepts displayed at CES, yet Razer never commercialized it. Instead, the haptic experience shifted to its headsets, with the Razer Kraken V4 Pro showcasing the company’s contemporary Sensa HD instead of HyperSense. I don my headphones literally every day while working and again in the evening during gaming sessions, so I’m attracted to the notion of a high-quality speaker assembly that doesn’t require cranking up all day, disturbing my neighbors — perhaps Project Carol still stands a chance to replace the Leviathan V2 Pro soundbar?

Project Esther (2024)

At last, another instance of a recently successful transition from concept to reality is Project Esther, unveiled alongside the Iskur V2 gaming chair at CES in 2024. It decentralized the HyperSense-turned-Sensa HD haptics from Razer’s chairs and relocated it into a dedicated cushion, which would eventually evolve into the Razer Freyja after 9 months.

Razer’s Freyja isn’t a vest, and you don’t have to strap into a VR headset to utilize it — it’s haptics for everyone.

Dubbed “a uniquely immersive enhancement to your PC gaming arsenal” in our Razer Freyja review, it retained the all-inclusive philosophy of Project Carol and advanced an evolved version of the Enki Pro HyperSense with a moderately lowered price point. It still debuted at an MSRP of $300, which isn’t nothing, but it left a significant impression on Managing Editor Richard Devine to justify its value and rating at our CES 2024 awards.

What might Razer be planning for CES 2025?

Two distinct forecasts are swirling in my mind, one sensible and the other built entirely from hope and crossed fingers. The first appears quite evident: Razer is likely to introduce a new Razer Blade laptop to CES 2025, flaunting new NVIDIA graphics cards with that 50-Series branding we aren’t supposed to be aware of. I continue to assert that the Razer Blade 18 (2024) is the finest gaming laptop I’ve ever experienced, thanks to its unparalleled top-tier hardware combination.

It’s hardly a conceptual forecast, but leveraging the latest and greatest GeForce RTX GPUs could enable Razer to revive Project Valerie, albeit with heightened security. Perhaps it would be surrounded by armed personnel this time or even encased in bulletproof glass, but I’d love to witness a wildly ambitious laptop prototype make a comeback this year rather than yet another gaming chair modification. Otherwise, perhaps Razer will opt for discrete desktop GPUs and revisit the modular concept of Project Christine; who knows?

Nonetheless, my second and more ambitious prediction is that Razer could provide a preview of a new PC gaming handheld, perhaps utilizing yet-to-be-announced components that would require it to remain a concept until later in the year. After all, numerous gaming companies have made attempts, some more triumphant than others, and the category is poised to expand rapidly when SteamOS inevitably opens to third-party devices.

If MSI can take a second chance with the ‘Claw’ and Lenovo continues to broaden its Legion Go range, I cannot fathom why Razer’s engineers would sit back and watch other brands seize their market share. It feels all the more apparent when I sit down to enjoy some games on my ASUS ROG Ally and observe the RGB-illuminated controls light up, thinking, “shouldn’t this be Razer’s domain?”

I can’t fathom why Razer’s engineers would sit back and let other brands seize their market share.

Indeed, it should, and I’m optimistic to witness at least a glimpse of Razer delivering its timeless Project Switchblade concept with ultra-modern prowess by utilizing everything it learned from Blade laptops. CES 2025 isn’t far off, and my anticipations will either be confirmed or refuted in just a few weeks. Until then, I’m reflecting on Razer’s distinctive fusion of brilliance and boldness with these historical concepts.