In a way, Razer‘s tweet was very sarcastic and it also made it quite clear what the company wanted to do at CES 2026. The tweet, of course, was full of hype. ‘Next-level hardware. Next-gen innovations.’ Same old story. While they were asking gamers what their opinion was, they also nicely included a link to the unveiling. Pretty standard marketing strategy, right? The picture they shared was a different story altogether. It was very much about AI and the word ‘AI’ was even mentioned explicitly. And the gamers did not keep quiet at all. The gamers’ reaction was not only negative but a very fiery revolt in the replies. This is a typical case of a company that may be misjudging the mood or just choosing to go on anyway. Let’s discuss.
The anger of the gamers has a single source: they refuse to accept AI in any manner in the gaming world. Razer’s replies on Twitter are indeed a good reflection of the resistance from the community. A hardcore gamer DaBluedude hit the nail on the head: ‘I can’t tell you how freaking mistaken this is; never will I buy your products again.’ This isn’t a disappointment anymore; it is the final judgment. SupplyguyYT, very openly remarked: ‘Stop the AI nonsense. AI is making gaming hell. You guys just don’t see it, do you?’ This sentiment is actually the prevailing one. BruceMcbites merely placed Razer on the list of his ‘do not buy from’ companies. It is that strong of a feeling.
The gamers are asking, why such a ferocious reaction? Without any doubt, the gamers are connecting Razer to things that it probably never intended to be. User Shuckle commented on the very real cost that comes with it: ‘AI is literally making gaming less accessible with the prices of hardware booming due to the ever-expanding data centers.’ Definitely an economic concern. Jay_P8890 gave similar views, stating AI ‘kill the hobby that we all love’ because of the high price of RAM. It is not only philosophical dislike, but also the money and the playing aspect at stake. Besides, there is a feeling of dishonesty. User Deltarious5 sarcastically questioned the company motto: ‘for gamers, by gamers’ and said, Razer was doing just the opposite: ‘Imagine how much hatred you are creating among the gamers. I am going to set fire to my Razer stuff as soon as I get an alternative one. That’s a strong.
On the other hand, the gamers believe the company does not know what is happening. Voldjaw asked, ‘how can companies be so disconnected from their communities? do you even have analysts?’ TheDeathOfFun remarked that analysts indicate ‘consumers are fatigued by the promotion of AI.’ User tempusrob gave the shortest and most damaging advice: ‘read the room, bro.’ It’s like the whole gaming community on the Internet was screaming at once and Razer’s social media team just… published the planned tweet. Wirldly shared a very common sentiment of loss: ‘Oh, how you have fallen…. Razer is the only brand that I still use, and that is my Deathadder mouse; it is probably the only technology that is bombproof, unlike anything else you make.’ That’s a legacy that is slowly fading away.
However, not every reply was filled with anger. Frogboyx1Gaming was excited about his CES visit and OTG_Otakugraphy was going to register. These, however, were outnumbered by a wave of ‘Not the fuckin case’ (by SeiasX) and ‘STFU’ (posted by Tempvo_). The prevailing message is one of rejection. Nethraxis mockingly forecasted the announcements: ‘AI everywhere. AI mouse. AI keyboard. AI and more AI.’ And honestly, that just might be the case with Razer. The burning question is, will they change after witnessing this backlash, or will they actually reinforce?
We are living in a strange time. CES is intended to be the demonstration of the future, but Razer’s future seems at odds with the present wishes of its most loyal customers. The company mentions ‘next-gen innovations,’ yet a big section of its consumer base claims that the tech they despise is ruining the present generation’s experience plus making it costly. That is a huge distance to bridge. The expression ‘soulless corporate higher-ups’ used by Shuckle Burner is highly impactful, as it portrays Razer not as a trendy gamer brand, but as just another tech giant that has gone with the flow.
What about the future? The event is quite some time away. Razer may seize the opportunity to amend the message or place the emphasis on a feature apart from AI or something like… For platforms like PlayStation and Xbox, the focus often remains on the games themselves.
