Razer’s collaborations have been some of my favorite products. While they do use the same base product for the majority of them (from Sanrio to Pokémon), they show thoughtful design and dedication to serving gaming’s many audiences. When I opened Razer’s latest collaboration, this one for Razer x BLACKPINK collection, the words “Play in Pink” greeted me.
Sure, it’s a reference to the South Korean idol group BLACKPINK, but much like the empowerment women find in that girl group, seeing the words “Play in Pink” on one of gaming’s largest peripheral companies took the wind out of me in a good way. While Razer has always invested in its women audiences with its Quartz line and Kraken Kitty headphones (which also got an update), the concerted effort to match its collaborations to hobbies, IP, and groups often gendered as women’s interests has been astounding.
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The collection was first announced at the BLACKPINK World Tour <DEADLINE> Pop-Up Store in Hong Kong. Now, it makes its move from stage to gaming setups worldwide. The collaboration for BlackPink x Razer products also showcases the growth of the group’s audience, which, given that pro esports players perform their dance breaks when they walk into a tournament, just makes sense.
But this is also not BLACKPINK’s first step into gaming, as their collaboration with PUBG Mobile marked the start. And they’re not the only K-Pop act to land collaborations in the gaming sector. It’s a good time to be a fan of K-pop and a gamer.
Girl group aespa’s collaborations with Street Fighter 6 and PUBG Mobile, and, most recently, with gaming peripheral company Higround on their keyboard line. The list also includes BTS’s Min Yoongi (SUGA), who collaborated with Halsey for Diablo IV, Le Sserafim, who helped launch Overwatch 2, G-Dragon’s collaboration with PUBG Mobile, G(i)dle, New Jeans, and TWICE, who have all collaborated with RIOT’s League of Legends, Enhypen’s Pokémon collab, BTS’s Kim Seok-jin (Jin), who collaborated with MapleStory, Dreamcatcher’s Time with King’s Raid, and Stray Kids’ item featured in NBA 2K24, and those are just the ones I remember.
BLACKPINK’s Razer collection further highlights the impact of K-pop.
When it comes to products, the BLACKPINK x Razer collaboration goes a step further than what we saw with Highground’s aespa keyboard drop. Here, Blinks (BLACKPINK fans, hi, I am one too) can get four items in total from the collection, letting them dedicate their entire space to the group they love.
The BLACKPINK Edition collection is:
- Razer Ornata V3 Tenkeyless – BLACKPINK Edition
- Razer DeathAdder Essential – BLACKPINK Edition
- Razer Gigantus V2 – Medium – BLACKPINK Edition
- Razer Enki X – BLACKPINK Edition
The pink for this collaboration is just a shade deeper than the quartz line, but it works just fine along the defined Quartz products. I have the Quartz version of the Razer Kiyo V2 and the Quartz-colored Kraken Kitty V3S that I use at my desk.
The base for the BLACKPINK collection is some of Razer’s favorite (read: frequently used) products to use for collaborations. The Ornata V3 Tenkeyless, DeathAdder, and Gigantus are core pieces of Razer’s Sanrio collection, which includes Hello Kitty, Kuromi, and Cinnamonroll editions. Additionally, these base products are built on for the recent Pokémon collaboration.
While this does raise questions about whether replacing your current hardware with the BLACKPINK Razer collection is an “upgrade,” using the same product as the base for multiple collaborations has also built trust in its durability and quality. I comfortably say that switching between Ornata V3’s as I decide on the aesthetic for my desk, whenever I get bored, lets me prioritize beauty first. I know what I am getting.
That said, the reason to invest in the new BLACKPINK collection comes squarely from how well the band’s aesthetic and name have been brought to life in the products themselves. Which leaves one question: Did Razer understand the assignment?
Yeah, they did.
Photocards push this BLACKPINK x Razer collaboration over the edge.
While collaborating with the group is enough to pull some people in, there also has to be an understanding of fan culture in K-Pop spaces. And for K-pop fans, photocards are central to collections and engagement. It’s why K-pop fans buy multiple versions of one album or go to pop-up merch drops.
Razer meets that expectation by giving away collectible, unique photocards with each product (or all four if you buy the bundle). Exclusive to Razer, the BLACKPINK photocards feature Jennie, Jisoo, Lisa, and Rosé against black-and-white backgrounds. Additionally, for those who like to decorate their photocard holders, the BLACKPINK collection includes a sticker set specific to the girl group, rather than Razer’s usual brand promo sticker included in their packaging.
Outside of that, the design of the BLACKPINK collection works for fans because of its branding. However, anyone looking for references to albums, lyrics, or symbols, as we saw with the aespa keyboards, will be disappointed. These products are just pink and black, for obvious reasons. That said, the simplicity of the BLACKPINK collection can also be its strength.
The BLACKPINK collection works across users, whether you love the group or are new to them.
This collection actually works for fans and those just looking for high-quality pink gear for their setup. While there are surely enough Blinks in the world, given the global success and sold-out shows across their world tours (both as solo acts and as a group), Razer’s design for the products also opens up an avenue for someone to pick up the collection based on the color and then dive into the group’s discography, and just maybe, become a Blink.
The appeal of the products comes from how minimalist the design is, carried across each of the products. The Ornata V3 is a low-profile RGB keyboard with clicky Mecha-Membrane switches that has never failed me yet. The RGB sync works extremely well (when Synapse decides to) with custom inputs available. Additionally, even after months of use (and a year for my Hello Kitty Ornata V3), the color hasn’t faded or chipped. As someone who is hard on their hardware, the durability of the Ornata V3, especially with long nails, has stood up, and it’s clear that the BLACKPINK version of it will also keep pace.
In the same vein, the Deathadder is one of the better mice you can get at that price point. It promises classic ergonomic comfort, and it delivers. Additionally, there is something satisfying about the mechanical switches when you use them, and with programmable buttons, it fits any need you may have.
Finally, the Gigantus V2 is the simplest of the products I tested, but it keeps the aesthetic going across your desk. And if you’re like me, that consistent vision is enough to add to the cart too.
Razer may use the same base products for collaborations, but they’re reliable.
While Razer has been going back to the same well for these collaborations, they don’t disappoint. That said, a wired keyboard and mouse are necessary for heavy gaming to remove input lag, especially when you’re playing competitive multiplayer or high-end raid content.
That said, with a collaboration like this, which has the potential to go far beyond gaming, it would have been nice to see Razer include some of its wireless offerings as the base models rather than the wired ones.
That said, there really is nothing to shake your head at in the BLACKPINK Razer collection. Instead, I find myself standing back and looking at this collaboration as a success. It’s successful in meeting Blinks’ needs and what they may want with the addition of photocards, and it’s open enough to appeal to audiences who may not be fans of the group just yet, thanks to its simple design. All in all, it’s easy to say that Razer understood the assignment. Now, we just need to see what other Blinks think.
