Google and Razer have for a while now, been collaboratively working on a gaming console. An announcement regarding this decision was made during Google’s annual Google I/O conference, which ran from June 25-26 at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco.
Razer is a dominant figure in the gaming industry for its PCs, laptops and tablets and Google is just awesome at everything it does. Together these companies plan to enter the console market by announcing a micro-console.
“At Razer, we focus on providing devices that create the best possible experiences for users,” said Min-Liang Tan, Razer CEO, to IBTimes. “By partnering with Google on this initiative, living rooms around the world will be places for people to connect to their entertainment interests and to each other seamlessly.”
Razer just has this knack for cramming high-end graphics capability into freakishly small devices, so the specs on this device will be something to look forward. The company has also promised that the device will be affordable.
The console will run Android TV, giving it a full suite of streaming capabilities, and that’s about all we know right now. “Built on Google’s incredible Android TV platform, the Razer micro-console incorporates not only hardcore and casual gaming, but music, movies and other entertainment and social applications, all on an affordable system.” said Min-Liang Tan in a statement.
Even though at the moment PS4 and Xbox One dominate the console market, we are seeing smaller competitors from big companies taking swings at this market giving Sony and Microsoft more things to worry about. First we had Amazon Fire TV, now this, and we can assume that the next version of Apple TV will include some sort of gaming capability.
Most people like gaming, but there are a decent few that don’t go to the extent of buying the latest console available in the market, it is after all a costly venture. People also like streaming videos, listen to music, watch movies etc. That is exactly the underlying motive of the micro-console. It won’t be able to run the fanciest of games, but that is a risk these companies are willing to take. They bank their beliefs on the fact that most people don’t care. Essentially, these companies plan to create an entirely new device category that squeezes in somewhere between a Roku and a PS4, with customers that like a little of both.
“Our devout Razer fans have enjoyed their games and related friendships online for quite some time already,” Tan continued. “We are eager to expand on that spirit through this new collaboration.”
Tan is excited for the joint venture, which he hopes will enhance home gaming for fans.
