Razer has joined many other companies in focusing its CES 2026 announcements around AI features, with both hardware and software getting AI 'upgrades' in the new year. The most fascinating is a classic Razer CES prototype, an AI-equipped gaming headset called Project Motoko, but there's also a deployable AI companion that is meant to live on your desk called Project Ava.
Razer also announced some thankfully AI-free products at the show, including the Wolverine V3 Bluetooth – a controller that it is calling 'the world's fastest wireless gaming controller' – and a pair of gaming chairs, including an immersive gaming chair concept and a next-gen Razer Iskur chair that is designed to stay cooler for longer.
Project Motoko: a gaming headset with dual first-person cameras, a Snapdragon chip and built-in AI
The Project Motoko concept is reasonable – by CES standards at least – essentially coupling a Razer gaming headset with a Snapdragon-powered AI. A camera is built into each earcup of the headset, so it can see what you see, and you can ask it questions, like 'how do I beat this boss?' in Dark Souls or 'what should I build next?' in a League of Legends game.
Razer's marketing video also shows plenty of non-gaming scenarios, like asking the headset to summarise pages from a book, suggest a recipe from a group of assembled ingredients or produce a 30-minute workout on the back lawn. The headset also identifies an approaching person and reminds the wearer of their recent promotion, which would require a much tighter level of integration with your personal data to work. Each of these interactions feel less convincing than the gaming use-cases, but this is clearly more of a statement of intent, but Razer assured us that this will be a real product sometime this year – we'll see.
As with some other Razer AI integrations that have been announced recently, the idea is that Project Motoko would allow access to a range of existing AI platforms rather than creating a new Razer one – so you would be able to select from the likes of ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and so on.
Project Ava: a desk-based AI companion
If you'd prefer a more stationary AI assistant, Project Ava is designed to be a personable companion that lives in a small cylinder, with a 5.5-inch animated 'hologram' on the front that displays the AI as one of several selectable avatars. Ava can once again see and hear you using a camera and far-field microphone, remember your preferences, see your screen via its USB connection and generally take you closer to the HAL 9000 future we're all looking forward to. Once again, the focus is on gaming, though Razer's marketing blurbs also mention working to organise your personal schedule, improve your outfit or plan your dinner.
Wolverine V3 Bluetooth: a low-latency controller for cloud gaming
The mention of the Wolverine V3 Bluetooth caused my ears to prick up, as it's rare to hear of a Bluetooth controller offering better wireless latency than a 2.4GHz wireless or wired USB connection. However, that's exactly what Razer is claiming to have achieved in partnership with LG, with a gamepad designed to work with cloud gaming on LG TVs. The feat is down to its use of ultra-low latency Bluetooth, which Razer says is a world-first, and allows for response times under 3ms. The controller can also control a selection of new LG TVs, and holds a 'designed for LG Gaming Portal' certification, with 4K 120Hz HDR streaming via GeForce Now.
Razer Iskur V2 NewGen and Project Madison: next-gen gaming chairs
The Razer Iskur V2 is an existing product, so I was surprised to see Razer to announce another Iskur V2 gaming chair as part of their CES 2026 lineup. The new generation model has two major changes compared to its predecessor, starting with a more advanced adjustable lumbar support system that aims to prevent back pain caused by bad posture. The Iskur V2 was already more capable than your average gaming chair in this respect, with plenty of adjustability, but the new generation model includes a 360-degree swivel design that can move dynamically, theoretically ensuring that your back remains supported even after changing position.
The new Iskur V2 also swaps standard polyurethane leather for EPU leather, which Razer claims has higher thermal effusivity – meaning it doesn't transfer heat to your body as quickly as other materials. You can think of the difference between a metal camping cup and a thick bone china mug; the exterior of the metal cup will feel hotter even when it has the same surface temperature as the mug, as the heat will move into your hand much more readily. The EPU also should be more durable and hard-wearing than its PU counterpart. Finally, 'dual-density cold-cured foam' is used for the seat cushion, providing another mechanism for heat to be wicked away from your body.
The new Razer Iskur models are available for pre-order and start at $650 for the V2 model or $350 for the more basic V2 X, which lacks the lumbar support of the V2.
Razer is also showing off a concept chair, this time around the theme of immersive gaming. Project Madison is designed to combine light, sound and vibration to more fully ground you in virtual worlds, a conceit that is very Razer. Sight is covered by RGB lighting built into the headrest – though it's hard to imagine how you can see it while sitting in the chair – while hearing is handled by an integrated speaker system, which can be used standalone or with front speakers to serve as a 5.1 or 7.1 surround sound setup. The final dimension is touch, with 'multi-zone haptic feedback' delivered via six motors and based off on-screen 'intensity and directionality'.
Madison sounds like a fun CES demo, but we'll have to wait and see to find out if Razer is able to take the core of the concept into a shipping product.
Will is deputy tech editor for IGN, specialising in PC hardware, sim racing and display tech. He has been publishing about games and technology since 2001 (age 12). Will was formerly Deputy Editor at Digital Foundry. He is currently playing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.
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