CES 2015: Razer announces a new micro-console called the Forge TV, Serval controller, and Turret lapboard
A few companies have released micro-consoles in the past and today, Razer is jumping into the game. They have announced the Razer Forge TV and it's set to offer gaming through Android and PC streaming.
Powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor, which is the same processor in the very powerful Samsung Galaxy Note 4, the Forge TV will be running Android 5.0 Lollipop and house 2GB of ram and 16GB of storage. All the wireless connectivity options will be there as well.
You'll be able to access the Google Play store and play all the games on a big screen with up to four controllers connected.
But the Forge TV isn't just for Android games. You'll be able to use Razer's new Cortex Stream option to leverage your PC and stream any game to the Forge TV unit. I've actually done this a lot with my phone and a software program called Limelight, and it runs really well on my Note 4. Razer is touting their Cortex Stream option as being able to handle streaming games better wirelessly and it is hardware agnostic. With Limelight, you are limited to NVIDIA graphics cards. Cortex Stream can work with AMD solutions as well.
Razer is also looking to bring with the Forge TV a Bluetooth controller. It's modeled very similarly to their Sabertooth controller, minus the big Xbox 360 button of course. It's called the Razer Serval and as mentioned earlier, you can pair up to four of these with the Forge TV. There's even a clip if you want to use the Serval with your phone. Not only does it work via Bluetooth, but it can worked plugged in with a USB cable.
But what about games you stream that need a mouse and keyboard? No problem as Razer has you covered. Their new Razer Turret is a wireless backlit keyboard and mouse setup that you can use on your lap. It has booth Bluetooth connecting capabilities or you can use the included 2.4Ghz adapter as well. It folds up nicely and can be put in a very stylish looking dock. The Turret looks to be a great solution for those that game on the couch and need a keyboard and mouse setup.
All of these new products are due sometime in Q1 of 2015. The Forge TV will retail for $99 or $149.99 will net you the Forge TV as well a a Serval controller. The Razer Turret will be $129.99 when it's released.
RAZER FORGE TV COMBINES ANDROID AND PC GAMING FOR THE LIVING ROOM
The Android TV micro-console available in Q1 2015 at $99.99 USD, PC game streaming software beta to be released in Q2
LAS VEGAS (CES 2015) – Razer™, a world leader in connected devices and software for gamers, today announced a product range centered around the Razer Forge TV, a high-performance Android TV micro-console to bring hardcore PC gaming and Android gaming into the living room. This new gaming ecosystem consists of the Razer Forge TV micro-console, Razer Cortex: Stream software and two Bluetooth peripherals, the Razer Serval and the Razer Turret.
Hardcore Android Gaming Experience
Razer Forge TV offers cutting-edge performance with quad-core processing, gaming-grade graphics, industry-leading wireless and network connectivity with 16 GB of internal storage, all packed in a sleek and silent form factor. This micro-console’s powerful hardware easily plays the most popular games from Google Play on a large screen for up to four players.
The Razer Serval, a console-style Bluetooth gaming controller, is able to navigate and play games on Razer Forge TV. The controller is designed by the same Razer engineering team that created the award-winning Razer Sabertooth Xbox controller. With four action buttons, two thumb sticks, and trigger and bumper buttons, the Razer Serval enables play with any controller-ready Android TV game or Android mobile game on-the-go using the device’s phone clip. The versatile gaming controller has the ability to remember up to four unique device pairings, making the switch between the Razer Forge TV, mobile phone, tablet, and PC easy without having to worry about multiple controllers and settings.
Bringing PC Gaming to the living room
The current approaches to playing PC games on a larger screen offer various challenges ranging from cost of additional hardware, game compatibility restrictions, laggy streaming technologies and the perennial problem of addressing the mouse and keyboard user interface issue in the living room
Enter Razer Cortex: Stream, the latest feature to Razer’s popular gaming launcher software used by millions of gamers worldwide, launching into beta in spring 2015. Providing ultra-low latency gaming and up to full-HD resolution with Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection, the proprietary game streaming technology sets the benchmark for streamed PC gaming. Razer Cortex: Stream is hardware agnostic and is compatible with Directx9 games and higher from any publisher.
This is rounded off with the Razer Turret – a wireless living room gaming mouse and lapboard that brings the power of a fully-fledged PC gaming keyboard and mouse in a sleek and ultra-thin form factor that has been designed to fit perfectly on your lap. With its fully anti-ghosted gaming keyboard and high precision 3500 DPI ambidextrous mouse, Razer Turret comes with dual wireless connectivity via Bluetooth 4.0 LE or Wireless 2.4 Ghz that ensures lag free gameplay and compatibility across multiple devices.
“Razer Forge TV is a device that is able to bring together the most popular elements of an entertainment center,” says Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder and CEO. “It powers popular music and movie apps and plays Android TV games that an entire family can enjoy. For the hardcore gaming audience, it will bring PC gaming to the couch. Razer Forge TV is what we see as the future of consoles.”
Users can also interact with Razer Forge TV through their mobile devices, including iOS, Android, ChromeBook, Windows and more. A mobile remote control app is available for easy navigation and supports voice search functionality. Google Cast lets users send the Web, movies, shows and photos from Android or iOS mobile devices or laptops to televisions. Select Android TV games and media progress may be saved and played back on Android smartphones and tablets via a cloud save feature.
Razer’s history includes success blending hardware and software together with its critically acclaimed gaming peripheral and systems products. The company has shipped 13 million connected devices to-date, and close to 4 million people log onto Razer software on a monthly basis.
About the Razer Forge TV:
Razer Forge TV was built to bring hardcore PC gaming, Android gaming and entertainment to the television. The Razer micro-console opens the gateway for next-level Android TV gaming that is designed for the serious gamer. Intense full-HD graphics combined with the Razer Serval controller provide the detail and precision that is needed to dominate the living room.
Bring your friends into the action with support for up to four controllers. Powered by a quad-core processor and gaming-grade graphics, the Razer Forge TV makes the most of Android gaming. Pick up your games and movies where you left off when switching between your mobile device and Razer Forge TV.
Explore a massive selection of games, movies, music and apps available on Google Play. Cast your favorite game streams, movies, music, and web content from a mobile device to your Razer Forge TV.
Price: Razer Store - $99.99 / €99.99
$149.99 / €149.99 (Forge TV and Serval Controller Bundle)
Availability: Razerzone.com – Q1 2015
Product features:
- Android TV gaming and entertainment
- Supports up to four controllers
- Quad-Core gaming performance
- Google Cast™ Ready
- Massive selection of content and apps
- Voice search via Remote App
- Sleek and silent design
Product specs:
- Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 805
- Quad-Core Krait 450 CPU - 2.5 GHz per core
- Adreno™ 420 GPU
- 2 GB RAM
- 16 GB storage
- Bluetooth 4.1 + HS
- Wireless 802.11ac 2X2
- Gigabit Ethernet
- USB 3.0
- HDMI 1.4 output
- DC Power
- 4.1 in. (105 mm) Width x 4.1 in. (105 mm) Depth x 0.7 in. (17 mm) Height
