Razer has unveiled two new collaborations with the Pokemon Company just days apart, including the Espeon and Umbreon Collection and the Razer Pikachu and Eevee Collection, and they're just as adorable as you'd expect them to be.
Both collections include accessories like the Razer Kraken V4 X headset, which has hung up its plain all-black looks for imagery of the adorable Pokemon instead. Yet as stunning as its new purple starry Espeon and Umbreon or pastel pink Pikachu and Eevee look is, I wish that the best Razer headsets and other top-of-the-line accessories in the brand's back catalog got the same treatment.
These collections always revolve around existing Razer headsets, keyboards, mice and mouse mats, but they typically encompass products on the lower end of Razer's price range. That means that while you might be getting one of the cutest pairs of cups out there, you won't be getting the one with the best features - which is a shame given the extra $30 cost you're paying for the privilege of your headset looking fit for a Pokemon master.
Brands like Razer always have to factor in the licensing fee that's required whenever it produces new lines with big-name companies like The Pokemon Company. With that in mind, there is some sense in always utilizing its lower-end accessories for these kinds of collaborations. I can only speculate, but if I were Razer and I knew I had to factor in that extra $30 cost for each item regardless, I could understand wanting the products to be as appealing as possible, and that'd involve keeping prices low to make them more accessible to a wider range of fans.
If you take the Razer Kraken V4 X headset into consideration, it's normally priced at $79.99 at Amazon when there are no sales around. When you incorporate the extra $30 cost, that takes the pair up to $109.99, which is exactly how much you can expect to pay for both the Espeon and Umbreon and Pikachu and Eevee Razer headsets. However, if Razer were to incorporate one of the best gaming headsets in its back catalogue instead, like that of the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro, it'd be a far higher price to contend with. The wireless headset has an MSRP of $249.99 (Amazon), which would mean fans would have to spend $279 for its own Pokemon makeover.
That price tag is likely one that would not appeal to passing fans of the franchise who just want cute accessories and don't care much for its specs. Or even parents of kids who are eager to please their kids with cute accessories featuring their favorite Pokemon but don't have the budget to spare on high-end accessories - particularly ones that little ones may not know how to take full advantage of. But I don't like to assume that people who yearn for cute accessories don't also care about specs - especially as I care about both, and I know I'm not alone.
In particular, I wish more feature-rich headsets were regularly part of these new collections. The pair frequently used by Razer for its Pokemon tech isn't bad by any means, but it's missing some key features that may not appeal to fans who care about substance as much as style.
The Razer Kraken V4 X carries the same Triforce 40mm audio drivers as past pairs like the Razer Barracuda X, a pair that frequently topped out best Nintendo Switch headset guides for years due to its quality. The brand's drivers enable a leveled sound that still makes games sound incredible regardless of which pair they're in. However, the V4 X is a wired-only headset, which makes it more limited compared to other Razer alternatives.
As someone with the Gengar Edition Razer Kraken Kitty V2 USB at my disposal, its wire gets tangled easily, and its USB-A connection makes it suited for PC platforms only. The Kraken V4 X fortunately comes with a USB-A to USB-C adapter, but you still have to put up with being tethered to a wire. I'd much rather prefer donning a cute headset on my head while experiencing the freedom of Bluetooth and 2.4GHz low-latency wireless, which is what you'd get if the BlackShark V3 Pro were selected for these new collections instead.
The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro doesn't just have the option of a wired 3.5mm or USB connection, but you can utilize Bluetooth or 2.4GHz wireless too. It's also decked out with the brand's TriForce Bio-Cellulose 50mm Gen 2 audio drivers, which "entralled" our team's own Tabitha Baker in her review with how much space it conjured in its low end - a sound that many Pokemon fans would appreciate.
These limitations are just going to be apparent with the headsets chosen for these releases, but they're apparent with other accessories too. The Razer Cobra is the gaming rodent of choice when it comes to all of Razer's Pokemon sets, and it's a wired-only mouse that doesn't have all the bells and whistles of, say, the Razer Deathadder V4 Pro. Currently sitting as our best gaming mouse top pick, the Deathadder V4 Pro provides both wired and 2.4GHz connectivity options, includes Razer's Gen 4 optical switches over that of the Gen 3 found in the Cobra, and is even more lightweight at just 56g over the Cobra's 58g form factor.
It'd be incredibly neat if Razer chose a mouse like it, and options like the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro Mini, which joined our best gaming keyboard list last year, for their future Pokemon collaborations. That way, those who want to create a cute and cozy PC gaming setup don't have to feel inclined to settle for cheaper and less feature-full accessories.
It'd at least be nice to have the option as to what Razer accessories to add to your setup that are covered in cute Pokemon accessories instead. Razer even currently has a customizability option hidden amongst its online store, which could be perfect to utilize for just that purpose - pleasing those who are okay with budget-friendly accessories, and those who want something with beefier specs instead.
Within the Razer Customs page, you can select the Razer Orochi V2 mouse, Razer Gigantus V2 mousemat, and your smartphone to be bestilled with art from a selection of notable IPs that Razer has partnered with, including Squid Game, The Smurfs, Borderlands 4, and even art and designs from VTuber Iron Mouse. Pokemon is notably absent from the customization process, but its inclusion, along with a larger range of Razer gaming products, could be a great way to appeal to a wider selection of Pokemon and hardware fans.
Of course, it'd be entirely dependent on whether The Pokemon Company and Razer would agree to slapping Pikachu, Eevee, Gengar, and the Eevee evolutions across a wider variety of products, rather than the ones that are chosen time and time again. I can only speculate, but there's every chance that the Razer Cobra mouse or the Razer Kraken V4 X appear time and time again, as they're the only products allowed to be chosen for these collaborations.
In the meantime, by the time Razer announces its fifth Pokemon partnership, I hope I have a chance to pick up a headset that is dripping not just in cuteness the kind of impressive specs my PC gaming setup yearns for.
Check out our guides to the best PC controllers for gaming, the best PC headsets for gaming, and the best gaming chairs if you're on the hunt for new accessories that focus on substance over style.
