Whenever a new series of one of my most beloved anime launches, I inevitably get a bit obsessed and snap up any figures and merch I can get my hands on. So it feels serendipitous that I stumbled upon the IQUNIX EV63 Ghost in the Shell Edition keyboards.
The $249.99 (Amazon) boards are the result of a collaboration between gaming keyboard brand IQUNIX and publishing company Kodansha, and include two 60% layout keyboards, decked out with double-shot PBT themed keycaps (hey Major), NOVA hall-effect switches, and aluminum chassis for a look that appears as if they jumped right out of the original 1995 film.
I'm currently typing with the K3 Gen II Hatsune Miku Edition keyboard from Asus, so I'm always partial to an officially licensed bit of tech, but the Shell Core and Shell Blue go above and beyond what I'd expected to see on an anime board.
IQUINIX states that the board "blends tactical precision with cyberpunk
aesthetics" and that's definitely apparent when you gaze at the images and see the transparent keycaps for yourself. The turquoise green coloring on the Shell Core design, in particular, feels very on-brand for the franchise. Its coloring reminds me of the QUAD poster I have for the 1995 Ghost in the Shell film re-release, which I own from my days working at in independance movie theatre.
If you look close enough, you can even spot the Major herself upon some of the keys, and each version of the board incorporates her image differently, which delivers a nice bit of variation for fans. Yet, as cool as they look, I'd be really intrigued to see if this Ghost in the Shell collaboration isn't just style over substance.
Both EV63 Ghost in the Shell models include Hall-effect Nova Switches, which are designed with "reduce wabble and enhanced trigger consistency." As someone who's recently discovered the wonders of Counter-Strike 2 a bit too late, I'd be curious to see what these linear-feeling switches could do to get me on the same level as seasoned players.
The keyboards are also built with FPS games in mind and include custom onboard profiles, and are powered by the brand's latest HyperCore V3 firmware. The latter of which is aimed at prioritising speed by ensuring every keypress is fast, and that there are no keystroke accuracy issues if you swap to alternative compatible switches, an inclusion which is quite unusual given the rarity of hot-swappable HE keyboards.
I'm not as well-versed in the world of e-sports gaming to notice a discernible speed difference most of the time, but it's reassuring to learn that these new Ghost in Shell edition boards aren't relying solely on their looks.
The new Ghost in the Shell anime series launches on Amazon Prime on July 7, where I'll inevitably become yet again obsessed with the queen that is Major Motoko Kusanagi. Sadly, these boards aren't available at UK retailers, so I won't be able to add them to my setup in preparation. But I'll let all of you fellow UK-anime fans know if and when they become available across the pond.
- View all gaming keyboards at Amazon
Our team has also rounded up the best gaming chairs, the best gaming laptops, and the best gaming mice, if you want to give your PC gaming setup a boost.
