Razer Forge $99 Gaming Console, Turret Couch Gaming KB/mouse & Serval Controller - CES 2015

The CES 2015 coverage shows Linus Tech Tips examining the Razer Forge TV, an Android-based gaming console priced at $99 with a Qualcomm 805 quad core processor, an Adreno 420 GPU, gigabit Ethernet, HDMI output, USB, AC Wi Fi and Bluetooth, and the ability to support Wi Fi game controllers. The host argues that Forge TV’s price is compelling for high frame rates at 1080p and highlights that Razer aims to build a broader ecosystem rather than a single product, encouraging purchases of the Turret keyboard/mouse combo and separate keyboard and mouse accessories to complement it. A key focus is the Turret, which unfolds into a mouse pad and includes a refined mouse with edge protection to maximize usability on the couch, addressing how PC style control maps to TV gaming. The host also reviews the Serval controller, noting its high quality build and tactile hair trigger buttons, and discusses how the Cortex streaming software could enable PC game streaming without being locked to a single graphics platform. The segment transitions into the latency and codec strategies behind Razer’s streaming solution, including a proprietary codec they claim could reduce latency and improve image quality over traditional H.264 or H.265 approaches. We learn that third party controllers will be usable via Bluetooth or Wi Fi Direct, while optimized end to end latency benefits come from firmware tweaks within Razer’s ecosystem. The host closes with optimism about Android as a gaming platform and the potential of Forge TV to push the streaming and couch gaming space forward, praising the hardware’s design, build quality, and the overall concept while acknowledging that the full experience will depend on software refinements and broader adoption.

Topics · technology · gaming · ces · streaming