Razer’s expensive prototype stolen from CES 2017 showfloor

Razer, the self-described “world leader in high-performance gaming hardware, software, and systems,” isn’t playing after recent thefts at CES, a global electronics and consumer technology tradeshow held annually in Las Vegas, Nevada, during the month of January.

Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan reported that two prototype devices were stolen from the Razer booth at CES via Facebook. He added, “We have filed the necessary reports and are currently working with the show management as well as law enforcement to address this issue.”

The Consumer Technology Association confirmed that the theft did take place on Sunday. They said that they regretted the theft and are working with law enforcement and Razer. “The security of our exhibitors, attendees, and their products and materials is our highest priority. We use a wide variety of security measures at our show to combat theft,” they assured.  Razer unveiled the prototypes on Thursday, just days earlier.

The theft comes after a particularly fruitful show, in which Razer debuted Project Ariana, a smart projector that uses Chroma lighting to provide an immersive experience to gamers and Project Valerie. The two stolen devices were associated with Project Valerie, a laptop with three 4K screens. The laptop is powered by an Intel Kaby Lake processor and Nvidia 1080 graphics card and, in its final version, will have two side monitors that simply slide out from a main monitor.

Project Valerie was among the most notable displays at the show, making Electronic Product’s “15 Coolest Gadgets from CES ” list, so it is perhaps not surprising that it was targeted. And, while the thief's motives remain unclear, Tan speculates that it is perhaps a case of industrial espionage.

Tan and Razer are no stranger to such behavior — in 2011, someone broke into the Razer offices and absconded with two laptops that were early prototypes of the Razer Blade. In this burglary, two laptops containing prototypes were also stolen from Razer’s Bay Area Research and Development Lab. The company warned consumers against purchasing the illegally obtained prototypes.

This time, Tan wrote, “We treat theft/larceny and, if relevant to this case, industrial espionage very seriously; it is cheating, and cheating doesn’t sit well with us.”