Thieves Brazenly Steal Two Razer Hardware Prototypes From CES Show Floor

Razer had a lot to celebrate this year at CES. Last week, the company announced two prototype hardware projects that drew a lot of attention from regular show attendees and the press. The first was Project Ariana, which is a 4K projection system that delivers whole-room immersion with the help of Chroma lighting. The second was Project Valerie, which is a gaming laptop that features three 17.3-inch 4K displays.

Unfortunately, it looks as though two of Razer’s prototypes were stolen right from under its nose. Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan took to Facebook to explain that the prototypes were stolen straight from its CES booth. “We have filed the necessary reports and are currently working with the show management as well as law enforcement to address this issue,” said Tan.

While Tan didn’t specify which hardware devices were stolen, it stands to reason that Valeria and Ariana were the targets. He went on to commend his team for working tirelessly to create the prototypes and push the envelope for hardware design. Tan even went so far as to suggest that it could have been another company within the industry that was behind the theft.

“We treat theft/larceny, and if relevant to this case, industrial espionage, very seriously," added Tan. "It is cheating, and cheating doesn’t sit well with us. Penalties for such crimes are grievous and anyone who would do this clearly isn’t very smart."

That’s a pretty hefty accusation this early in the game, so we’ll be interested in hearing exactly who the culprit was once the investigation is completed. 

This is not the first time that Razer has been the victim of theft. Back in 2011, two of the company’s prototype laptops were stolen from its San Francisco office. It was later revealed that they were prototypes for the original Razer Blade.

If anyone has any information regarding the heist, you’re urged to contact legal@razerzone.com.