Razer unveiled Project Ava at CES 2026, a physical holographic AI companion that displays anime avatars in a cylindrical desktop device. The 5.5-inch animated hologram sits in a transparent cylinder connected via USB-C, marking Razer's move from digital assistant to tangible gaming partner.
The device includes dual far-field microphones, a down-firing speaker, and an HD camera with ambient light sensor. Users interact through push-to-talk buttons or voice commands, with the AI analyzing both screen content and physical surroundings. Project Ava builds on Razer's 2025 CES demo of a screen-based gaming assistant, now giving the AI a physical presence.
Among five hologram options (including the Razer logo Ava), four humanlike avatars include Kira, an anime girl in Razer green accents; Zane, a muscular character with snake tattoos; Sao, inspired by Japanese salarywoman meme figure Saori Araki; and esports star Faker. Razer plans to add custom avatar creation and support for real-person likenesses through influencer partnerships.
Project Ava provides real-time gaming coaching by analyzing gameplay and offering weapon recommendations, strategy tips, and loadout advice. During CES demos, the AI assisted with Battlefield 6 attachments and recognized Steam sale pricing. The system also handles general tasks like calendar reminders and wardrobe suggestions using its built-in camera.
The AI currently runs on X AI's Grok but was designed as an open platform supporting Gemini and ChatGPT. Razer representatives described the architecture as AI-agnostic, allowing users to choose their preferred language model. This flexibility addresses concerns about Grok's recent controversies while maintaining functionality.
Reservations opened at CES with a $20 deposit for units shipping in the second half of 2026. Final pricing remains unconfirmed but reportedly aligns with Razer's premium peripheral range, estimated around $200. The company positions Project Ava between virtual assistance and physical companionship, calling it a "Friend for Life" in marketing materials.
CES 2026 featured multiple physical AI companions, with Razer's approach targeting gamers specifically. The device includes privacy features like physical camera shutters and microphone mute buttons on final retail models. This addresses concerns about constant monitoring in personal spaces.
Early hands-on impressions noted technical promise but awkward social dynamics. Reviewers described flirty undertones and forced relationship-building that made some users uncomfortable. The Kira avatar giggled through responses and used pet names during demonstrations, blurring lines between utility tool and digital companion.
Project Ava represents Razer's bet on AI companionship as gaming's next frontier, despite growing skepticism about AI relationships. The company promoted its CES presence with "The future of gaming is AI" messaging, doubling down on technology that some gamers increasingly reject. Industry analysts question whether physical AI devices can overcome the uncanny valley of digital friendship.
The holographic hardware uses what Razer markets as 3D projection, though observers described it as a sharp 2D image with depth effects. Animation Inc., which created Grok's AI avatars, designed Project Ava's characters in partnership with Razer. This connection explains the similar aesthetic and personality traits between the systems.
Razer's move follows CES 2025's trend of anime girl pods, now miniaturized for desktop use. The company aims to release Project Ava this year, though "Project" designation historically indicates concepts that may not reach market. Previous Razer CES demonstrations like the Project Linda laptop (2018) never shipped commercially.
Gaming assistants face adoption challenges beyond technical execution. Microsoft's Copilot AI ads demonstrated how intrusive AI can alienate users, while Grok's content moderation issues raise reliability concerns. Project Ava must prove its utility outweighs the social discomfort of having an anime character critique your gameplay.
The device's success may depend on Razer's ability to balance gaming utility with appropriate social boundaries. Early demos showed promise in technical execution but highlighted the awkwardness of AI attempting emotional connection. As physical AI companions proliferate at CES, Razer's gaming-focused approach could either capture a niche or reinforce industry skepticism.
