Razer Unveils Project Ava AI Gaming Assistant’s Physical Form
- tech360.tv
- 24 hours ago
- 2 min read
Razer has unveiled a new physical hardware device for Project Ava, its real-time AI gaming co-pilot, at CES 2026. This new version aims to make the AI assistant feel more physically present for gamers.
Project Ava functions as a backseat gamer, offering live advice, tips, and commentary directly overlaid on a user’s screen during gameplay. The character, named Kira, provides coaching with a distinct personality and face.
At last year's CES, Razer demonstrated Project Ava as a highly abstract concept, primarily showing lines of code and system diagrams. That earlier demo focused on how the AI processed gameplay data and generated real-time commands.
This year’s iteration focuses on making the AI concept feel less like a backend experiment and more like a tangible presence. The goal is to provide a more engaging and immediate interaction for users.
The new hardware device is cylindrical with a transparent outer shell, displaying a full-body, animated character inside. A camera is mounted at the top of the unit, facing outwards, while the base features a perforated, patterned platform.
This platform gives the animated character a sense of depth. The bottom ring glows in Razer’s signature green colour and is branded with the company’s logo.
Designed to sit next to a laptop or monitor, the device acts as a dedicated display for the AI assistant. This keeps the assistant’s display separate from the main game screen, rather than overlaying content directly onto gameplay.
The demonstrated character is Kira, though other presets include Zane, described as a sharply dressed, extremely large man with a massive snake tattoo running down his arm. Razer stated that these avatars will be customisable, allowing users to create their own from scratch.
The company has also partnered with influencers to offer character likenesses, including esports professional Faker. This suggests Project Ava aims to integrate personality and fandom alongside its utility.
During a demonstration, the environment was very loud, which occasionally hindered the AI’s ability to consistently pick up voice commands. Testers sought advice from Kira on suitable guns and gadgets within the Battlefield 6 loadout customisation screen.
The recommendations provided by Kira were solid for the given circumstances. For example, she suggested using frag grenades over stun grenades for the assault class, which was deemed a correct tactical call.
Beyond gaming, Razer indicates that Project Ava’s capabilities have expanded to include non-gaming tasks. The company states the AI can now offer advice on various assignments, appearing as an on-screen overlay while users work.
In practice, Project Ava is moving towards offering general-purpose assistance, similar to other AI tools, but with a specific gamer branding. There is no specific release date, though Razer aims for a launch sometime this year.
Razer has unveiled a physical hardware device for its AI gaming assistant, Project Ava.
The device is a cylindrical unit with a transparent shell, displaying an animated character and serving as a dedicated screen.
Project Ava offers real-time advice and commentary during gameplay, with customisable avatars like Kira and Zane, and likenesses from influencers such as esports professional Faker.
Source: MASHABLE
