Hands-On With the Razer NiKo Collection

This is not an in-depth review from the product itself. We’ve reviewed each product in depth, so if you’re interested in how it performs, please check out our reviews section.

Introduction

Razer is a brand that likes collaborating. So when Nikola “NiKo” Kovač became a Razer-sponsored player, it made sense that NiKo collections would be popular someday. After all, he is one of the most famous players to ever touch the game.

What we’re looking at here is a range of peripherals that NiKo itself uses. These include the DeathAdder V4 Pro, Huntsman V3 Pro TKL 8KHz, BlackShark V3 Pro, and Gigantus V2, although it’s worth noting that he wasn’t using Gigantus at the time of writing.

In this article, we’ll cover the design, talk about the product’s real-life look and feel, and tell you more about what to expect from this peripheral.

Collaborate with NiKo

NiKo, if you haven’t noticed, is one of the most legendary Counter-Strike players ever. He was known for his highly reliable rifle, his clutch Desert Eagle (‘Deagle’) play, and his never-ending drive. This drive famously hasn’t earned him a Major title, but that doesn’t mean that he isn’t an accomplished player. Her collection of awards at HLTV is so extensive that you’ll need a slider to display them all properly, and she has been featured on their illustrious Top 20 list for ten years in a row. Additionally, he has 10 Tournament MVP awards and 52 EVP (Outstanding Valuable Player) awards, three of which were in the Majors.

In short, NiKo is Counter-Strike royalty.

So, knowing that NiKo was one of the professionals involved in the design of the DeathAdder V4 Pro, it makes sense that this collaboration came about. Rather than just sticking to mice, Razer decided to expand its collection to a number of other peripherals that NiKo currently uses. So, if you want to channel that NiKo spirit, you can get yourself a complete set of peripherals.

Seen

White and black flames on a silver/grey background is a running theme here. This particular choice was made for two reasons. First, the flame represents NiKo’s drive to continue training and working hard to finally win the coveted Major.

Second, the flames are a reference to the legendary Desert Eagle Blaze. This skin can be said to be identical to the current NiKo. This has been his primary Deagle skin for almost a decade now, and it’s responsible for many iconic moments. Deagle’s failure against an unaware team in the Stockholm Major Finals is one example of a moment that (unfortunately for NiKo, perhaps) will live long in the collective memory, but there are plenty of crazy highlights of him using his Deagle as well.

As a skin nerd, I love references like this. I love that the designs were chosen not only because they look cool, but also because they have meaning and ties to the player’s history, personality, and even in-game loadouts.

In addition to the design, all peripherals in the NiKo Collection are equipped with NiKo signature. It looks a bit more stylized and elaborate than his in-game signature (which is logical since Valve enforces strict rules on such signatures).

While I like the thinking behind the design, I don’t like the flames and how big they are. I have objections in equal measure to the logo. It looks cool, but it’s very big and contemporary. For me, these elements combined make the design a little too busy, but that’s obviously a subjective thing.

In terms of application, everything is done well. Razer knows how to make this special edition stand out, and they’ve done it again here. The background has an almost metallic sheen, giving the product an extra visual punch.

Feel and Performance

In terms of overall feel and performance, almost all NiKo peripherals function exactly the same as regular peripherals. There are no special switches, different skates, or other unique features. And, in case you’re wondering, all of the peripherals in this release are high-level pro-ready products that are among the best options in their respective categories.

One thing to note about the keyboard: it’s based on the 8KHz version, not the regular version. The 8KHz version has hidden changes to make it sound better And it has true 8KHz polling.

That polling rate isn’t something you’ll notice (I don’t think polling rate matters that much on a keyboard) but the other changes are obvious. The switches are lubricated, and there are rubber sheets and EVA foam inside the case to eliminate case pings. The result is a keyboard that sounds much better than the previous version of the Huntsman V3 Pro.

One final touch: configurable peripherals (mouse, keyboard, headset) all come with NiKo’s favorite settings pre-applied. There’s no reason you can’t do this setting on the regular version of this product, but it’s a nice addition. It’s also a cool way to make a product feel more personalized without having to switch to different switches and so on.

I personally have nothing against brands introducing spec changes to their signature products, as long as they aren’t super limited or super exclusive (read: expensive) releases. But companies like Razer release collaborations in large numbers, so providing each edition with a unique switch or hardware variation would quickly create a very confusing lineup. So in this case, I understand why a typical Razer release focuses on cosmetic updates and slight tuning differences rather than structural changes. I think that’s the right way to go in this case.

Cost

Signature edition products are almost always more expensive. Brands must also pay collaborating performers/artists to use their likeness, name and design. Therefore, the price of NiKo Collection products will be more expensive than the regular version.

I don’t see this as a big problem. People who are not interested in supporting NiKo or his story can just buy the regular version. This special edition, to me, is a fun way for a die-hard fan or collector to add some spice to their collection and don’t mind paying a little extra for it. There are no functional differences to the regular version, so you won’t lose anything if you skip it.

Conclusion

The Razer NiKo Collection is a great way to celebrate the legacy of one of the game’s most iconic players. This is a collection of top-of-the-line gaming gear with designs tailored to NiKo’s style, ideas, and even in-game skins.

As usual with Razer, the finish is very well done. The slightly sparkling silver background helps the product stand out, and the white and black flames add deeper meaning and appearance to the periphery.

This continues Razer’s tradition of releasing many recolors and special editions of its products without changing the specifications. So, if you’re not a big fan of NiKo or its design, you can safely skip this one without having to worry about missing out on an upgraded product.

The look isn’t for me, but I can confidently say that it’s a great addition to Razer’s growing line of personalized flagship products.

You can check out the NiKo Collection at Razer.com.