Razer Bets Big on AI Gaming with New Singapore Hub

Gaming hardware company Razer Inc. opened its first artificial intelligence center of excellence in Singapore, betting that AI-powered tools will reshape how games are developed and played as the industry races toward an estimated $400 billion market by 2033.

The Singapore facility is the first of three planned AI hubs, with centers in Europe and the U.S. to follow. The move positions Razer, known for its gaming keyboards, mice and laptops, as a technology provider to game developers rather than just a hardware manufacturer.

"Razer's global AI Centers of Excellence are a strategic investment in AI gaming," said Li-Meng Lee, the company's chief strategy officer. "Our goal is to empower game developers with the tools that deliver more immersive, intelligent, and efficient gaming experiences at scale."

The company plans to hire 150 AI specialists across engineering, data science and game development. The hiring push comes as competition intensifies for talent in artificial intelligence, with tech giants and startups alike scrambling to build AI capabilities.

AI gaming specifically is projected to reach $28 billion with an annual growth rate of 28.4%, according to market forecasts cited by Razer. The company's bet reflects broader industry confidence that AI will become integral to game development and player experiences.

Razer's AI product lineup includes Game Co-AI, a generative AI assistant that provides real-time tactical coaching to players, and QA Companion, which automates quality assurance testing and can reduce testing time by up to 50%. The QA tool is currently being tested with major studios and is expected to launch on Amazon Web Services' marketplace.

The Singapore government is backing the initiative through Digital Industry Singapore, its industry development agency. "Razer's launch of their AI Centre of Excellence highlights Singapore's appeal as a location for AI development within digitally advanced sectors," said Philbert Gomez, the agency's executive director.

The European hub will focus on expanding WYVRN, Razer's developer platform that integrates the company's proprietary technologies for game creators. The U.S. center, meanwhile, targets what Razer calls "significant opportunity for future AI innovation and developer collaboration" in the world's largest gaming market.

Razer's expansion into AI tools represents a shift from its roots as a hardware company founded in 2005. The move comes as traditional gaming hardware faces pressure from cloud gaming and mobile platforms, pushing companies to diversify their revenue streams.

The company's stock has struggled in recent years, falling roughly 60% from its 2021 peak as pandemic-era gaming growth slowed. Investors are watching whether AI initiatives can provide new growth drivers beyond traditional hardware sales.