I don't play a lot of competitive online multiplayer games anymore, but there's still a soft spot in my heart for Counter-Strike 2, which I've spent hundreds of hours playing. So, color me shocked when Razer revealed a special Counter-Strike 2 collection of its most premium, most performant PC gaming gear.
Razer didn't just do a Counter-Strike 2 collection; it based the designs on the legendary Dragon Lore skin for Counter-Strike's iconic AWP sniper rifle. It's a skin so lauded, there are thousands of requests to buy it for $2,000 or more on the Counter-Strike marketplace.
What is the Razer Counter-Strike 2 Dragon Lore Collection?
Razer's Counter-Strike 2 collaboration is comprised of some of its highest-end accessories, so buying just one product from this family can sting your wallet. This is for those who already planned to splurge on flagship gaming gear or the most hardcore Counter-Strike fans.
In the collection, you'll find:
- Razer Viper V3 Pro Counter-Strike 2 Edition for $179.99 at Razer.com, which is $20 more than the standard version. I reviewed the Razer Viper V3 Pro wireless mouse.
- Razer Huntsman V3 Pro TKL Counter-Strike 2 Edition for $269.99 at Razer.com, which is $50 more than the standard version. I reviewed the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro keyboard.
- Razer BlackShark V3 Pro Counter-Strike 2 Edition for $269.99 at Razer.com, which is $20 more than the standard version. I reviewed the Razer BlackShark V3 Pro wireless headset.
- Razer Iskur V2 X Counter-Strike 2 Edition for $399.99 at Razer.com, which is $100 more than the standard version. I have not tested this chair (and decided not to accept the Counter-Strike 2 version for this hands-on).
If you're really committed, it'd cost approximately $1,160 for the entire Razer Counter-Strike 2 Collection, which is about $225 more than if you bought the standard version of each product instead.
Beautiful gold-and-red designs
Unlike so many other collaborations from a variety of companies, this collection isn't the same repeating pattern of logos haphazardly plastered onto off-the-shelf products. Each accessory in this collection is meticulously designed, with new materials, detailed and smartly placed designs, and a consistently varied theme throughout.
It all starts with that gold base, which avoids feeling gaudy in the way that so many gold things do, accented by a deep, bold red and flourished by the iconic "Dragon Lore" design. It all looks incredible when put together, but you'll still notice that each product is different.
The headset is accented more by black than red, and leans more into that beautiful gold color. The keyboard puts that red color front and center, with the "Dragon Lore" design dominating the attached wrist rest. The mouse is the most balanced of the bunch, and I love the dragon fire that naturally rests directly under my pointer finger in use.
There's only so much I can say about these designs — just check out the pictures above. I was a huge fan of the Razer Phantom White Collection I previously went hands-on with, but this collection easily takes the cake for overall aesthetics.
None of these design changes impact usability in the slightest, either. That's especially important when you consider which products Razer chose for this collection.
Actually great PC gaming accessories
Most of Razer's official, licensed collaborations feature more affordable, lower-end gear for mainstream audiences, and even Razer's "Phantom" collections tend to avoid the company's highest-end products. That's definitely not the case here.
If you're going to make a collection for Counter-Strike 2, one of the most popular competitive games with a booming esports landscape, you need to focus accessories that Counter-Strike players will actually want to use, and Razer delivered with its absolute best.
The symmetrical Razer Viper V3 Pro wireless mouse I reviewed is only arguably surpassed by the newer Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro I also reviewed, but the Viper's symmetrical design seems to be preferred by several esports athletes, including Faker and the Sentinels team.
This collection isn't just for the fans and collectors, it's for the players.
The Razer BlackShark V3 Pro I reviewed truly can't be beaten as a high-end, high-performance wireless headset — complete with a dedicated Counter-Strike 2 audio profile and a class-leading headset microphone. The Razer Huntsman V3 Pro I reviewed is still an incredible keyboard, too, even if it has technically been upgraded in the Razer Huntsman V3 Pro 8K my colleague reviewed.
My point is that this isn't just a set for the Counter-Strike fans and collectors, it's also for the players. Razer is already an established brand among the best CS players in the world, and now those players can get their favorite gear with a sick new design. Razer's next special collection will have a hard time competing with this one.
If you're interested, you can check out the complete Razer Counter-Strike 2 Collection at Razer.com.
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