Outside of the new consoles releasing last year and the growing importance of virtual reality headsets, the biggest news coming out of E3 - especially this year at the press conferences - was on new software. Sequels, sequels and more sequels.

But in order to enjoy the latest and greatest video games, we often need the latest and greatest hardware, and tech/peripheral companies had plenty of new items to announce and showcase at E3 2014, including Razer.

We've made us of Razer keyboards, gaming mice and other controllers (Sabretooth, Tartarus) here on Game Rant so we were curious to see what the fast-growing Cult of Razer had coming up in their glowing green lineup of offerings. Among their E3 2014 product lineup, Razer had two new products to showcase: The Razer Kraken Neon Series and the "Designed by Razer" licensing program.

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Razer Kraken Neon Series

Razer's best-selling headsets, the Krakens, are being re-released with a special edition lineup of colored headsets. We mentioned above Razer's trademark green lights on their products and branding, but for these headsets, they're beginning to embrace a larger spectrum of color like the competition does, beginning with six new fluorescent colors. This is the first time Razer has opened up their products to more colors and you'll be able to match it with other more colorful Razer accessories. Min-Liang Tan, Razer co-founder, CEO and creative director:

"Our community has been asking for color options in our product lines and the Razer Kraken Neon Series offers just that. We chose our most popular family of headsets and headphones for special stylization and are releasing them just in time for the summer months. The six colors give way to a multitude of options. I can’t wait to see the photos our fans send us."

The new Neon Series comes with the same drivers you can expect from the Razer Kraken and Kraken Pros, Razer Kraken E-Panda Hooligan headphones and the Razer Kraken Forged Edition headphones, and there are "Pro" versions of the Neon Series that include the retractible mics. The two lines are priced at U.S. $69.99 / EU €69.99 for the Razer Kraken Neon Headphones and U.S. $89.99 / EU €89.99 for the Pro Neon Gaming Headsets (with mics). If you are interested, make sure to download the Razer Surround Pro software before the end of the month and you'll get the pro version upgrade for free.

The Specs

Razer Kraken Pro Neon Series:

  • Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz
  • Impedance: 32 Ω at 1 kHz
  • Sensitivity (@1 kHz, 1 V / Pa): 110 dB ± 4 dB at 1 kHz max
  • Input power: 50 mW
  • Drivers: 40 mm, with Neodymium magnets
  • Inner ear cup diameter: 50 mm (1.97 in.)
  • Cable length: 1.3 m (4.27 ft.) plus 2 m (6.6 ft.) extension cable
  • Approximate weight: 293 g (0.65 lbs.)
  • Connector: Analog 3.5 mm combined jack (headphone and mic)

Microphone:

  • Frequency response: 100 Hz - 10,000 Hz
  • Signal-to-noise ratio: 52 dB
  • Sensitivity (@ 1 kHz, 1 V / Pa): -40 dB ± 3 dB
  • Pick-up pattern: Unidirectional

Razer Kraken Neon Series:

  • Frequency response: 20 Hz - 20,000 Hz
  • Impedance: 32 Ω at 1 kHz
  • Sensitivity (@1 kHz, 1 V / Pa): 110 ± 4 dB at 1 kHz max
  • Input power: 50 mW
  • Drivers: 40 mm, with Neodymium magnets
  • Inner ear cup diameter: 50 mm (1.97 in.)
  • Cable length: 1.3 m (4.27 ft.) plus 2 m (6.6 ft.) extension cable
  • Approximate weight: 280 g (0.62 lbs.)
  • Connector: Analog 3.5 mm headphone jack

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'Designed by Razer' Licensing Program

Not only is Razer opening its product lines to color choices, but they're opening up their product development and production to third parties via a newly announced "Designed by Razer" licensing program that allows for third party production of Razer-designed and -branded PC cases. The program was announced with their first partner, NZXT, who will begin with the Razer-branded H440 gaming case which retails for $149.99. This is the very first licensed desktop case by Razer.

Of course, with letting third parties build Razer products, the obvious concern is that they won't actually be Razer products and therefore may not have the same level of quality and style fans are accustomed to. To that, Razer claims that the "licensing program is open to selected case manufacturers, and it is subject to a rigorous vetting process by the award-winning Razer design and engineering team prior to approval," and after boasting their awards, reiterate that "Every design feature of a licensed case will be directed by Razer in collaboration with any selected partner."

From the pics of the H440, the case certainly feels like it belongs in Razer's lineup:

The Specs

  • Drive Bays: External 5.25 in. : 0 Internal 3.5 in. / 2.5 in. : 6+2
  • Motherboard Support: Mini-ITX, MicroATX, ATX
  • 7x Expansion Slots
  • I/O Panel LED On/Off
  • Radiator Support
  • Front Side, Bottom Front, Bottom Rear Filters Included
  • (2x) USB 3.0 port (SuperSpeed)
  • (2x) USB 2.0 port
  • (1x) Microphone port, (1x) Headphone port
  • 8.66 in. / 22 cm Width x 20.08 in. / 51 cm Height x 18.71 in. / 47.5 cm Depth
  • 21.5 lbs. / 9.75 kg

For more about the H440, head here, and for more on the Kraken Neon Series, head here. Happy to see Razer move beyond green-only design? Should they add more, non-fluorescent colors?

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Follow Rob on Twitter @rob_keyes.