Razer Project AVA: The 3D Hologram AI Companion That Puts Faker On Your Desk

Razer has unveiled Project AVA at CES 2026, transforming their AI gaming assistant concept from 2025 into a full-fledged 3D hologram desk companion. This ambitious device brings virtual AI partners into physical space as animated characters you can interact with around the clock for gaming, work, and daily life.

What is Project AVA?

Project AVA represents the evolution of Razer's AI coaching concept first introduced at CES 2025. What started as an esports AI coach has now evolved into a fully integrated AI desk companion, combining animated holographic avatars with advanced personalization and an adaptive learning engine that remembers your preferences for smarter interactions over time.

The device is powered by xAI's Grok model, though Razer has stated their vision is for Project AVA to be AI-agnostic, allowing users to select their preferred AI platform in the future. The system uses human-like vision and audio sensing for full contextual awareness of your environment.

The hardware itself is a sleek cylindrical unit equipped with dual far-field microphones, an HD camera with ambient light sensors, and Razer's signature Chroma RGB lighting. The transparent enclosure houses a 5.5-inch animated 3D hologram that displays various AI companion designs with natural movements, eye-tracking, lip-sync capabilities, and detailed facial expressions - all rendered in real-time through a partnership with Animation Inc.

Technical Breakdown

1. Dual Far-field Array Mics - Captures voice commands from across the room with advanced noise cancellation, enabling seamless hands-free communication even in noisy gaming environments

1. HD Camera with Ambient Light Sensor - Enables PC Vision mode for contextual screen analysis during gaming sessions and automatically adjusts display brightness based on your room's lighting

1. Customizable Showcase LEDs - Accent lighting around the cylindrical housing that can be personalized to match your setup aesthetic

1. Swappable 5.5" 3D Holographic Avatars - Real-time rendered characters featuring high-fidelity motion, eye-tracking, and facial expressions created by Animation Inc.

1. Razer Chroma RGB - Signature lighting integration with 16.8 million colors that syncs with your existing Razer ecosystem

1. Volume Down - Physical button for quick audio adjustment without interrupting your workflow

1. Power/Mute Button - Central control for power and instant microphone muting for privacy

1. Volume Up - Physical button for seamless audio control

1. Down-firing Full Range Driver - Built-in speaker for voice output and audio feedback, positioned to project sound toward your desk

1. USB-C Data and Power Delivery Port - Single cable connection to Windows PC provides both data transfer and power, keeping your desk clean

Choose Your AI Companion

Project AVA launches with five distinct avatar options, each developed in partnership with Animation Inc. (the studio behind Grok's Ani and Mika companions) featuring real-time rendering and emotional expressiveness. You can also customize each avatar's personality, ranging from bold and sassy to calm and friendly.

AVA is the default companion, featuring an amorphous green orb design with the Razer logo - a stylized aesthetic reminiscent of HAL 9000 and the original Xbox startup sequence. KIRA is the anime-style gaming companion complete with cat ears and thigh-high stockings, designed as your ultimate gaming partner who celebrates victories and provides encouragement. ZANE is the buff gaming wingman with snake tattoos, focused on competitive support, strategy coaching, and keeping you motivated under pressure.

The celebrity avatars represent Razer's boldest move. FAKER brings League of Legends legend Lee Sang-hyeok to your desk as a 3D holographic AI coaching model - notably, this comes after Elon Musk challenged Faker's T1 team to compete against Grok AI, which the esports squad accepted. SAO is based on Saori Araki, the Japanese model and former Tokyo Girls Bravo member who became a global internet phenomenon in July 2025. Her viral "Office Lady" photo - showing her in a grey business suit with slightly puffed cheeks holding a laptop - amassed tens of millions of views within days, becoming one of the year's most recognizable memes. By turning Araki into an AVA-compatible avatar, Razer has effectively canonized a meme.

Work and Play Integration

Project AVA adapts to multiple use cases throughout your day, functioning as what Razer calls "a constant companion, available around the clock for interaction." For daily support, it handles schedule management, wardrobe selection, meal planning, to-do tracking, and routine motivation to support healthier habits.

The work support features transform AVA into a productivity assistant capable of data analysis, spreadsheet processing, live translation, project development assistance, and brainstorming consultation. Whether you're crunching numbers or preparing a presentation, your chosen avatar can provide real-time assistance.

The gaming coaching capabilities are where Project AVA truly shines. PC Vision Mode is the standout feature - it allows the AI to analyze your connected PC screen in real-time, providing contextual strategy advice during matches, answering in-game questions, and celebrating your victories alongside you. The system learns from your personal interactions, studying your playstyle and remembering preferences for smarter, more personalized coaching over time.

Availability and Pricing

Project AVA is expected to ship in the second half of 2026. While final pricing hasn't been announced, Razer is currently accepting $20 refundable deposits for reservations in the United States - this deposit will be credited toward the final purchase price. The device requires a Windows PC connection via USB-C and currently runs on xAI's Grok, with plans to support additional AI platforms as the technology matures.

For those who have dreamed of having a digital companion in the style of Cortana from Halo or an AI assistant from Sword Art Online, Project AVA represents the closest we've come to making that science fiction reality a desktop accessory.

Product Information