Razer acquires Nextbit and its Robin 'cloud phone'

Looks like, Razer is steadily moving beyond the confines of hardware and software for the gaming community. So, three months after acquiring legendary audio tech company THX, the company is now making a dive in the mobile segment with the purchase of Nextbit, the startup behind the Robin ‘cloud’ smartphone.

We’re excited to welcome @nextbitsys to the Razer family. Great things are coming – stay tuned.

More info https://t.co/l8i0XYZFtS pic.twitter.com/9WzasurbTB

— RΛZΞR (@Razer) January 30, 2017

Financial terms of the deal haven’t been disclosed but Nextbit says it will continue to provide updates and security patches through February 2018 and fulfill warranties for another six months. Sales of the Robin and its accessories have already ceased. Founded by Android veterans Robin had set out high hopes to rethink how to build a mobile phone that leaned on cloud storage.

Also, the Nextbit brand will not go away, it will instead operate as an independent division within Razer and will focus “on unique mobile design and experiences.”

“With the talent that Nextbit brings to Razer, we look forward to unleashing more disruption and growing our business in new areas," said Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan.

Nextbit had raised $18 million in funding from Accel, GV and Dentsu, plus another $1.36 million on Kickstarter as part of a crowdfunding campaign partly used to market the Robin smartphone.

This is Razer’s third acquisition in recent times after THX and gaming company Ouya.