IKEA is Finally Ready to Sell You its ASUS ROG Co-branded Gear

[TheLostSwede]

Just over a year ago, IKEA and Asus teased that they were working on something together and from October, you'll actually be able to buy the first products. There will be more than 30 new products in total, ranging from "gaming" desks and chairs, to key "gaming" accessories like mug holders and neck pillows.

It's highly likely that the pandemic has delayed these products, since they launched in China back in January, but now it seems like stock should be arriving globally. In total, there will be six product families, although the press release doesn't go into detail of what product is in each product category. The six families are UPPSPEL, LÅNESPELARE, MATCHSPEL, GRUPPSPEL, UTESPELARE, HUVUDSPELARE, which pretty much are all borrowed from various football (soccer to our American readers) terms in Swedish.



IKEA estimates that there are no less than 2.5 billion gamers globally and they obviously want a slice of the gaming cake. The most amusing part of the press release from IKEA, are the quotes from Asus. How some furniture can be exciting gaming innovations is a bit hard to imagine, but we're sure Asus knows a lot about gamers pain points, based on how angular some of their gaming products are. Note that some of the products appear to be in stock already, so if you're interested, try searching your local IKEA website for the product names above.

"Gamers globally know and love the Republic of Gamers brand and they trust it to deliver the most exciting gaming innovations in the market," says Kris Huang, General Manager of the ASUS Gaming Gear and Accessory Business Unit. "Our new partnership with the experts at IKEA will allow Republic of Gamers to find new and interesting ways to delight gamers in and around the home."

"We know a lot about gamer needs, pain points and expectations, and we want to design solutions for ultimate, immersive gaming experiences." - says Johnny Chan, Asus Republic of Gamers designer.

Update: It turns out IKEA has some nicer products in the lineup that will arrive early next year, including a chair with real grain leather that's priced at around US$350 in Sweden, but that price includes 25 percent VAT. The only thing we'd like to see are some more adjustments on these chairs, as they still seem to have fairly basic adjustments, even at this price point. The pictures of the additional products are above.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

 

[Chrispy_]

The reason IKEA is super-popular is because it's ubiquitous and cheap

ROG is neither of the above, I'm curious to see final availability and pricing because (as much as it would be nice to be proved wrong) I suspect availability will be poor and/or limited whilst the ROG branding will add significantly to the cost, ruining the original value proposition of IKEA furniture in the first place.

 

[TheLostSwede]

The reason IKEA is super-popular is because it's ubiquitous and cheap

ROG is neither of the above, I'm curious to see final availability and pricing because (as much as it would be nice to be proved wrong) I suspect availability will be poor and/or limited whilst the ROG branding will add significantly to the cost, ruining the original value proposition of IKEA furniture in the first place.

Just had a quick look at IKEA Sweden, because they happened to have the "gaming" chairs in stock. Matchspel (the top of the range model) cost less than the classic Markus chair, but also appears to be of much worse quality, so...
The price difference is almost $50.

None of the products appear to have actual ROG branding on them, just the general weird patterns/characters that some ROG products have as a design language.

On the brighter side, the good old CPU stand is back and it can be yours for less than $20

 

[Space Lynx]

The reason IKEA is super-popular is because it's ubiquitous and cheap

ROG is neither of the above, I'm curious to see final availability and pricing because (as much as it would be nice to be proved wrong) I suspect availability will be poor and/or limited whilst the ROG branding will add significantly to the cost, ruining the original value proposition of IKEA furniture in the first place.

yep. I got my IKEA computer desk (its freaking massive) for $55, it's super sturdy, never scratches, and looks great. 100x better quality than anything I would have got at wal-mart.

IKEA is freaking amazing, especially since I am poor LOL

 

[Turmania]

Reason why they are so popular is that you can put it up and be ready the same the day you bought it. My local furniture telld me I have to wait for 6 weeks for my desk to be ready.

 

[TheLostSwede]

Reason why they are so popular is that you can put it up and be ready the same the day you bought it. My local furniture telld me I have to wait for 6 weeks for my desk to be ready.

Hopefully your local furniture doesn't sell you a flat packed table at 10x the cost though.

The reason IKEA is super-popular is because it's ubiquitous and cheap

ROG is neither of the above, I'm curious to see final availability and pricing because (as much as it would be nice to be proved wrong) I suspect availability will be poor and/or limited whilst the ROG branding will add significantly to the cost, ruining the original value proposition of IKEA furniture in the first place.

I was seemingly wrong, they have an even more expensive chair coming early next year. That's a US$290 chair, or $350 if you want the real leather one.

 

[eidairaman1]

Expensive cheap quality ...

 

[TheLostSwede]

Expensive cheap quality ...

The additional chairs and the height adjustable table might be worth it, the other products, not so much.

 

[Anymal]

UPPSPEL, LÅNESPELARE, MATCHSPEL, GRUPPSPEL, UTESPELARE, HUVUDSPELARE

PLAYBACK, LOAN PLAYER, MATCH GAME, GROUP GAME, OUTDOOR PLAYER, MAIN PLAYER,

 

[TheLostSwede]

UPPSPEL, LÅNESPELARE, MATCHSPEL, GRUPPSPEL, UTESPELARE, HUVUDSPELARE

PLAYBACK, LOAN PLAYER, MATCH GAME, GROUP GAME, OUTDOOR PLAYER, MAIN PLAYER,

Utespelare is outfield player.

 

[Chrispy_]

Hopefully your local furniture doesn't sell you a flat packed table at 10x the cost though.


I was seemingly wrong, they have an even more expensive chair coming early next year. That's a US$290 chair, or $350 if you want the real leather one.
View attachment 217153

TBH, those chairs are unique to this gamer range, they're not just colour variants of the existing models here at least.

IKEA chairs are hit and miss. If the quality is up to scratch those two leather options could be decent choices for cooler regions. I'm guessing those living in hotter climates don't enjoy sticking to their furniture

 

[Anymal]

I see better furniture (for caravans, motorhomes, campervans) in production every day, Ikea is far from better, but its good enough for reasonable prices, all that matter, smart.

 

[Chrispy_]

I see better furniture (for caravans, motorhomes, campervans) in production every day, Ikea is far from better, but its good enough for reasonable prices, all that matter, smart.

With IKEA being a not-for-profit organisation you generally get what you pay for. If it's expensive it's usually good quality, if pricing is reasonable, so is quality. If it's dirt cheap, it's probably good for a 1-year lease as long as you treat it delicately.

The unknown factor in all this is how much the ROG tax is, I guess we'll know once reviewers have had a chance to put them through their paces.

 

[ThrashZone]

Hi,
I wish them luck on selling me anything seeing I'm not a member lol

 

[MentalAcetylide]

yep. I got my IKEA computer desk (its freaking massive) for $55, it's super sturdy, never scratches, and looks great. 100x better quality than anything I would have got at wal-mart.

IKEA is freaking amazing, especially since I am poor LOL

How massive? Originally I wanted to get an Ikea, but I couldn't find one bigger than 63" wide while I needed something at least 72" x 30". I went with a similarly priced Uplift, which was probably the next best thing.

Hopefully your local furniture doesn't sell you a flat packed table at 10x the cost though.


I was seemingly wrong, they have an even more expensive chair coming early next year. That's a US$290 chair, or $350 if you want the real leather one.

Not for me. I'll stick with my Steelcase Think chair, which is a lot more comfortable and will probably outlast any of those gamer chairs... thrice over.

 

[Valantar]

Hi,
I wish them luck on selling me anything seeing I'm not a member lol

Member? Of what?

Hopefully your local furniture doesn't sell you a flat packed table at 10x the cost though.


I was seemingly wrong, they have an even more expensive chair coming early next year. That's a US$290 chair, or $350 if you want the real leather one.
View attachment 217153

That white version of that chair is kinda nice. I'm expecting a adjustments to be crap though. That's what made me go for an Autonomous, and I have no regrets.

 

[Tardian]

Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
Riding through the land
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
Without a merry band
He steals from the poor
And gives to the rich
Stupid Bitch.

Lyrics: Graham Chapman and John Cleese

Stichting INGKA Foundation - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

I feel more comfortable sitting in my expensive office chair.

 

[thesmokingman]

Just had a quick look at IKEA Sweden, because they happened to have the "gaming" chairs in stock. Matchspel (the top of the range model) cost less than the classic Markus chair, but also appears to be of much worse quality, so...
The price difference is almost $50.

None of the products appear to have actual ROG branding on them, just the general weird patterns/characters that some ROG products have as a design language.



On the brighter side, the good old CPU stand is back and it can be yours for less than $20

View attachment 217144

20 isn't bad for a stand but that one is terrible with those side walls. I usually build my own using a monitor stand and some rollers both from amazon which costs a bit more. Ofc I use a nicer would laminated board and rubber coated wheels cuz my case don't have wheels and it's heavy as hell. Not a great pic but can see it in action.




Anyways on topic, when do they hit retail?

 

[Totally]

TBH, those chairs are unique to this gamer range, they're not just colour variants of the existing models here at least.

IKEA chairs are hit and miss. If the quality is up to scratch those two leather options could be decent choices for cooler regions. I'm guessing those living in hotter climates don't enjoy sticking to their furniture

Nah leather all the way, everything I get into someone's car there's a lingering scent of BO.

 

[Tardian]

Nah leather all the way, everything I get into someone's car there's a lingering scent of BO.

New study finds 'new car smell' to be potentially dangerous

It's a smell we all know and love, but a new study from the University of California suggests 'new car smell' could actually be dangerous to inhale

www.whichcar.com.au

I am more than capable of my own off-gassing (both ends).

 

[thesmokingman]

Ppl you work with aren't lifting a cheek??

 

[Tardian]

Ppl you work with aren't lifting a cheek??

Gold doesn't smell.

 

[timta2]

With IKEA being a not-for-profit organisation you generally get what you pay for. If it's expensive it's usually good quality, if pricing is reasonable, so is quality. If it's dirt cheap, it's probably good for a 1-year lease as long as you treat it delicately.

The unknown factor in all this is how much the ROG tax is, I guess we'll know once reviewers have had a chance to put them through their paces.

Playing dirty corporate games to increase profits and move them around and hide them, while avoiding (tax) liabilities doesn't make a company or an "organization" a "not-for-profit".

"In May 2006, The Economist magazine estimated that the parent organization's foundation's endowment was worth US$36 billion, making it the world's wealthiest charity at the time; however, it also stated that the foundation "is at the moment also one of its least generous. The overall set-up of IKEA minimises tax and disclosure, handsomely rewards the founding Kamprad family and makes IKEA immune to a takeover".

IKEA - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Tardian]

Playing dirty corporate games to increase profits and move them around and hide them, while avoiding (tax) liabilities doesn't make a company or an "organization" a "not-for-profit".

No, but paying millions to Lawyers and Accountants does.

 

[TheLostSwede]

20 isn't bad for a stand but that one is terrible with those side walls. I usually build my own using a monitor stand and some rollers both from amazon which costs a bit more. Ofc I use a nicer would laminated board and rubber coated wheels cuz my case don't have wheels and it's heavy as hell. Not a great pic but can see it in action.

View attachment 217200


Anyways on topic, when do they hit retail?

Sorry, that was meant to be a joke, as you clearly don't put your CPU on it...

Most things appear to go on sale next month, with a few of the nicer things in January.