Razer Redefines Fighting Game Experience with Kitsune

[GFreeman]

I am steeped in the culture of fighting games so it feels like destiny that I get to introduce you to a project that I'm so incredibly fortunate to have helped create.My journey with fighting games started with Street Fighter 2 and Mortal Kombat 1 back in the 90s, and my love for the genre has been a relentless engine in my life ever since.

Over the years, this passion led me to the frontlines of the fighting game community (FGC)/esports scene. Traveling to tournaments such as EVO, Combo Breaker, CEO, Tokyo Game Show, and more, I've been fortunate to make a career of it as well as developing peripherals for major players in the FGC community near and far. It's in this spirit that I'm thrilled to finally unveil a project that we at Razer have been passionately crafting the arcade controller that's poised to redefine the world of fighting games: the Razer Kitsune.



Designed with a deep understanding of the needs of the fighting game community, and in partnership with some top FGC pros, the Kitsune is an innovative, all-button optical arcade controller designed for the PlayStation 5 console and PC.

So, what sets the Razer Kitsune apart from your average fight stick?
It's simple: precision and performance. The traditional fight stick has evolved into a device focusing on these key aspects. With a unique quad movement button layout, the Kitsune eliminates joystick mishaps, heralding a new era of precise, unambiguous gameplay. This novel approach to button configuration promises to be the competitive edge pro fighting game players have been seeking.

At the heart of the Kitsune, are the groundbreaking Razer Low-profile Linear Optical Switches. With their shorter actuation height and lightning-fast response time, these switches deliver the speed and precision crucial to master your combos and control the neutral. The Razer Kitsune is more than an evolution; it's a revolution that leaves the traditional push buttons of standard fight sticks in the past.

In our pursuit of precision and performance, we understood the importance of aligning with the standards set by the fighting game community. In this light, we collaborated closely with Capcom during the development of the Razer Kitsune. This collaborative effort ensured that the Kitsune not only meets, but exceeds the expectations of tournament-level play. It abides by all Capcom Pro Tour standards, including compliance with their latest simultaneous opposite cardinal directional input rules. This distinction makes Kitsune a trusted choice for tournaments and legitimizes its role in competitive fighting games.

Our long-standing involvement in the FGC and esports scene, traveling to major Capcom Pro Tour tournaments, and working with their tournament organizers was instrumental in fostering this collaboration. Drawing from these experiences, we've made certain that the Kitsune stands up to the rigorous demands of the highest levels of competition.

Our vision for the Kitsune was to create a controller that works for everyone—whether you're a globetrotting pro or a regular at local tournaments. Its slim, leverless design allows for easy transport and a hassle-free setup, thanks to its detachable USB Type C cable.

But the Razer Kitsune represents more than just an arcade controller; it's a symbol of how we at Razer aim to merge optical precision and superior gaming performance. It's an ultra-combo set to reshape the way you experience fighting games.

This is just a glimpse into what we have in store with the Razer Kitsune. With Street Fighter 6 hitting the shelves soon and the next era of fighting games on the horizon, I can't wait to share more about the exciting developments we have in store.
Until then, stay tuned!

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source

 

[ZoneDymo]

redefines.....yeah ok Razer, OK sure, how the heck is this company sitll in business?

 

[Sp33d Junki3]

redefines.....yeah ok Razer, OK sure, how the heck is this company sitll in business?

this is good for people who can not hold onto joystick.

 

[natr0n]

These are called hitboxes. They simplify moves. Like a fireball is down/ diag/ forward. on a hitbox its down, forward. and jump is like a spacebar on the bottom.

 

[progste]

Are they claiming to have invented the hitbox or something?

 

[Sabishii Hito]

this is good for people who can not hold onto joystick.

If a person can't hold onto a joystick, I'm guessing they have some physical issues and maybe fighters aren't for them?

 

[ZoneDymo]

this is good for people who can not hold onto joystick.

yeah the point is that "leverless sticks" are not new.....so they are not "redefining" anything, they are just following what others are doing, probably using their tech as well and just slapping their brand on it....

 

[progste]

This has nothing to do with physical issues, it's simply an alternative type of controller that uses 4 buttons instead of the stick.
These have seen a lot of use in fighting games because they can offer some advantages in precision and speed compared to the stick, in some cases they've even been accused of being unfair because you can press two opposing sides at the same time wihch you can't with a stick or a dpad, although you could argue that keyboards can do the same.

Despite being just 10 buttons these usually cost quite a bit, I imagine Razer will ask their usual premium.

 

[natr0n]

On a pc use your keyboard just about the same experience and can map button just smaller area.


You can make these quite easily too or mod and existing joystick.

 

[Terronium-12]

So they "redefined" the experience by...creating a Hitbox? Fantastic!

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

If a person can't hold onto a joystick, I'm guessing they have some physical issues and maybe fighters aren't for them?

No it's called a hitbox. They have been around for close to two decades and are usually custom whipped up, though a few companies do make them. It started from people who used keyboards for fighters on the PC and has nothing to do with not being able to use a joystick. Just as a controller has nothing to do with not being able to use a joystick.

There is a catch, or trick, with the hitbox though. While many moves, combos, tricks, and yadda yadda become vastly harder to the point of being no longer practical in extreme cases you can input two movements at the same time. So in the case of say a crossup in Street Fighter where you have to know, read the opponent, or just guess which side it's going to hit from on a hitbox you can hit forward and back at the same time. Essentially bypassing the entire mixup game and auto blocking it. This also works with characters (like say Guile, Bison, Vega, Balrog) who's moves are charge back for X time and then hit forward and press the attack button (other variations do exist). With a stick or controller you are locked into one directional input. With a hitbox you aren't so you can pull some stuff you normally can't allowing you to royally screw with peoples heads.

In some specific games with some specific characters there is an ongoing debate if it's cheating or not but they are very common. Generally a stick is better and if you whip one of these people are going to know exactly what your plan is and react in game accordingly.

It's stupid they are claiming it though.

 

[bonehead123]

redefines.....yeah ok Razer, OK sure, how the heck is this company sitll in business?

'Cause there are still people out there that are still silly enough to still believe in their still crappy products, that's why

IMHO, they wouldn't know a quality product if it crawled up their arses & smashed their balls at the same time...

 

[damric]

I remember I could only reliably throw the dragon punch on the arcade joysticks. I could never get it to work right on super nintendo or sega genesis control pads.

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

'Cause there are still people out there that are still silly enough to still believe in their still crappy products, that's why

IMHO, they wouldn't know a quality product if it crawled up their arses & smashed their balls at the same time...

This isn't entirely fair. Razer makes a lot of shit but they also make some damn good stuff. It just costs a lot.

Case in point their laptops are actually pretty good, so are some of their keyboards, mice, and mouse pads. For "gaming" headsets theirs are fine but all gaming audio sucks anyways as do most things "gaming". Their monitors are insanely priced but they aren't bad by any stretch. Some of their webcams are best in class.

Their controllers and joysticks are all pretty good. They also aren't priced any more stupidly than any bulk made pro controller or joysticks out there and still vastly under the cost of custom jobs. For the sake of fighting games their fight sticks aren't more than competing products from Qanba or Hori. Actually less than the higher end options from competitors.

 

[Camm]

So I'm better with a hitbox, but prefer a Joystick.

Honestly would love for someone to come to market with a hitbox extension to a Astro P2 on the right side of the panel with a joystick on the left, and a lockout button to lock out either.

 

[claes]

IMHO, they wouldn't know a quality product if it crawled up their arses & smashed their balls at the same time...

Doesn’t sound like a quality product to me at all…

 

[Hyderz]

back in the playstation 1 days i had the namco grey and yellow buttons arcade stick
it was one of the most solid aracde stick and the best and clicky feelings, used it play fighting games and also non fighting games hehe
i dunno about arcade sticks these days might look into it again

 

[Chomiq]

back in the playstation 1 days i had the namco grey and yellow buttons arcade stick
it was one of the most solid aracde stick and the best and clicky feelings, used it play fighting games and also non fighting games hehe
i dunno about arcade sticks these days might look into it again

Nowadays they're designed to empty the wallets of "tournament" gamers.

 

[bonehead123]

This isn't entirely fair. Razer makes a lot of shit but they also make some damn good stuff. It just costs a lot.

Case in point their laptops are actually pretty good, so are some of their keyboards, mice, and mouse pads. For "gaming" headsets theirs are fine but all gaming audio sucks anyways as do most things "gaming". Their monitors are insanely priced but they aren't bad by any stretch. Some of their webcams are best in class.

Their controllers and joysticks are all pretty good. They also aren't priced any more stupidly than any bulk made pro controller or joysticks out there and still vastly under the cost of custom jobs. For the sake of fighting games their fight sticks aren't more than competing products from Qanba or Hori. Actually less than the higher end options from competitors.

It is fair, from my pov, since EVERY stinkin product of theirs that I have tried has sucked wallah and/or completely failed in 6 months or less....and their RMA process is way to convoluted, difficult, and as useless as their products are !

So IF & when I see something, anything, from them that has even the least bit of quality construction, durability, and crap-features that aren't almost useless, then perhaps I will change my mind, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen anytime soon

 

[Cheeseball]

It is fair, from my pov, since EVERY stinkin product of theirs that I have tried has sucked wallah and/or completely failed in 6 months or less....and their RMA process is way to convoluted, difficult, and as useless as their products are !

So IF & when I see something, anything, from them that has even the least bit of quality construction, durability, and crap-features that aren't almost useless, then perhaps I will change my mind, but I'm not holding my breath for that to happen anytime soon

Then that means you've only been trying their normal (e.g. average-priced) products. Their newer mice (2020+) have gotten better, with the Viper Pro a tough competitor for the Pro Superlight. The previous Viper UItimate (2nd revision, not the initial release) held its own as well. The Viper Mini is one of the affordable wired mice that is also well-built.

I can't speak for their software though. Synapse still seems bloated, but its just like any other accessories software out there.

 

[MarquiseAke]

You can't do dual input anymore with Street Fighter 6. In order for a controller to be viable, opposing input (left vs right, or up vs down) must result in neutral.

 

[bonehead123]

Then that means you've only been trying their normal (e.g. average-priced) products.

Synapse still seems bloated, but its just like any other accessories software out there.

Nope, I've both the low-end & high-end stuff, and and everything in between, and it all is garbaggio IMHO, and yea, that includes their bug-ridden, god-forsaken, BSOD-causing softwarez too

Please stop deflecting, 'cause you're NOT gonna change my mind....as I said, when & IF I come across something from them that doesn't blow chukkas, I will gladly sing it's praises for all to see

 

[SOAREVERSOR]

Nowadays they're designed to empty the wallets of "tournament" gamers.

They have never been cheap for a good one. Back in the day you could get one for 30 bucks, you still can, but it's going to suck. Moving up to anything with genuine arcade parts has always been north of 100 to 200 bucks and that hasn't changed either.

The non tournament gamer customs and hobbiest stuff costs even more.

To put things in perspectived the actual "stick" part of the joystick itself with the PCB and actuators runs about 30-100 bucks if you want a quality one. Add on ball top, dust guard, and maybe a shaft guard and that's another 30 at least. Quality pushbuttons are 3-6 bucks a pop, you're going to need at least 10 of these. Wiring is going to custom as well so get ready for another 30 for wire, solder, and other stuff and that's provided you have the tools. So at the cheapest we've already hit 120 bucks in parts. Then you need a PCB which can range from cheaping out and destroying a 60 buck console controller to a 100 bucks for a universal kit. So now we are at 180 on the low end and 290 on the high end just for the parts. And that's not including a case, which can run you 50-300 bucks depending on what you want.

So doing this DIY is going to be expensive as all hell. Paying someone else to do it for you is going to be as well. It's ultimately cheaper to pay someone like Qanba, Razer, or Hori for a premade as they can bulk source the parts and bulk the cases. They sell the majority of their stuff not to tournament players but to people who play at home.

 

[Cheeseball]

Nope, I've both the low-end & high-end stuff, and and everything in between, and it all is garbaggio IMHO, and yea, that includes their bug-ridden, god-forsaken, BSOD-causing softwarez too

Please stop deflecting, 'cause you're NOT gonna change my mind....as I said, when & IF I come across something from them that doesn't blow chukkas, I will gladly sing it's praises for all to see

Well, I'm not trying to change your mind. It's fine to agree to disagree then.

I believe Razer is aiming this to be at $250, which would put it against the $250 Hit Box, but the Kitsune is officially licensed by Sony and has extra features.