Razer has launched the Boomslang 20th Anniversary Edition gaming mouse at $1,337, with all 1,337 units selling out shortly after preorders opened. The device revives a design from 1999, featuring modern internals but targeted primarily as a collector's item complete with a display frame. Reviewers note its nostalgic appeal despite ergonomic challenges.
The Razer Boomslang, first released in 1999, is celebrated as the inaugural gaming mouse, introducing a 2,000 DPI sensor and gaming-focused shape. Razer's brand originated in 1998 as a subsidiary of Kärna LLC, which bankrupt in 2000; it was revived years later, reissuing the Boomslang and marking this as its 20th anniversary edition. Priced at $1,337—a nod to 'leetspeak' for 'elite'—the mouse uses plastic-based polyurethane leather on a transparent plastic shell, avoiding real leather for longevity, maintenance, and broader accessibility across religions, according to Razer's lead designer Charlie Bolton. Bolton explained the high cost stems from both a collectors' premium and expenses of limited production, including hand-stitched leather and wireless charging integration. Each purchase includes the functional mouse plus a framed, disassembled second unit with LED backlighting, whose parts are fully functional for potential repairs. Technically, it matches Razer's latest DeathAdder with Gen-4 optical switches and 8,000-Hz polling, weighing nearly 108 grams. Its wide, low-slung, ambidextrous shape draws from early 2000s ergonomics, feeling awkward for modern users—requiring a fingertip grip and unusual finger placement—but performs adequately in retro games like Halo: Combat Evolved and Quake 2. The reviewer found it evokes physical nostalgia, though imprecise for fine controls and prone to momentum. Positioned as an 'exotic supercar of mice,' it appeals to collectors valuing prestige over everyday use, with aftermarket prices nearing $2,000.
