Razer buys audio-visual company THX

You know the one

When I think of THX, I think of its logo, that distinct before-the-movie “,” and also . But, going forward, maybe I’ll think about Razer, too.

The gaming hardware maker has acquired THX for an undisclosed amount, though the company will operate as an “independent startup” with its existing management and “have discretion to seek agreements with other product makers, service providers, and financial partners apart from Razer.”

According to Razer CEO Min-Liang Tan, “This acquisition will allow us to reinforce Razer’s leadership in gaming and extend the brand into broader areas of entertainment, while at the same time empowering THX to develop into a global powerhouse, independently.”

“With Razer,” says THX CEO Ty Ahmad-Taylor, “we can now continue to strengthen our core lines of business while delivering excellence for our customers’ ever-changing needs. As a standalone company, THX will work with Razer but will primarily continue to service our partners in the industry in order to deliver great products to consumers.”

I’m unsure how this will specifically play out longer-term, but for now, I’m just surprised by the move. I guess I didn’t realize Razer was in a place to pick up THX, or THX was looking to sell. Ahmad-Taylor on the decision in a blog post, noting that the sale gives them a “rock-solid foundation” and that he “wouldn’t be surprised if we launched a few joint products with Razer.”

There’s also virtual reality to consider. “As gaming bridges into VR, we expect to play a leadership role in the audio portion of that experience, which is crucial for completion the immersion into virtual worlds.”

[THX]