Corsair, a leading manufacturer of gaming peripherals and components, has announced its acquisition of Drop, an online retailer known for its extensive range of mechanical keyboards and accessories. Although the deal only includes “certain assets” from Drop, the CEO of the company, Jef Holove, confirmed that Drop has indeed been acquired by Corsair.
While the specifics of the acquisition have not been disclosed, Corsair’s press release highlights Drop’s custom keyboards business and desktop accessories as key areas of interest. Corsair CEO Andy Paul believes that personalized keyboards are one of the fastest-growing trends in the gaming peripheral space. He expressed his excitement about partnering with Drop, stating that with Corsair’s global reach, they aim to significantly expand the Drop brand worldwide. Additionally, Corsair plans to offer specialized products from their own brand, as well as Elgato, to the enthusiast community that Drop caters to.
Drop, originally known as Massdrop, is highly regarded for its selection of keyboard components, including custom-designed keycaps and switches. Over the years, Drop has collaborated with various keycap designers in the mechanical keyboard community, enabling them to produce and sell unique designs. The company has also released licensed designs based on popular franchises like “The Lord of the Rings” and Marvel. Furthermore, Drop offers premade keyboards that are customizable by end-users, combining both aesthetics and functionality.
Holove emphasized that Drop intends to continue its enthusiast-led approach to product development, even after the acquisition. With Corsair’s worldwide sales and logistics footprint, Drop aims to make its products more accessible and available at a faster pace. The partnership also offers Drop access to a world-class supply chain, enhancing the reliability of product availability. Holove assured Drop’s loyal customer base that the brand would remain committed to expansion, convenience, and sourcing unique products.
Corsair already boasts an extensive portfolio of mechanical keyboards, and in recent times, they have focused on making their keyboards more customizable. For instance, they introduced features like hot-swappable switches, allowing users to easily swap out key switches to suit their preferences. However, Corsair’s keyboards primarily target the gaming performance market, prioritizing gaming features over typing feel.
While the financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed, Corsair plans to maintain Drop as a separate brand within the company. Drop will continue to handle all existing warranties, purchases, and customer support requests. This approach ensures that Drop’s customer base can expect a seamless transition and continued support from the brand they trust.
In conclusion, Corsair’s acquisition of Drop signals the company’s intent to expand its presence in the rapidly growing mechanical keyboard market. By leveraging Drop’s expertise in custom keyboards and accessories, Corsair aims to further establish itself as a leader in the gaming peripheral industry. Both companies share a commitment to serving the enthusiast community, and this partnership presents an exciting opportunity for the development and distribution of innovative and customizable gaming peripherals.
