Razer lets you control LEDs in new peripherals via Chroma SDK

Razer has announced a new keyboard, mouse and gaming headset in which the built-in LEDs can be controlled via software. The hardware manufacturer has also announced the so-called Chroma SDK, which allows developers to use the so-called Chroma function.

The new Blackwidow Ultimate Chroma keyboard contains LEDs where each key can be assigned a color. The backlight can display 16.8 million colors. Razer also announced a new Deathadder Chroma gaming mouse, as well as the Kraken 7.1 Chroma gaming headset. Specifications about the Chroma mouse and headset are not yet known, but the three Chroma devices should be released in September.

According to Razer, the LEDs in the keyboard, mouse and headset can be controlled individually via the new Chroma feature. The profiles are set up through the cloud-based configuration tool Razer Synapse. For example, a user can set lighting effects, for example with presets such as spectrum cycling and breathing. In addition, each key on the Ultimate Chroma keyboard can be given a color of your choice via the custom setting. Razer also offers a number of templates that give certain keys a fixed color display, for example ‘wasd’ for shooters.

Razer also promises to release an SDK for its Chroma feature. This makes it possible, for example, to make a key light up red from an RTS game when the base is attacked. Developers can also create profiles for certain games. Razer plans to release the SDK “later this year.”