Corsair Acquires Drop to Expand its Mechanical Keyboard Lineup

Corsair aims to distinguish itself in the enthusiast keyboard market by acquiring one of its well-known brands. The company is purchasing Drop (previously known as Massdrop), renowned for its customizable mechanical keyboards and key switches. This acquisition will enable Corsair to expand Drop’s community-focused keyboard line and develop fresh offerings for its own brands, such as Elgato.

Drop will remain a separate brand within Corsair and handle all current purchases and support. Corsair is not disclosing the financial terms of the deal. In a message to users, Drop’s CEO emphasized that his company would continue to work with “community favorites,” but would have a much better time serving customers outside of the United States.

The strategy is not surprising. Gamers and other enthusiasts have become increasingly familiar with custom keyboards that feature custom keycaps, lighting, and switches. You get a unique keyboard that matches the look of your computer setup and gives you the typing feel you want. Buying Drop gives Corsair a quick way to expand its presence in those markets, saving it the hassle of building its own resources — or as a competitor to Drop.

The class is very competitive. In addition to Drop, established companies like Keychron, KBDFans, and Mode have customizable options. This does not include stock keyboards that offer similar functionality, just without the flexibility. Corsair certainly won’t dominate, but this could help it succeed in an industry where tech heavyweights like ASUS and NZXT are increasingly involved.

This could also help Corsair bring personalization to segments where it is still rare. Game streamers and other creators thrive on complex settings, but their broadcast devices (such as controllers and microphones) rarely offer much customization. While it’s not clear what Elgato will release, it could claim an edge over the challengers.