I’ve never been a big fan of Razer’s HyperSense haptic technology – the vibrations never seemed to live up to my expectations, and it’s only integrated into the headset, which doesn’t make much sense to me perceptually. Now, the company is replacing it with a new generation of vibration technology, called Sensa HD Haptics. Project Esther, an add-on gaming chair cushion launched at CES, is Razer’s first demonstration of the new technology, which was made possible following Razer’s 2022 acquisition of Interhaptics.
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The chair pad makes more sense than the headset, though it can be integrated into many types of products thanks to a full developer suite that allows game creators to control directionality, location-based blend intensity, and the ability to integrate across devices to get a sense of coordination. In addition to in-game support, the software can convert audio to haptics on the fly, hopefully doing a better job than HyperSense.
![Razer-project-esther-3](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/64f4bcc5798384caab5de8fea7a4a4b3a75117e7/hub/2024/01/08/0b979540-f521-4ce7-b1c1-16205c7a1e40/razer-project-esther-3.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
Front and back of cushion.
“HD” reflects the wide range of frequencies it supports, which in theory could provide a more accurate feel. Project Esther has 16 actuators installed around the seat, designed to provide a better sense of direction, distance and position.
![](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/bb0a63d50778c4e4fa5d65d014e2972e0f1b7d45/hub/2024/01/11/914040ea-5eda-46ce-ac2e-aa6800491698/240110-site-best-laptops.jpg?auto=webp&width=768)
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This implementation seems more mature and commercially viable than many of Razer’s previous CES concepts, at least in the absence of pricing, which is one of the company’s usual big problems. In this case, the cushion straps to the chair – not just Razer’s own chair, which makes a big difference, and it works with Razer’s HyperSpeed Wireless. Wired just…no.
![Razer project esther on enki-pro](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/7d200aceddf5f1f8e078633d871f6895e6685b53/hub/2024/01/08/16ac89fc-7dba-4c05-a8e8-05b558cdb3a8/razer-project-esther-on-enki-pro.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
Seat cushion on Razer Enki Pro chair.
A lot depends on the materials, since durability and comfort are obviously key factors, assuming the technology works well. Because it’s still a concept, Razer hasn’t revealed any pricing or availability, or even what other products the Sensa HD might appear in.