Peripheral and component maker Corsair is getting into custom computer builds, too. Corsair announced on Wednesday morning that it has purchased Florida-based PC maker Origin PC.
Origin PC is best known for its boutique designs, such as the company’s over the top ”Big O” that combines every console into one PC (yes there’s a gaming PC in there too.) Corsair said the purchase was part of a strategic play to offer more custom PCs to people making the switch from console gaming to PC gaming.
“With the gaming PC market continuing to expand as an increasing number of players make the jump from console to PC, we wanted to do more to reach customers in North America that prefer to buy, rather than build, their system,” Corsair CEO Andy Paul said in a statement.
Origin’s CEO chimed in as well, saying the deal makes sense with Corsair’s increasingly aspirational hardware lineup. Corsair recently was among a handful of component makers to offer PCIe 4.0 SSDs and also moved into custom water cooling.
“Corsair is a fantastic partner to help take Origin PC forward, known for creating quality, high-performance products that fully align with Origin PC,” said Kevin Wasielewski, CEO of Origin PC. “With a complete range of enthusiast PC products, Origin PC and Corsair are uniquely placed to create amazing new systems that make the experience of owning a personalized custom gaming PC better than ever.”
Corsair said Origin PC will continue to operate as a separate brand from its Miami office and said the deal doesn’t change any existing warranties, purchases, or support. Corsair also said its own line of computers such as the Vengeance PC and the Corsair One will also continue to be offered.
Origin PC’s sale comes just shy of its tenth year of business. Origin PC was founded by several Alienware ex-patriots Kevin Wasielewski, Hector Penton and Richard Cary.
Gordon Mah Ung
Origin also sells customizable laptops.
Viewed through today’s lens of a healthy and growing PC gaming market, the idea of starting a custom PC company seems like a no brainer, but in late 2009 it was a risky move. The financial meltdown was still a cloud and most mainstream technology media and financial analysts were again bleating that “PC gaming and the PC are dead” and would soon be obliterated by consoles and tablets.
As we know, that didn’t turn out to be true at all and most would agree we’re in a new renaissance era for PC gaming. Origin PC’s acquisition shows that Corsair certainly does.