SteelSeries

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title: "SteelSeries" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["danish-companies-established-in-2001", "computer-hardware-companies", "computer-peripheral-companies", "computing-input-devices", "computer-companies-of-denmark", "manufacturing-companies-of-denmark", "manufacturing-companies-based-in-copenhagen", "companies-based-in-frederiksberg-municipality", "pointing-devices", "gn-store-nord"] description: "Danish gaming peripherals and accessory manufacturer" topic_path: "technology/computing" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SteelSeries" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Danish gaming peripherals and accessory manufacturer ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox company"]

Field	Value
name	SteelSeries
logo	steelseries-logo.png
logo_size	180
native_name_lang	English
type	Subsidiary
industry	Video games
Computer hardware
PC gaming
Consumer electronics
Application software
Esports
founder	Jacob Wolff-Petersen
key_people
products	Gaming peripherals and accessories: headsets, mice, keyboards, controllers, mousepads
foundation
location_city	Frederiksberg
location_country	Denmark
parent	GN Store Nord
homepage
::

| name = SteelSeries | logo = steelseries-logo.png | logo_size = 180 | native_name_lang = English | type = Subsidiary | industry = Video games Computer hardware PC gaming Consumer electronics Application software Esports | founder = Jacob Wolff-Petersen | key_people = | products = Gaming peripherals and accessories: headsets, mice, keyboards, controllers, mousepads | foundation = | location_city = Frederiksberg | location_country = Denmark | parent = GN Store Nord | homepage = SteelSeries (styled as steelseries), formerly Icemat, is a Danish manufacturer of gaming peripherals and accessories, including headsets, keyboards, mice, controllers, and mousepads. SteelSeries was acquired by GN Store Nord in 2021.

History

SteelSeries was founded as Icemat in 2001 by Jacob Wolff-Petersen. The company's original name was Soft Trading, and it was changed to SteelSeries in 2007. Soft Trading made the Icemat and SteelPad mouse mats, which influenced the company's eventual name change. In 2008, SteelSeries acquired Ideazon, a North America-based developer and manufacturer of gaming peripherals.

Michael von Essen-Mueller, the company's first CEO, helped the company establish its brand and grow to a global footprint. In 2007, SteelSeries hired Bruce Hawver as CEO. The company saw tremendous growth over the next five years as it expanded its portfolio and channels, developed the SteelSeries Engine platform, and added partnerships across the esports and the gaming ecosystem.

In 2012, SteelSeries received investments of undisclosed amounts from U.S.-based private equity firm Catterton Partners and China-based private equity firm ClearVue Partners.

Their popular products include their Rival and Sensei series of mice, Arctis headsets, and Apex keyboards. They also have made 5XL mousepads (QcK line). SteelSeries often creates limited edition collaborations, such as the Valve CS:GO Howl Edition mouse and mousepad, and the CD Projekt Cyberpunk 2077 headset.

In July 2019, SteelSeries was acquired by Axcel, a Nordic private equity firm.

In April 2020, SteelSeries acquired Nahimic audio software developer A-Volute, and in December 2020, SteelSeries acquired gaming accessory manufacturer KontrolFreek.

In October 2021, GN Store Nord announced plans to acquire SteelSeries from Axcel for 8 billion DKK (about US$1.25 billion). The deal closed on 12 January 2022, officially making it a subsidiary.

Sponsorships

SteelSeries supports a number of esports teams and individuals through sponsorships and community support. Sponsored teams include FaZe Clan, Evil Geniuses, Vitality, EDward Gaming, Alliance, among others. Past sponsorships include Manuel "Grubby" Schenkhuizen and Tom "Tsquared" Taylor in 2011. They have also sponsored tournaments, including a preseason Overwatch League tournament named the Steelseries Invitational.

Partnerships

SteelSeries has held partnerships with major companies in the gaming industry, including Blizzard Entertainment, Electronic Arts, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Gunnar Optiks, Valve (Steam), MSI, and Discord.

References

References

1. Kathryn Martinez. (January 28, 2021). "The History of SteelSeries". steelseries.com.
2. (6 October 2021). "GN Store Nord to acquire SteelSeries – a global pioneer in premium software-enabled gaming gear". [[GN Store Nord]].
3. "How to bootstrap from zero to 50 million $: SteelSeries founder Jacob Wolff-Petersen". Whiteboardmag.com.
4. "Soft Trading ApS Changes Name To SteelSeries ApS". SteelSeries.com.
5. (2008-07-29). "Gaming Accessories Industry Just Got Better, as SteelSeries Acquires Ideazon Inc. in an Asset Transaction". Businesswire.com.
6. Coldewey, Devin. (2008-07-29). "Steelseries acquires Ideazon; bigger, better accessories forthcoming". TechCrunch.
7. "SteelSeries Appoints Bruce Hawver New Chief Executive Officer". GamesIndustry.biz.
8. "SteelSeries Takes On The U.S Gaming Market". Twice.
9. "News - PAX 2009 Interview: SteelSeries CEO Bruce Hawver". Co-Optimus.
10. "The Official Website for TechtalkRadio - Audio Interview with Bruce Hawver of SteelSeries".
11. "SteelSeries to unveil line of gaming headsets at E3 2013". Engadget.
12. (2012-09-01). "ClearVue Partners Completes Investment in SteelSeries". cvcap.com.
13. Stevens, Alex. (2018-09-24). "SteelSeries Announces CS:GO Howl Edition Peripherals Priced From $30 and Above".
14. (2020-04-20). "SteelSeries unveils range of limited edition Cyberpunk 2077 gaming headsets".
15. Catterton, L.. "L Catterton Sells SteelSeries to Axcel".
16. Bonshor, Gavin. "SteelSeries Acquires A-Volute, Company Behind Nahimic Audio Software".
17. (2020-12-14). "KontrolFreek, Pioneer of Performance Gaming Gear, Acquired by SteelSeries, the Global Leader in Gaming Peripherals".
18. Skydsgaard, Nikolaj. (2021-10-06). "GN Store Nord shares rise on acquisition of gaming firm Steelseries". Reuters.
19. "Closing of acquisition of SteelSeries - [Jan 12, 2022]".
20. (2011-04-02). "SteelSeries Announces Exclusive Sponsorship of Professional Gamer, Manuel Grubby Schenkhuizen". Reuters.
21. "Steelseries And Major League Gaming Announce Partnership And Collaboration". Gamasutra.
22. (2011-10-14). "SteelSeries Announces Sponsorship of Professional Halo 3 Player, Tom 'Tsquared' Taylor". Reuters.
23. Richardson, Liz. (2021-03-01). "What we learned from the Overwatch League SteelSeries Invitational".
24. (2010-06-24). "Steelseries Prepares Players For The Launch Of Blizzard Entertainment'S Starcraft® II: Wings Of Libe". bit-tech.net.
25. "SteelSeries and EA Introduce iOS and Android Headset for Real Racing 3". Prweb.com.
26. (2016-08-16). "HP unveils a new class of Windows 10 gaming devices". Windows Experience Blog.
27. "SteelSeries GUNNAR Optiks Desmo Review". VGRevolution.
28. "SteelSeries and Valve® Corporation Introduce the SteelSeries QcK+ DotA 2 Edition". Sys-con.com.
29. "SteelSeries X MSI | SteelSeries".
30. "Try Moments to get Discord Nitro 🚀".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::