What started with a $50,000 initial investment has grown into a gaming accessories company with 7 million yearly online store sessions and a loyal group of gamers across the globe.
With customers in 60 countries, Atlanta-based KontrolFreek announced it will be acquired by SteelSeries, an international consumer electronics company and leader in the console gaming market.
KontrolFreek creates gaming and console peripherals for PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo. Its line of products — including Performance Thumbsticks, Performance Grips™, Precision Rings™, Gaming Lights™, and Gaming Cables™ — improve the functionality, comfort, and overall accuracy of gaming controllers.
Additionally, KontrolFreek has grown FreekNation, a user-generated media community, to over 4 million engaged gamers.
Financials of the deal were not disclosed, but KontrolFreek will be a wholly-owned subsidiary of SteelSeries.
“This is a huge milestone for KontrolFreek,” said Ashish Mistry, CEO of KontrolFreek, in a statement. “After more than 10 years of building our own brand and products, and as we continue on our mission to enhance gaming globally, it made perfect sense to join forces with SteelSeries to take both brands to the next level.”
2020 was a good year for KontrolFreek. The website reached 7 million store sessions and sold 2 million units of its FPS Freek product alone. KontrolFreek products are currently carried by 9,000 retailers and on 16 online marketplaces.
This is the second acquisition for the Danish company SteelSeries, which has been in the esports and professional gaming industry for almost 20 years. CEO Ehtisham Rabbani said that KontrolFreek’s global popularity will “open new opportunities to entertain, delight, and assist new gamers across the world.”
