It’s no secret that the RIG brand has been a force to be reckoned with in the last few years. And since their acquisition by NACON, the heat has already been turned up even more. Between the RIG PRO Compact and the RIG 500 PRO HX Gen 2, they’ve been proving that even with how great the brand’s products are, there’s even more room for improvement.
RIG’s Global Brand Director, Jack Reynolds was nice enough to sit down and answer some of the burning questions that I had, even further elaborating on what the brand means and what its vision is. There’s even a tease for what’s to come in the brand’s future as well!
So, what attracted NACON to acquire the RIG brand?
Nacon had been the official gaming distribution partner for Poly (formerly Plantronics) in Europe since 2012. During that time, both Nacon and RIG brands expanded rapidly and even collaborated on a few products. For example, RIG created a special Nacon edition of the 500 PRO EX to pair with Nacon premium controllers. So, there was a rich history and familiarity between the two brands and their teams.
When Poly exited the consumer and gaming markets in 2020, Nacon became a natural home for the RIG brand. Nacon was attracted to the premium position of RIG and the commercial compliment RIG audio products make to Nacon controllers for Xbox and PlayStation.
What was the driving force in creating the new line of RIG headphones?
Most recently, RIG has focused on driving improvements and evolving our existing series of gaming headsets. We very much see our models as franchises and we continue to take feedback from gamers, from online reviews, and from our engineering and quality teams to make changes. For example, we added a metal headband to the 500 PRO Gen 2 Series and improved cable connections, both for greater robustness and performance.
We also introduced a PRO version of our popular 700 Series wireless headset with features to make the already comfortable platform, more stable and comfortable for long sessions.
We do have a few brand new models under development, but not ready to talk about those yet.
What was the biggest challenge with bringing your ideas to the final product?
The core that makes RIG headsets unique is the combination of a (nearly) unbreakable headband frame and removable ear cups. That design originates from taking inspiration from sports equipment, including motorsports, where fewer parts lead to more reliable performance.
Take any other headset, break the earcup off, and you’re done for the day. With RIG, you can pop it back in and keep gaming.
That same design intention also leads to super lightweight headsets you’ll hardly notice you’re wearing.
Maintaining that level of design simplicity and lightweight, while ever-improving audio performance and adding new features is our biggest challenge.
Are there ever times where you feel like you have a great idea set up and then you hit a wall?
All the time. Usually, it boils down to available resources and schedule.
When creating a product, is there a specific type of user in mind? A pro gamer, streamer, casual gamer?
Definitely. Our focus is on the competitive player. That differs from a pro gamer, who gets paid to compete. We do make the RIG Commander PRO specifically for use in tournament gaming and for esports leagues, but that’s a small part of what we do.
Our consumer products, though, are designed for gamers who play consistently both to win and to improve their gameplay. They’re a great audience because they take advantage of the tangible gaming benefits we put into every product…things like ultralightweight design and materials. From our perspective, lightweight leads to comfort, leads to better focus, which leads to better scores.
What is NACON's approach to creating something that gamers are going to want to use in their everyday gameplay?
Our approach is to focus on the fundamentals. Above all, we try and deliver the best audio experience possible. We select low-distortion drivers and include advanced features like Dolby Atmos for gaming.
Next, we want to make sure the headset fits everyone well and is highly comfortable. And, to bring it all together, quality and reliability.
The RIG PRO Compact controller is a pretty big step for the line as well. Will we see a full-sized controller with the same support or even something similar for PlayStation consoles?
Bringing the Nacon PRO Compact controller under the RIG brand was a huge step for our lineup, expanding our audio focus to controllers by introducing the world’s first controller for Xbox with Dolby Atmos for Gaming. The PRO Compact also brings new levels of customization and features to gamers who prefer a smaller form factor.
Yes, the Revolution X is the next controller coming from Nacon and RIG this holiday for Xbox. It’s a traditional size controller with full customization, interchangeable components, app customization, and Dolby Atmos for Gaming.
We continue to work with Sony for future accessories as well.
What would you say is the best game to test out the RIG PRO Compact controller with?
There’s no single answer to that question but the large action buttons offer a great experience for fighters, like Street Fighter.
Are there any plans on rolling out official RIG products that fall in line with some of NACON's game properties such as WRC?
Nothing specific, but we do plan integrations and partnerships with Nacon studios in the future.
What's your favorite game to play when you have some downtime?
My guilty pleasure is GTA San Andreas on Xbox.
What can we expect to see in the future for the RIG line of equipment?
We see streaming and game broadcasting changing how gamers play games. You can expect products focused on competitive gamers, who are also streamers.
Is there any other info we should know about any other upcoming products or projects?
Competitive gamers aren’t always near their consoles when they want to game, so Nacon and RIG are launching a series of mobile controllers for Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. The highly portable MG-X is our first controller for Android phones available now and, later this year, we’ll introduce the MG-X PRO, an enhanced form factor mobile controller. Additional mobile gaming products are also on their way.
Coming out of the interview, I have re-invigorated excitement for what’s coming from NACON and RIG. The Revolution X is definitely on my holiday wishlist as well as their mobile gaming options. It’s also a great thing to hear that they’re constantly working with PlayStation, so I’m hoping that the PS5/4 consoles get something like the PRO Compact too. It’s cool to get insight into what the brand’s goal actually is and I appreciate Mr. Reynolds allowing me to pick his brain.
