A new keypad for serious players

Razer just unveiled the Tartarus V2 Pro, the latest version of its gaming keypad line designed for players who want extra control and customization beyond a standard keyboard. This isn’t just a refresh with minor tweaks. The V2 Pro packs some serious upgrades that should catch the eye of competitive MMO and FPS players looking for an edge.

The headline feature is the inclusion of Razer’s 8000 Hz HyperPolling technology. For context, most gaming peripherals poll at 1000 Hz, which means they check for input 1000 times per second. The Tartarus V2 Pro does this eight times faster, reporting your inputs to the PC every 0.125 milliseconds instead of every millisecond. In fast-paced competitive scenarios, that kind of responsiveness can make a real difference, especially when you’re managing complex ability rotations or quick weapon switches.

What you get with the Tartarus V2 Pro

The keypad comes loaded with 31 programmable controls, giving you plenty of room to map out abilities, macros, and commands exactly how you want them. Whether you’re juggling dozens of abilities in an MMO raid or setting up quick binds for building and weapon switching in a shooter, that’s a lot of real estate to work with.

One standout feature is the full-sized anti-drift thumbstick. If you’ve ever dealt with stick drift on a controller, you know how frustrating it can be. Razer is promising a thumbstick that won’t develop that issue over time, which is important for a device you might be using for hours every day. The thumbstick can be used for movement, camera control, or anything else you can program it to do.

The keypad also features Razer’s flagship switch technology, though the announcement doesn’t specify which exact switches are included. Given Razer’s recent focus on optical and analog switches in their high-end products, it’s likely the V2 Pro uses one of those premium options for better durability and response time.

Comfort for long sessions

Another key upgrade is the fully-adjustable ergonomic wrist rest. Razer says it’s designed to move with the player rather than around them, which suggests a more flexible design than the fixed wrist rests you usually see on gaming peripherals. For anyone who’s spent hours in a raid or grinding ranked matches, wrist comfort isn’t just a luxury. It’s essential to avoid fatigue and strain.

The combination of adjustability and ergonomic design should make the Tartarus V2 Pro viable for extended gaming sessions, which is exactly when a dedicated keypad shows its value over cramping your hand on a keyboard’s WASD cluster.

Who is this for?

The Tartarus line has always appealed to a specific type of gamer. If you play games that demand tons of keybinds (think MMOs like Final Fantasy XIV or World of Warcraft) or if you want more granular control in competitive shooters, a gaming keypad can genuinely improve your setup. It frees up your left hand to access more commands more comfortably than reaching across a full keyboard.

That said, there’s a learning curve. You’re essentially retraining your muscle memory, and not every game benefits equally from a keypad setup. But for the players who commit to it, the Tartarus V2 Pro looks like it could be the most capable option Razer has made yet.

No word yet on pricing or exact availability, but given the feature set and the “Pro” designation, expect this to sit at the premium end of the market. If you’ve been considering a gaming keypad or looking to upgrade from an older Tartarus model, this one’s worth keeping on your radar. 🎮

← News