Elgato to rebrand itself as Eve Systems to focus on Apple HomeKit accessories; Corsair to purchase the Elgato name and its game accessory division
Jeremy Horwitz / VentureBeat :
Context & Ripple Effects
Elgato has been an Apple smart-home loyalist from the start: it was among the makers of the first HomeKit-compatible products back in 2015, alongside Lutron and iHome. Apple's 2017 loosening of the program — software-based authentication and a streamlined review process — widened what HomeKit accessories could be, and Elgato is now doubling down on that bet.
The split is a clean ecosystem carve-up: the HomeKit smart-home business continues under a new name, Eve Systems, while Corsair takes the Elgato brand and the game accessory division that made the name famous with streamers and PC gamers.
First-order effects
- Corsair immediately gains an established brand in game capture, streaming gear, and PC peripherals without building one, extending it beyond its core RAM and components business.
- Eve Systems becomes a pure-play HomeKit accessory maker, competing in a program where MFi licensing is the gatekeeper — unlicensed WiFi devices like the Nest Thermostat remain locked out.
Second-order effects
- Corsair's later purchase of the EpocCam app, which turns iPhones into Mac and PC webcams, shows the acquired Elgato operation pulling iOS devices into Corsair's creator ecosystem rather than Apple's.
- Rival HomeKit accessory makers face a more focused, single-category competitor in Eve, while Corsair's entry pressures Logitech-style rivals in streaming and capture hardware.
Third-order effects
- Accessory companies are increasingly organizing around platforms rather than product categories — a brand splits so each half can align fully with one ecosystem's certification, review cadence, and roadmap.
- If Apple keeps easing HomeKit's technical barriers, expect more dedicated HomeKit-first brands to emerge, with MFi licensing functioning as the moat that decides which smart-home vendors get access.
The trend: Hardware brands are splitting along ecosystem lines, with Apple's HomeKit program maturing into a platform worth dedicating an entire company to.