Glorious PC Gaming Race states that it began as a one-person operation in Dallas and has since expanded into a global organisation with team members across more than 15 countries.11

The history of Glorious PC Gaming Race is intrinsically linked to Reddit and PC enthusiast culture. In 2014, founder Shazim Mohammad, a PC gamer himself, observed discussions regarding gamers using unconventional surfaces, such as gun-cleaning mats, as makeshift mousepads. This highlighted a gap in the market where enthusiasts sought better gaming accessories without paying premium prices associated with established brands.2

Mohammad subsequently developed his own product to address this need. The company initially focused on large gaming mousepads, specifically oversized desk mats designed to provide low-sensitivity FPS players with ample movement space. Glorious PC Gaming Race describes this initial offering as the world’s first XXL gaming mousepad.

Early operations were funded with only a few thousand dollars and grew organically without external investment. This grassroots origin story became a defining element of the company’s identity, distinguishing it from traditional electronics manufacturers by rooting it firmly within the PC enthusiast community itself.2

Core philosophy

Glorious PC Gaming Race was established on the premise of producing high-quality PC gaming equipment that listened to enthusiast feedback while remaining affordably priced. Early communications positioned the brand against hardware that prioritised marketing and aesthetics over performance. Consequently, its early customer base consisted largely of mechanical keyboard enthusiasts, PC builders, competitive FPS players, modders, and members of online communities rather than casual gamers. Community feedback subsequently became integral to the company’s product development process.

Name evolution

The original name, Glorious PC Gaming Race, was a deliberate reference to the “PC Master Race” internet meme, which humorously asserts the superiority of PC gaming over consoles. While intended as an ironic nod to PC elitism rather than any genuine ideological claim, the phrase “master race” carries historical associations that became increasingly controversial as the company expanded beyond its niche internet origins.

In 2022, the company officially adopted the name Glorious to reflect its growth into an international mainstream brand and to cultivate a more inclusive identity.1 Products bearing the original Glorious PC Gaming Race branding remain in circulation, representing the company’s pre-2022 era.

One of the most significant products in the company’s history is the GMMK (Glorious Modular Mechanical Keyboard). Released in 2016, the GMMK was designed around hot-swappable mechanical switches, allowing users to replace switches without soldering. Glorious PC Gaming Race describes the original GMMK as the world’s first modular mechanical keyboard.3

This innovation helped popularise several concepts now standard in the mechanical keyboard market, including interchangeable switch types, customisable layouts, and accessible entry points for keyboard modification. The GMMK was released in multiple form factors, including full-size, TKL, and compact variants.

Keyboard expansion

Following the original GMMK, the company expanded its keyboard lineup to target various segments of the enthusiast market:

• GMMK Pro: A premium, enthusiast-focused keyboard featuring compact layouts, gasket mounting, and extensive customisation options for switches, keycaps, and stabilisers. It became one of the brand’s most recognisable products.
• GMMK 2: A subsequent generation designed to bring customisation features to a more mainstream audience.
• GMMK 3: Described by the company as its most customisable keyboard, featuring multiple modular components that allow users to configure performance, appearance, and typing characteristics.3

Glorious PC Gaming Race expanded beyond peripherals into gaming mice with the introduction of the Model O in 2019. Targeting the growing trend of ultralight mice, the Model O prioritised low weight, a perforated honeycomb shell, and gaming-grade sensor performance over extraneous features.4

Contemporary reviews noted its exceptionally low weight and competitive pricing.5 The Model O was instrumental in transitioning Glorious PC Gaming Race from a keyboard and mousepad specialist to a major competitor in the gaming mouse market. Its design was heavily influenced by enthusiast modifications, such as drilling holes in shells to reduce weight, effectively commercialising niche DIY trends.

Mouse family

The success of the Model O led to an expanded product family catering to different ergonomic preferences:

• Model O / Model O- / Model O Wireless: Symmetrical, ambidextrous-style shapes.
• Model D / Model D Wireless: Ergonomic right-handed shapes.
• Model I: An ergonomic shape featuring additional programmable controls.

This diversification allowed Glorious PC Gaming Race to establish a broader presence in the competitive gaming mouse sector.

Glorious Forge

Glorious Forge was introduced as a platform for specialised or experimental products requested by the enthusiast community that might not be viable as mass-market releases. This initiative represents a continuation of the company’s original community-driven ethos, allowing it to serve niche interests alongside its mainstream catalogue.

Product categories

The current portfolio of Glorious PC Gaming Race encompasses a wide range of gaming accessories:

• Keyboards: Including the GMMK, GMMK 2, GMMK Pro, and GMMK 3 series.
• Gaming Mice: Notably the Model O, Model D, and Model I families.
• Switches: Proprietary mechanical keyboard switches.
• Keycaps: Various sets for keyboard customisation.
• Mousepads / Desk Mats: The category that launched the brand, including oversized options.
• Accessories: Keyboard cables, wrist rests, mouse bungees, switch tools, lubricants, and cleaning products.10

The design approach of Glorious PC Gaming Race can be characterised by four core concepts:

1. Customisation: Treating peripherals as platforms for modification rather than fixed consumer goods.
2. Enthusiast Influence: Deriving product direction directly from PC enthusiast communities, particularly Reddit.2
3. Performance per Dollar: Offering high-performance specifications without the premium pricing of legacy brands.
4. Distinctive Design: Utilising recognisable aesthetics such as perforated shells, oversized pads, and modular constructions.

This strategy has positioned Glorious PC Gaming Race in a middle ground between budget hardware and luxury enthusiast gear, often described as “value enthusiast” hardware. For example, the GMMK democratised hot-swap customisation, while the Model O made ultralight designs accessible to a wider consumer base.

Unlike many hardware companies that rely primarily on traditional retail channels, Glorious PC Gaming Race experienced grassroots growth driven by direct community engagement. Founder Shazim Mohammad personally participated in Reddit discussions, including hosting AMAs to discuss development, quality control, and future plans.5

This direct relationship turned the community into a source of product ideas, testing, criticism, and word-of-mouth marketing. Early marketing relied less on advertising budgets and more on a cycle of enthusiast discussion leading to reviewer coverage and organic demand.5 Although marketing efforts have become more conventional as the company scaled, community engagement remains central to its identity.

Glorious PC Gaming Race experienced rapid expansion, growing from a single product in 2014 to approximately 25–26 products within two years.6 By 2019, the company was expanding its staff, international distribution, and manufacturing capabilities. In 2024, Glorious celebrated its 10th anniversary, marking its evolution from a Dallas-based grassroots project to a global brand.11

Leadership also transitioned to support this growth. While Shazim Mohammad founded the company in 2014 and served as its public face during its formative years,7 Pat Wachendorf was appointed CEO in 2023 to lead the next phase of expansion. Mohammad continues to serve as Founder and Chief Visionary.8

Rapid growth has occasionally led to operational challenges. Users and reviewers have raised concerns regarding quality control, firmware stability, product reliability, and customer service during high-demand periods. During the Model O launch, for instance, the company openly acknowledged difficulties related to scaling operations and increased support volume.5 These issues reflect the typical challenges of transitioning from a niche startup to a global hardware manufacturer.

Glorious PC Gaming Race competes with various brands depending on the product category:

• Gaming Mice: Logitech G, Razer, Zowie, SteelSeries, Endgame Gear, Pulsar, Lamzu, and Finalmouse.
• Mechanical Keyboards: Keychron, Razer, Logitech, Corsair, SteelSeries, Ducky, Drop, NuPhy, Wooting, and numerous enthusiast manufacturers.
• Mousepads: SteelSeries, Razer, Logitech, Zowie, Artisan, and specialist desk mat makers.

The brand’s primary differentiation remains its combination of mainstream availability, enthusiast-grade features, and aggressive pricing.

Glorious PC Gaming Race is notable for bridging the gap between mainstream gaming peripherals and niche enthusiast hardware. Its historical importance lies in three key areas:

1. Community Origins: The company was born from a specific problem identified within the PC gaming community.9
2. Democratisation of Enthusiast Features: Products like the GMMK and Model O brought previously niche customisation options and design philosophies to a mass audience.3
3. Successful Brand Evolution: The transition from a meme-referencing niche brand to a mature global company demonstrates a successful navigation of internet culture into mainstream commerce.1

Ultimately, Glorious PC Gaming Race helped blur the distinction between standard gaming gear and enthusiast hardware, emphasising user customisation and personalisation as core aspects of the PC gaming experience.

1. Gaming PC peripheral maker Glorious ditches controversial name
2. Glorious PC Gaming Race: Shazim Mohammad Interview – Shopify Pakistan
3. GMMK Trademark of GLORIOUS LLC – Registration Number 6175071 – Serial Number 88858577 :: Justia Trademarks
4. Glorious PC Gaming Race: A message from our Founder at Glorious. | Milled
5. Hey guys! Founder of Glorious PC Gaming Race here, AMA! (Along with the Model-O Transparency Report)
6. Glorious PC Gaming Race Buyer’s Guide | WePC
7. GLORIOUS PC GAMING RACE Trademark of Glorious PC Gaming Race LLC – Registration Number 6178858 – Serial Number 88858579 :: Justia Trademarks
8. GLORIOUS PC GAMING RACE Trademark of Glorious PC Gaming Race LLC – Registration Number 6178856 – Serial Number 88858576 :: Justia Trademarks
9. Glorious PC Gaming Race – ComputerBase
10. Guides & Resources – Glorious PC Gaming Race
11. Glorious | LinkedIn