AINEX

What AINEX does

AINEX Co., Ltd. is a Seoul, South Korea-based privately held gaming hardware company founded in 2017 (originally operating as AIDUS) that develops, commercializes, and manufactures 3D mice, lightguns, and joystick-type controllers for PC, VR, and metaverse gaming applications. Its product portfolio comprises three core hardware lines — the Nextick 3D mouse/joystick controller, the Nextick Lightgun (a wireless blowback lightgun with 3D mouse functionality), and the AIDUSGUN wireless VR controller attachable to electric or gas guns — plus a Shooting Performance Analysis System that quantifies barrel swing in proprietary FSP (Firing Swing Pixel) units. The underlying platform is a proprietary 9-axis motion sensor fusion technology that has been developed since 2017, enabling precise motion tracking without camera-based systems; the Nextick Lightgun achieves a 7ms response speed and Bluetooth 5.0 wireless range up to 50 meters. AINEX freely distributes SDKs for Unity Engine and Unreal Engine, alongside demo games such as Zombie Halloween, in an effort to seed developer adoption across PC, VR, and mobile platforms.

AINEX generates revenue through direct hardware sales via its own e-commerce storefront at ainex.kr and through Indiegogo crowdfunding campaigns (e.g., the Nextick Lightgun campaign at igg.me/at/nextick-lightgun). Pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by crowdfunding campaign tier. The go-to-market is product-led and direct-to-consumer, supplemented by trade show appearances (Gamescom Germany 2017, AUSA 2020) and content marketing. Target customers are individual PC and console gamers focused on FPS and shooting games, VR and metaverse users, and a secondary segment of professionals using the 3D mouse for presentations. Products are certified for global sale (FCC, CE, KC, RoHS, SRCC, TELEC). The company is bootstrapped outside of a $20,386 equity crowdfunding raise in December 2023, and has announced plans to expand into global distribution partnerships in conjunction with its scheduled February 2026 launch of the Nextick Mouse.

Name

AINEX

Legal name

AINEX Co., Ltd.

Website

https://ainex.kr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

AINEX is a Seoul-based gaming hardware company that develops 3D mice, lightguns, and motion-sensor controllers for PC, VR, and metaverse gaming, using proprietary 9-axis sensor fusion technology and selling direct-to-consumer via its website and Indiegogo.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Gaming Peripherals

NAICS

Computer Terminal and Other Computer Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing (334118)

akta.pro primary industry

Input Devices & Controllers (Gamepads, Keyboards, Mice, Fight Sticks, Steering Wheels, HOTAS) (MPAFAGAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Game Controllers, Joysticks & Flight/Driving Sim Controls (HDACAFAC), VR/XR Hardware & Accessories (Headsets, Controllers, Trackers, Haptics) (MPAFAGAG), Game Controllers & Input Devices (Gamepads, Wheels, Flight Sticks) (CRACAOAD)

Keywords

• Gaming peripherals
• Motion controllers
• 3D mouse controllers
• Lightgun controllers
• Metaverse controllers

Headquarters

HQ city

Seoul

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales - Game Controllers: AINEX generates revenue through direct sales of gaming hardware products including Nextick Lightgun, Nextick mouse controllers, AIDUSGUN, and Lightgun. Products are sold through crowdfunding campaigns (Indiegogo) and direct website sales.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AINEX develops, commercializes, and manufactures 3D mice and joystick-type metaverse controllers built on proprietary 9-axis motion sensor fusion technology. Its product portfolio includes the Nextick 3D mouse/game controller, the Nextick Lightgun wireless blowback lightgun with 3D mouse capability, the AIDUSGUN rail-mounted wireless VR/game controller for electric and gas guns, and a Shooting Performance Analysis System, sold primarily to individual PC, console, and VR gamers worldwide.

Product overview

AINEX is a South Korean gaming hardware company that develops, commercializes, and manufactures 3D mice and joystick-type metaverse controllers. The product portfolio includes: Nextick (3D mouse and game controller), Nextick Lightgun (wireless blowback lightgun with 3D mouse capabilities), AIDUSGUN (wireless VR/game controller for electric and gas guns), and a Shooting Performance Analysis System. The company leverages 9-axis motion sensor fusion technology across its products and offers free SDKs for Unity Engine and Unreal Engine integration. Products support Bluetooth and Wifi Direct wireless connectivity with sub-10ms response times.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nextick: Innovative joystick-type wireless game controller and next-generation 3D mouse product line
• AIDUSGUN
• Lightgun

Products and services

• Nextick Lightgun Wireless blowback lightgun with advanced 3D mouse capabilities for PC, VR, console, and mobile gaming. Features 9DoF motion sensor technology with 7ms response speed, Bluetooth 5.0 wireless communication up to 50m range, blowback motion, force feedback, vibration feedback, and macro shortcut buttons. Compatible with Unreal and Unity Engine SDKs.
• Nextick 3D Mouse / Game Controller Innovative joystick-type wireless game controller and next-generation 3D mouse that operates like a regular mouse in 3D space. Combines lightgun-style targeting with macro keyboard shortcuts, Bluetooth vibration control (IoT), and cursor/button control usable for presentations.
• AIDUSGUN Wireless VR/Game Controller

Quantifiable outcome

• 7ms response speed for aiming coordinate calculation
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• HORI: HORI is a Japanese accessory maker with a strong Japan-Asia retail footprint across console controllers and arcade-style peripherals. Comparable to AINEX in product category, with regional overlap in the East Asian market AINEX currently serves.

Broad incumbents

• Logitech: Logitech is a global leader in mice, keyboards, and gaming peripherals. A broad incumbent whose mainstream mice and game controllers compete with AINEX's Nextick line at scale, with vastly larger distribution and marketing.
• SteelSeries: SteelSeries is a global gaming peripherals brand with mice, keyboards, and controllers. A broad incumbent competing with AINEX in the PC gaming input category.
• Razer: Razer is a major gaming peripherals brand offering mice, keyboards, and controllers with strong gaming-community brand equity. Competes with AINEX across the gaming-input category and could readily enter the 3D / lightgun segment.
• Turtle Beach: Turtle Beach is a leading gaming accessories brand focused on headsets and console controllers. Relevant comparable as a category specialist with retail and OEM channel scale AINEX currently lacks.
• Sony (PlayStation Aim Controller): Sony's PlayStation Aim Controller is a lightgun-style VR peripheral for PSVR, overlapping with AINEX's Nextick Lightgun for VR shooting experiences. A broad incumbent with deep platform and content ecosystem advantages.

Direct peers

• Aimtrak: Aimtrak makes lightgun peripherals for PC and arcade shooting games, the closest direct competitor to AINEX's Nextick Lightgun. Both sell gun-shaped controllers aimed at FPS and lightgun arcade content.
• 8BitDo: 8BitDo designs wireless game controllers and input devices for PC, mobile, and retro consoles. Comparable to AINEX as a niche controller specialist targeting enthusiast gamers across multiple platforms.
• 3Dconnexion: 3Dconnexion is the dominant vendor of 3D mice for CAD/3D content creation, directly comparable to AINEX's Nextick 3D mouse product. Both sell specialized motion-sensor-based input devices for navigating 3D space, though 3Dconnexion focuses on professional users.
• Ultimarc: Ultimarc produces lightguns, game controllers, and arcade-grade input devices. Overlaps directly with AINEX on lightgun hardware and PC/console shooting-game controllers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance9 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AINEX