Fat Shark

Fat Shark is a Chinese-headquartered brand specializing in first-person-view, or FPV, equipment for drone pilots and racers. The company was founded in 2007 by Greg French and became known for head-mounted video goggles that receive a live wireless video feed transmitted from a camera mounted on an unmanned aircraft. This product category gives pilots an immersive cockpit-like view during flight and is particularly associated with FPV racing, recreational multicopters, and other hobbyist drone applications. Unlike a conventional display or action-camera brand, Fat Shark's identity is centered on the pilot's real-time viewing experience. Its goggles are designed to work as part of a broader FPV system that can include an aircraft, camera, video transmitter, receiver, antennas, batteries, and flight-control equipment. The brand's products have therefore occupied an important position within the specialized consumer and hobbyist drone ecosystem, where low-latency video reception, field of view, comfort, durability, and compatibility with radio and video systems are important purchase considerations. Fat Shark gained visibility through the growth of organized drone racing and through appearances at technology and drone events. Its headsets were showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show Drone Rodeo in 2015 and 2017. The company also supported the first annual U.S. National Drone Racing Championships in 2015 and hosted its own Fat Shark Frenzy and Drone Olympics event in Ontario. These activities helped associate the brand with the emerging competitive FPV scene rather than with general-purpose consumer electronics alone. Industry and hobbyist recognition further strengthened the brand's reputation. In 2016, Fat Shark received a Terry Award for a first-place FPV item in a vote conducted among HobbyKing hobbyists. Several Fat Shark products were also recommended in the 2017 Drone Enthusiast selection of leading FPV goggles and related equipment. By 2020, the brand was described as a leading maker of goggles for drone racers. In mid-2020, Red Cat Holdings acquired Fat Shark. The transaction placed the brand within a broader drone-focused corporate context. Fat Shark's principal business identity remains its FPV viewing hardware and associated equipment for pilots, racers, and enthusiasts. Public reference material does not establish a complete current product catalog, detailed financial profile, or a comprehensive list of present executives; those fields are therefore limited to information supported by the available sources.

Fat Shark was founded in 2007 by Greg French as a specialist brand serving the emerging FPV drone market. FPV systems transmit live video from a camera on an aircraft to equipment worn or operated by the pilot. Fat Shark developed its reputation primarily through headsets and goggles that allow users to view this feed in an immersive format while flying. The brand's growth was closely connected to the expansion of recreational multicopters and organized drone racing. FPV racing requires pilots to control aircraft while responding to a real-time onboard view, making video reception and display equipment central to the activity. Fat Shark's products became associated with this use case and with the wider hobbyist market for racing and custom-built drones. The company promoted its products through technology exhibitions, racing events, and specialist hobbyist communities. Fat Shark headsets were showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show Drone Rodeo in 2015 and 2017. In 2015, the brand became a major sponsor of the first annual U.S. National Drone Racing Championships. It also held the Fat Shark Frenzy and Drone Olympics, an annual drone-racing event in Ontario. These activities gave the company visibility among pilots and helped connect its products to the competitive FPV community. Recognition from hobbyist-oriented organizations and publications followed. A Fat Shark product received a first-place Terry Award in 2016 through voting by HobbyKing hobbyists. In 2017, several Fat Shark products were included among recommended FPV goggles and gadgets for hobbyist drone pilots by Drone Enthusiast. By 2020, reference material characterized Fat Shark as a leading goggle brand for drone racers. A major corporate change occurred in mid-2020, when Red Cat Holdings acquired Fat Shark. This acquisition placed the company within a larger drone-industry structure while preserving Fat Shark's identity as a specialist FPV hardware brand. Available reference material does not provide a full chronology of product generations, detailed operating results, or a verified list of current management. Accordingly, Fat Shark's documented history is strongest in relation to its founding, FPV product focus, event participation, community recognition, and acquisition by Red Cat Holdings.

• 2020

  Acquisition by Red Cat Holdings

  [1]Fat Shark — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Red Cat Holdings acquired Fat Shark in mid-2020.

• 2017

  Second CES Drone Rodeo showcase

  [1]Fat Shark — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Fat Shark headsets were again showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show Drone Rodeo.

• 2016

  Terry Award recognition

  [1]Fat Shark — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  A Fat Shark FPV item received a first-place Terry Award in a HobbyKing hobbyist vote.

• 2015

  Appearance at the CES Drone Rodeo

  [1]Fat Shark — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Fat Shark headsets were showcased at the Consumer Electronics Show Drone Rodeo.

• 2015

  Sponsorship of the inaugural U.S. National Drone Racing Championships

  [1]Fat Shark — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Fat Shark became a major sponsor of the first annual U.S. National Drone Racing Championships.

• 2007

  Fat Shark is founded

  [1]Fat Shark — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Greg French founded Fat Shark as a specialist company focused on FPV equipment for drone pilots.

Specialist FPV viewing and video equipment for drone pilots, racers, and hobbyists.

• FPV wearable displays

  Fat Shark FPV goggles

  Fat Shark's best-known products are head-mounted goggles that display a live video feed transmitted from a camera on a drone or other unmanned aircraft. They are designed for immersive piloting and are especially associated with FPV racing and hobbyist multicopter use. The goggles form part of a complete FPV setup and depend on compatible video-transmission equipment, antennas, and aircraft hardware.

• Drone video equipment

  Fat Shark FPV video systems

  The Fat Shark ecosystem includes equipment used to receive and view live wireless video during drone flight. These systems support the real-time visual link required by FPV pilots and racers. Public reference material identifies the brand's specialization in this area but does not provide a complete, verified list of individual product models or current specifications.

• 2023

  Fatshark's Warhammer 40,000: Darktide launched unfinished, drew negative reviews; open letter apologizes and pauses paid cosmetics

  Tencent-backed Swedish studio Fatshark launched Warhammer 40,000: Darktide at the end of 2022. The crafting system was incomplete, progression was thin, crashes were frequent, and cosmetics were locked behind a real-money store. Nearly 8,400 Steam reviews in 30 days were mostly negative, with players calling the developers dishonest. On January 24, 2023, Fatshark published an open letter admitting it had 'failed to meet player expectations', announcing delays to seasonal content and the Xbox Series X/S version, and pausing new paid cosmetics. Impact and handling: players blamed the problem on monetization pressure from Tencent's stake, while Fatshark's forum stated that the studio itself should be responsible. Progress: corporate response. Entity involved: Fatshark AB. Scope: Warhammer 40,000: Darktide.

  Source

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• 2015U.S. National Drone Racing Championships sponsorship

  United States

  Fat Shark was a major sponsor of the first annual U.S. National Drone Racing Championships, aligning the brand with the developing competitive FPV scene.

  Outcome. Increased association with organized drone racing.

  Source
• Fat Shark Frenzy and Drone Olympics

  Canada

  Fat Shark held an annual drone-racing event known as the Fat Shark Frenzy and Drone Olympics in Ontario.

  Outcome. Community and event engagement among FPV pilots and racers.

  Source

• 2020

  Red Cat Holdings acquisitionM&A

  Background

  Fat Shark operated in the specialist FPV-goggle and drone-racing equipment market before being acquired.

  Action taken

  Red Cat Holdings acquired Fat Shark in mid-2020.

  Aftermath

  The brand became part of Red Cat Holdings' broader drone-focused business interests.

  Source

1. 1Fat Shark — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Fat Shark official websitefatshark.se
3. 3EU Digital Services Act — Fatsharkfatshark.se
4. 4About — Fatsharkfatshark.se
5. 5Fatshark's Warhammer 40,000: Darktide launched unfinished, drew negative reviews; open letter apologizes and pauses paid cosmeticspcgamer.com
6. 6Fatshark's Warhammer 40,000: Darktide launched unfinished, drew negative reviews; open letter apologizes and pauses paid cosmeticswccftech.com