For most individuals, the primary few weeks of January are a gradual time the place everybody’s easing again into their lives after lengthy vacation breaks. That’s removed from the case for the tech business. CES kicks off subsequent week, bringing an thrilling few days crammed with progressive new tech merchandise. Traditionally, that’s introduced us all the pieces from flashy screens to good mattress toppers (sure, that was a very actual product ultimately yr’s present).
For online game fans, CES can both be an enormous deal or so insignificant that one might not even understand it’s occurring. It’s an essential showcase for PC avid gamers particularly, because it’s crammed with superior computing tech that usually comes with main gaming advantages. For individuals who follow consoles, although, it’s a bit much less thrilling today. The present’s shrinking scope over the previous few years has seen a smaller concentrate on gaming, with solely a handful of console equipment slipping into the Las Vegas exhibition. Nonetheless, yearly brings at the very least one main announcement that’s certain to make headlines.
So, do you have to be listening to CES this yr in case you’re longing for gaming information? If final yr’s present is something to guage by, the reply is sure — however are available with some very low expectations.
Gaming at CES 2024
Once I put collectively a CES preview like this, I’d often spend more often than not strolling by means of some teases and rumors. This yr, I don’t have a lot to go on. We’ve but to listen to a lot from main online game manufacturers like PlayStation and Xbox about what could also be coming on the present. The knowledge we do have upfront is sparse. We all know that Mad Catz will convey its newest third-party online game equipment, alongside a demo for the upcoming Yatagarasu Enter the Eastward.
Apart from that, CES will convey the same old suspects in relation to gaming-adjacent tech. LG is predicted to indicate off its 4K OLED UltraGear monitor this yr and AMD has some new graphics playing cards within the works. You’ll be able to anticipate a variety of computing information alongside these traces, with units like gaming laptops being a central a part of the multiday occasion.
That’s to not say that there gained’t be something juicier on the present for gaming followers; it’s simply that CES has develop into far much less predictable for that business lately. Earlier occasions would convey out tons of third-party controllers, arcade cupboards, and conceptual units like Alienware’s residence server, Nyx. We will anticipate that Razer will include some type of left-field concept of its personal, simply because it did with final yr with Mission Carol.
If any main gaming information goes to come back from the present, it’ll be by way of Sony. The {hardware} big has absolutely embraced CES as an area to disclose PlayStation merchandise over the previous few years, making its press convention a must-watch. Beforehand, we’ve seen each the PlayStation VR2 and PlayStation Entry Controller on the present. We’ve even gotten online game sizzle reels which have confirmed launch date delays. There’s probability Sony will proceed that pattern this yr, because it’s confirmed to be internet hosting a present.
The long-shot hope can be that Sony will use the stage to indicate off an upgraded PlayStation 5 Professional mannequin this yr. Whereas not not possible, it might be an uncharacteristically huge reveal for Sony. That’s to not point out that the corporate simply launched its new, slimmer PS5 fashions, so it is perhaps a bit early to indicate off one other {hardware} improve. The extra practical guess is that it may reveal some new headphones or units suitable with its new PlayStation Hyperlink know-how.
There’s one thrilling X-factor this yr — and, fittingly, it’s Xbox. Usually, Microsoft doesn’t use the present to speak about its new gaming {hardware}, even supposing it revealed the unique Xbox there at CES 2001 (with the assistance of The Rock). As a substitute, it tends to tout the work of its “companions” by way of Home windows-enabled units. Nonetheless, we do know that there’s a variety of new Xbox {hardware} brewing because of paperwork leaked throughout Microsoft’s battle with the Federal Commerce Fee (FTC) over its Activision Blizzard acquisition. A brand new Xbox controller with improved haptics and a refreshed Xbox Sequence X mannequin are each within the playing cards for the model. Whereas unlikely, it’s not not possible that Microsoft may time an announcement for a type of merchandise throughout the present.
The one different gaming information you’ll wish to maintain your eye on pertains to the transportable PC market. Final yr was a significant yr for Steam Deck-style units because of the Asus ROG Ally and Lenovo’s Legion Go. That appeared to tease the start of a sizzling new pattern that different {hardware} producers are more likely to observe. We all know that Alienware beforehand had an idea for a tool like that kicking round, and it wouldn’t be stunning to see an organization like Acer taking its personal stab on the market. Nothing’s confirmed in the intervening time, however contemplating that final yr’s present gave us the Razer Edge, it’s not solely out of the query.
It doesn’t matter what occurs, gaming’s presence can be an essential element of CES 2024. If we get a number of headline-making reveals, it’ll set up the tech expo as one of many key spots for {hardware} reveals. If not a lot comes of it in any respect, it’ll be an indication that gaming firms is perhaps prepared to maneuver on from CES in the identical manner the business deserted E3. Contemplating that the latter is now retired because of a scarcity of curiosity from the massive gamers, that’s one energy vacuum CES gained’t wish to depart unfilled.
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