The technology industry always starts the year with news. And if you wonder why, the answer is simple: the technological conference called CES, which is held every year in Las Vegas.
This year, the fair will start on Tuesday, January 9th and end on Friday, January 12th. Three days of pure technology. Historically, this has brought us everything, from eye-catching monitors (like the ones Samsung has presented this year) to smart mattress covers.
For video game enthusiasts, CES can be a major event or so insignificant that one doesn’t even realize it’s happening. But it is an important showcase, especially for PC gamers, as it is packed with advanced computer technology that often brings great advantages to gaming.
However, for those who prefer consoles, this fair is somewhat minor. In recent years, the fair has focused less on games, and only a handful of console accessories make it into the Las Vegas exhibition. Nevertheless, every year at least one important announcement is made.
What games will we see at CES 2024
The main video game brands, such as PlayStation and Xbox, have not said much yet about what could come to the fair. We know that Mad Catz will bring its latest third-party gaming accessories, along with a demo of the upcoming Yatagarasu Enter the Eastward.
In addition to that, CES will bring the usual suspects when it comes to gaming-related technology. It is expected that LG will present its 4K OLED UltraGear monitor this year, and AMD is preparing new graphics cards. It is expected that there will be many computer innovations in this regard, and that devices such as gaming laptops will take center stage at the multi-day event.
This doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything juicier for video game fans, but rather that CES has become much less predictable for this sector in recent years.
In previous events, there were lots of third-party controllers, arcade machines, and conceptual devices like Alienware’s home server, Nyx. It is expected that Razer will present some innovative idea, as they did last year with Project Carol.
Hardware that could come out of Microsoft or PlayStation
If there is any important news about video games coming out of the fair, it will be through Sony. In recent years, the hardware giant has taken advantage of CES to present PlayStation products, making their press conference a must-attend event.
Previously, we have seen PlayStation VR2 and PlayStation Access Controller at the fair. We have even seen presentation videos of video games that have confirmed delays in release dates. It is very likely that Sony will continue this trend this year, as it has been confirmed that it will be the host of the fair.
The most remote hope would be that Sony uses the stage to showcase an improved model of PlayStation 5 Pro this year. Although not impossible, it would be an unusually big revelation for Sony.
Not to mention that the company has just released its new and slimmer PS5 models, so it might be a bit early to show another hardware update. The most realistic hypothesis is that they could present new headphones or devices compatible with their new PlayStation Link technology.
This year there is a very interesting factor: Xbox. Generally, Microsoft does not take advantage of the fair to talk about its new gaming hardware, although it presented the original Xbox at CES 2001 (with the help of The Rock).
Instead, it usually promotes the work of its “partners” through Windows devices. A new Xbox controller with improved haptics and a revamped Xbox Series X model are two of the brand’s plans. Although unlikely, it is not impossible for Microsoft to announce any of these products during the fair.
Whatever happens, the presence of video games will be an important component of CES 2024. If any revelations occur, the fair will become one of the key points for hardware presentation.
If there are no major developments, it will be a sign that video game companies may be willing to abandon CES just like the industry abandoned E3. Considering that the latter has withdrawn due to lack of interest from major companies, CES will not want to leave a power vacuum unfilled.
