One other CES is drawing to an in depth – and mercifully, it hasn’t been all about terrible and short-sighted implementations of AI that make you need to blow your brains out. Okay, most of it has been about that – however there’s nonetheless been some fascinating new expertise, each inside and out of doors the gaming house.
After spending far an excessive amount of time obsessing over the entire bulletins and showcases out of CES, I’ve come away with just a few merchandise that I actually assume stand out. For good or for unwell. Naturally, the stuff featured right here (usually) has a video gaming slant… however not fully. Right here’s my picks of CES 2024:
The GPU wars proceed with curious new launches from Nvidia and AMD
PC graphics have been in a wierd spot for a few years now, the market nonetheless reeling from the affect of all that blockchain nonsense. For these of us who need to use our GPUs for gaming, as god supposed, it’s irritating – however it does really feel just like the market is slowly winding again to a way of normality.
After a reasonably greedily-priced introduction to its RTX 40 sequence of GPUs, Nvidia appears to be like to be re-tuning issues with its mid-generation ‘SUPER’ refresh. They’ve discontinued some playing cards, changed with similarly-priced replacements which can be considerably extra highly effective. A number of different card brackets have acquired very welcome value drops. All in all, Nvidia will launch three new RTX 40 GPUs over the following month.
AMD, in the meantime, is opening 2024 with the RX 7600 XT – an entry-level card that at $330 goals to undercut Nvidia’s efforts in comparable value brackets. That value places it in between Nvidia’s 4060 and its 4060 Ti, making for an attention-grabbing battle in that value bracket.
As all the time with GPUs, nothing actually issues till the rubber meets the street and we are able to check and see real-life {hardware} efficiency numbers. We’ll be again with these sooner or later sooner or later – however for now, it’s already an attention-grabbing begin to the yr.
The MSI Claw is the most recent challenger within the handheld gaming PC race
Handheld gaming PCs have in fact been round ceaselessly, however the true beginning pistol on this manner issue as a real ‘class’ of viable mainstream {hardware} was fired by Valve with the Steam Deck. Now, different PC {hardware} corporations are catching up.
Asus in fact entered the market fairly rapidly with the ROG Ally, however this yr’s CES noticed MSI enter the fray with the MSI Claw – a brand new machine in a well-recognized type issue that has the phrases ‘TRUE GAMING’ etched into the higher portion of its body, simply in case anybody is left questioning what the machine is for.
The Claw will are available in three totally different fashions starting from $700 to $800, and is powered by Intel’s new technology of ‘Meteor Lake’ cell processors. It’s bought a seven-inch 120Hz IPS show that outputs at 1080p, 16GB of RAM, and a lot of the options you’d hope for like a 3.5mm headphone port and a MicroSD slot, plus some you may not be all that fussed about reminiscent of an influence button with an built-in fingerprint scanner. That MicroSD port could be extra helpful to some fashions over others, as storage on the Claw begins at 512GB, however goes as much as 1TB on the highest finish.
By way of type issue, it’s fairly much like the Steam Deck, although it’s heavier. It justifies that by having what MSI says is the most important battery of any machine of this sort. The machine is powered by Home windows 11. It’ll be attention-grabbing to see how this holds up in testing, and the way it total compares to the Steam Deck OLED – however regardless, it’s good to see this thrilling phase of the market persevering with to increase.
Retro handheld saddos experience once more with Hyperkin’s Mega 95
If spending lots of of {dollars} on a gaming PC in your pocket isn’t your cup of tea, how about carrying round a bit slice of the nineties? Plus some unique carts.
The Mega 95 is principally a gaming handheld that takes the type of a six-button Sega Mega Drive/Genesis controller with a display whacked within the center. As a bonus, it takes unique carts. In follow, it most carefully resembles the Sega Nomad, a handheld Mega Drive that Sega itself put out within the nineties, again when it was releasing about eighteen totally different bits of complicated {hardware} yearly.
The Mega 95’s further social gathering trick is that you may additionally choose up a dock that permits it to be plugged into your TV. The dock comprises two ports which can be utilized to plug in unique controllers or trendy reproductions. That’s good, although there are a selection of present trendy Mega Drive options, together with one from Hyperkin.
The hand-held aspect’s level form of eludes me, to be sincere. It’s a cool-looking machine, and referencing the Nomad is a superb nineties deep minimize… however in 2024, are you actually going to take this on vacation and lug a bunch of carts with you? For some cause, the display on the machine is 16:9, and has a swap to allow you to play video games in both 4:3 or a stretched 16:9… even though the Mega Drive has no 16:9 video games.
Hyperkin wasn’t revealing any extra about this product at CES past its existence – no phrase on the way it runs the video games, a value, or perhaps a launch window. However based mostly on Hyperkin’s different merchandise, you’ll be able to anticipate {hardware} emulation that’ll in all probability be first rate, however not as 1:1 correct to actual machines as on a higher-end, higher-priced product like these from Analogue. It’ll additionally undoubtedly be extra premium and dear than the low cost and cheerful Tremendous Pocket, thoughts.
As for the value, Hyperkin already has a transportable SNES similar to this, and it runs for round $120 – although Hyperkin will announce extra on this particular handheld in the end.
LG’s clear OLED TV feels prefer it’s from the longer term
Truthfully, this one completely must be seen to be believed – thus the video embed from the blokes at CNET. It’s wild. On this, LG delivers a tv that appears fairly regular in its fundamental mode – however with a press of a button it transforms, taking away the backdrop so to fairly actually see by means of the TV to the wall or no matter else is behind.
This expertise has proven up in mega-bucks ideas earlier than, however LG’s roll-out right here is the primary time this form of expertise has been in a consumer-facing product for a (nonetheless eye-wateringly costly) consumer-facing value.
It has hologram vibes. It feels a bit like AR. Immediately, I think about a cellphone with this expertise and it offers me palpitations (although that’s clearly presently not possible). It jogs my memory a variety of stuff like Minority Report or Complete Recall. However it’s actual, it really works, and I actually assume it appears to be like somewhat gorgeous – although it may not be what you’d need for gaming. However as a bit of expertise – wow, it’s cool.
The very best sport streaming service is getting a bit bit higher
Make no mistake, GeForce Now’s hands-down the very best product on the market if you wish to stream your video games over the web from afar with out having to run them domestically on high-end {hardware}. The machines it runs on are nice, you get usually nice variations of video games, and it’s even straight appropriate with different retailer fronts and providers, so when you personal one thing on Steam or have a PC Sport Move subscription, you’ll be able to play these titles by means of GeForce Now, as long as they’re appropriate.
At CES, GeForce Now bought a customary replace that promised extra sport compatibility, together with some Activision Blizzard titles that’ll absolutely ultimately be hitting Sport Move. However the true information got here within the type of the reveal of ‘Day Move’ subscriptions – an providing that allows you to use GeForce Now streaming for a single day in alternate for a flat price.
Because it at the moment stands, on account of excessive demand the one manner you’ll be able to subscribe to GFN is to stump up for a 6-month subscription – so that is good for individuals who don’t need to try this. But additionally, these new day passes are a good way to check out the service, or for these of us who’ve highly effective PCs in our properties to make use of the service once we’re away from residence with out paying as if we’re utilizing it each day. It’s a sensible play, and GFN stays the best choice on this specific market.
Alienware’s latest OLED PC Gaming Screens are ridiculously fascinating
Alienware was the primary firm out of the gate with a very good OLED gaming monitor for PCs with its first technology of the QD-OLED vary. At CES 2024, the corporate revealed that it’s following that up with two new fashions – and each look glorious.
With the likes of Asus nipping at their heels within the PC OLED house, Alienware is firing again with a 32-inch and 27-inch mannequin, each utilizing gorgeous Samsung panels.
The 32-inch monitor has Nvidia Gsync expertise, as much as 4K decision, a 240Hz refresh fee, Dolby Imaginative and prescient HDR, and a candy curve. It’s an eye-watering $1200, however that really isn’t so dangerous for this class of monitor.
The 27-inch monitor tops out at 1440p, and is flat – however it will probably go to 360Hz. It swaps out GSync for the cheaper-to-license AMD Freesync; the monitor is $900.
Honda’s latest automotive might be pushed with a PS5 controller, for some cause
Dumb gimmicks are a tentpole characteristic of CES, and among the best this yr occurred when Sony drove a automotive on stage at its yearly press convention… pushed by an exec holding a PlayStation 5 DualSense controller.
The automotive in query is a brand new company tie-up between Sony and Honda, the brand new Afeela EV that goals to mix Honda’s automotive chops with Sony’s talent with cutting-edge expertise. The automotive makes use of Unreal Engine for its in-car graphics (no, actually). There was additionally a touch that the staff behind the Afeela has been working with Gran Turismo developer Polyphony Digital, so presumably you’ll be capable of drive the automotive in-game in brief order.
You’ll possible by no means be capable of drive a automotive from outdoors it with a sport controller, at the least not in any nation with remotely smart street site visitors legal guidelines. However on a critical be aware, sport controller compatibility is somewhat helpful in automobiles, particularly in EVs. The flexibility to sync an Xbox controller to a Tesla and play Vampire Survivors whereas parked can critically take the tedious edge off charging or ready round – so to see that being embraced increasingly more is an efficient factor.
G-Sync Pulsar could possibly be a sport changer
Graphics powerhouse Nvidia had loads to speak about at CES, together with persevering with forays into the world of AI, and so it didn’t place an excessive amount of of an emphasis on G-Sync Pulsar, a brand new expertise it’s gearing as much as debut. However I feel it may low-key be one in all their most vital bulletins of the present.
Pulsar principally goals to nip movement blur within the bud – one thing that’s been an issue, particularly on sure varieties of show, ceaselessly. An off-screen picture from Nvidia aimed to showcase what a distinction this would possibly make – but in addition, it’s troublesome to actually perceive expertise like this till you see and use it your self – one thing I personally skilled with Nvidia Reflex.
However what would possibly the precise difference-maker be? Effectively, I hand off to John Linneman from our associates over at DigitalFoundry, who can clarify it much more succinctly than I. John says:
“Pulsar principally seeks to eradicate persistence movement blur that has continued to plague flat panel shows because the starting whereas permitting VRR – a show expertise that permits dynamic refresh fee adjustment to eradicate judder. Beforehand, these have been incompatible however pulsar seeks to mix them permitting tremendous crisp movement with variable frame-rates. If this takes off, flat panels may lastly provide one thing that even CRTs could not match – variable refresh charges with good movement readability. I can not wait to see it in motion.”
Asus launches its first ROG-branded NUC mini-PC
‘Republic of Avid gamers’ is a bloody foolish title for a model, however Asus’ hardcore gamer imprint has however turn out to be one thing of a trademark of high quality. I sort this looking at a ROG-branded monitor, in truth. And now, ROG is branching into a brand new market.
Final yr, Intel discontinued its NUC (aka ‘Subsequent Unit of Compute’) mini PCs – however Asus fairly rapidly stepped up and introduced that it’d proceed the NUC footprint below license with Intel. NUCs are compact and highly effective, however they aren’t all the time designed for gaming – however now the imprint is below Asus, it’s maybe not a shock to see the corporate debut a gaming-focused variant below the ROG banner.
That product is the Asus ROG NUC 14, and it’s dinky – simply 270x180x50mm. This manner issue is a bit console-like in that it may be laid flat or positioned in an upright place with a stand.
In spec phrases, the ROG NUC 14 helps a small vary of Intel processors, as much as 32GB of RAM, 4 M.2 SSD storage slots, and for graphics you’ll have the selection between an Nvidia GeForce 4060 or 4070, within the model that normally ships in laptops. It’s bought six USB ports, a Thunderbolt port, HDMI and DisplayPort outputs, audio jacks, and an Ethernet Port.
The important thing details about the machine – reminiscent of the value, launch date, and knowledge on how scorching it’ll run when pushing video games, stays unknown. However it’s an thrilling preliminary announcement, for certain.
Sensible Grills sound foolish, and they’re, however I nonetheless need one
I do know this can be a gaming web site, however let me digress with a small detour: I really like smoking meats. Possibly that is a part of my ‘dad period’, or no matter, or only a horrible consequence of crossing into my mid-thirties. However I really like nothing extra now than lavishing consideration on a slow-cooked meat, not directly smoked on a barbeque with a foolish value.
As a result of I’m additionally a gadget nerd, nevertheless, I wish to let my curiosity in tech and BBQ meet – and I have already got a few foolish devices so I can do issues like get a ping on my cellphone if the warmth is an excessive amount of or no matter else.
On one hand, these items is tremendously foolish. Man has been cooking over hearth ceaselessly, and we are able to do it simply effective with out a load of devices. And but… It is handy. And funky. So, y’know, I’m nonetheless into it.
The BBQ kings at Weber have made just a few of these merchandise, and have been within the good sport for some time. However at CES, they have been exhibiting off the Weber Summit FS38X, their newest outside good grill. This factor has all of it. It’s the pimp-my-ride of barbeques. There’s a touchscreen, a sensor array to make sure the right temperature and a fair prepare dinner inside, and even an infrared broiler you’ll be able to increase or decrease to get the precise end you need. It may even be remodeled right into a rotisserie. It’s bonkers.
Simply typing about it has me salivating (or possibly that’s simply the actual fact I’ve not eaten dinner). The one catch? Effectively – for a begin, it’ll run you 5 grand. Possibly I’ll persist with my common previous Weber for now in any case…
These mysterious ‘Useful’ VR add-ons
Truthfully, lads. Simply cease it. Get some assist.
There’s now a Razer Gamer RGB automotive
This one in all probability has the identical target market because the Useful VR gadget listed above, to be sincere. This wasn’t technically a CES announcement, however it did make a primary look on the present ground after being revealed in a YouTube video a few month in the past.
Mainly, Razer and Lexus partnered on a brand new car – a gamer-focused model of the Lexus TX idea automotive. The automotive has beautiful, garish RGB lights in all places, together with the underlights that within the UK within the mid-noughties I distinctly bear in mind being christened ‘wanker lights’.
To be truthful to the automotive, it’d be fairly good for a gamer street journey. It’s bought displays, can accommodate 4 gaming laptops, and has its personal Xbox. Sadly, it isn’t street authorized – which might be for the very best.