CES 2025 was a landmark year for PC gamers. The show delivered flagship Nvidia GPUs, SteamOS-powered handheld consoles, and some of the most impressive gaming monitors ever made — including 27-inch 240Hz 4K OLED displays from LG, ASUS ROG Strix, HP, and others.
CES 2026, taking place from January 4 to 9, is shaping up to be very different.
A Quieter Year for Traditional PC Gaming Hardware
On the core PC hardware front, expectations are noticeably lower. Nvidia’s RTX 50 Super refresh is now unlikely to appear, Intel is not expected to unveil any major desktop GPUs, and AMD is not planning to introduce new gaming GPUs at all. Even Razer — once a guaranteed CES headline act — is reportedly skipping the show floor for the second consecutive year.
This does not mean Intel is absent from CES. Instead of chasing high-end graphics cards, Intel — alongside Qualcomm — is expected to focus on integrated graphics and mobile performance, particularly for ultra-thin laptops and next-generation handhelds.
As a result, the once-dominant Gaming/XR section of the Las Vegas Convention Centre appears to be pivoting away from brute-force PC hardware. The spotlight is shifting toward video glasses, mixed-reality devices, and wearable displays — a strong signal of where the industry believes interactive entertainment is heading next.
Lenovo Bets Big on New Gaming Form Factors
Lenovo is expected to be one of the most interesting gaming exhibitors this year.
The company is reportedly preparing to unveil a rollable OLED gaming laptop, one of the most experimental form factors seen in years, alongside a SteamOS-powered Legion Go 2. If confirmed, this would further legitimize SteamOS as a serious alternative to Windows for portable gaming.
This is where Intel and Qualcomm re-enter the story: their latest integrated graphics chips are expected to power many of these thin laptops and handheld PCs. If these processors deliver on efficiency and real-world performance, they could quietly redefine what low-power gaming looks like.
Ejiro Onose
Lego Makes a Surprise Return to CES
After years away from the show, Lego is returning to CES — not as a traditional gaming studio, but as a player in experiential and interactive entertainment.
What Lego plans to showcase remains unclear, but its presence hints at deeper crossovers between physical toys, digital worlds, and immersive gaming environments.
Next-Gen Gaming Laptops and Desktops
Several vendors are still bringing serious gaming machines:
- LG Gram Pro laptops with RTX 5050 graphics, including what is expected to be the world’s lightest 17-inch RTX gaming laptop.
- Digital Storm’s next-generation Aventum X desktop, teased as a dual-GPU flagship with advanced cooling.
The Future of Gaming Displays
Display technology is shaping up to be one of the most exciting areas of CES 2026:
- Samsung Odyssey 3D G90XH, featuring glasses-free 6K 3D visuals and ultra-high refresh rates reportedly reaching 1,040Hz.
- LG UltraGear Evo monitors, including a 27-inch 5K Mini-LED panel, a 39-inch 5K2K curved OLED, and a massive 52-inch 5K2K large-format gaming display.
Handheld PCs and Portable Gaming
The handheld gaming PC category continues to expand:
- Lenovo Legion Go 2 (SteamOS edition) and a possible rollable OLED Legion Pro concept.
- MSI handheld gaming PCs, expected to increase competition in the portable gaming PC market.
Chips, AI and Gaming Performance
Even without blockbuster GPU launches, CES 2026 will still introduce silicon that directly impacts gaming:
- New Intel and AMD CPUs, including the rumoured Ryzen 7 9850X3D.
- Nvidia AI-driven gaming ecosystem updates, focusing on optimisation rather than raw hardware.
Broader Gaming Trends to Watch
Beyond individual products, CES 2026 is expected to highlight broader shifts in how people play games:
- Portable gaming and mobile graphics powered by efficient integrated chips.
- AR, XR and video-glasses gaming, pointing toward screen-less futures.
- Gaming and esports sessions focused on how AI is reshaping competitive play.
