Gamers, developers, and tech trailblazers, it’s time for pumpkin spice, falling leaves, and Halloween candy. And it’s also about that time of year to plan for many folks in tech to plan their trips to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), with CES 2026 registration now officially live. From January 6–9 in Las Vegas, CES will once again transform Las Vegas into the ultimate playground for innovation, where next-gen tech will take center stage, and AI will certainly continue to meet gaming.
At this point, a few months ahead of January 2026, what are a few new and updated features (especially those focused on gaming) that attendees can expect from the array of CES experiences?
New and Expanded Features:
CES Foundry: This will be a new, two-day community experience at the Fontainebleau venue, separate from the main Convention Center hub, and it will be dedicated to the advancements in AI, blockchain, and quantum technology. And since these technologies are close to (and overlap) gaming, you can expect there to be possible use cases for game development percolating amongst the advancements represented here.
Accessibility program: As a new stage, the CTA Foundation Accessibility Stage, will feature three days of content on technologies designed to assist the elderly and people with disabilities, such as voice-activated assistants and accessible mobility solutions.
With many gaming heavy-hitters in hardware and software, such as the Electronic Software Association, in gaming behind various accessibility initiatives, there may be helpful takeaways for them as well.
CES Creator Space expansion: Open to all attendees, the redesigned and expanded Creator Space in the Central Hall will focus on the creator economy, with dedicated sessions and networking for content creators. So, creators from YouTube, TikTok, Twitch and so on will have a space to plug into and take away connections and learnings for 2026.
New Innovation Awards categories: The well-known CES Innovation Awards program is adding new categories to celebrate products in new-to-the-program industries, such as EdTech, Enterprise Tech, Filmmaking & Distribution, Supply & Logistics, and Travel & Tourism.
Cybersecurity focus. Cybersecurity achieves headliner status, moving beyond a niche topic to security pros at the edges to a central product feature. Attendees can expect to see integrated “secure-by-design” demonstrations covering zero-trust architecture, cloud resilience, and quantum-safe readiness.
Emerging Trends in Gaming Expected at CES 2026
AI in Development & Gameplay: AI will almost certainly be a major focus, reducing development costs and creating more personalized and dynamic experiences, such as AI-powered NPCs. Reflecting the major AI influence at CES 2026, AMD CEO Dr. Lisa Su is scheduled to be a keynote speaker to share her vision for AI solutions, which will likely be a part of the AMD roadmap of gaming hardware and software the company is associated with.
Advanced GPUs & Processors: On the subject of silicon, expect to see new generations of graphic cards and processors from AMD and NVIDIA that put AI to use to deliver higher resolutions, faster frame rates, and more realistic graphics.
For example, reports suggest NVIDIA could announce its new RTX 50-series “SUPER”-class GPUs at CES 2026, which could feature larger memory sizes and increased performance.
Next-Gen VR/AR: Beyond VR headsets, CES 2026 will likely showcase spatial computing, mixed reality, and other immersive advancements, driving the demand for specialized peripherals.
In the wake of Meta’s Connect event, there may be fresh pressure for other companies in their space to deliver their own vision (pun intended) for smart wear augmented reality or virtual reality.
Innovative Peripherals: Trends include AI-enhanced gaming mice, ergonomic keyboards, and new haptic feedback devices, from wearable suits to furniture, intended to make gaming more immersive and accessible.
Enhanced Immersive Experiences: With the maturation of VR and AR technologies, expect to see more opportunities for deep, immersive gameplay and interactive digital content, which may be represented at the Creator Space and elsewhere.
Focus on Sustainability: As hardware evolves, there will be a greater emphasis on sustainable practices in the design and manufacturing of gaming devices.
Whether you’re building immersive worlds, pushing the boundaries of adaptive computing, or exploring how AI reshapes gameplay, CES 2026 is shaping up to be an ideal arena to explore what’s coming next. Expect deep dives into AI-powered game engines, cloud-based development tools, and hardware built for speed and precision, all showcased by the biggest names in tech and the boldest indie disruptors.
To attend CES 2026, register to join the global community that aims to shape the next era of interactive entertainment in Las Vegas in January.
