Unveiling the Future of Gaming: CES 2025 Highlights Featuring RTX 5090, AMD RX 9070, Switch 2 Concept, and Innovative Handhelds!

Although the major technology exhibition of the year primarily concentrates on the tech sector, gaming remains a significant aspect of what CES provides. From key attractions like Nvidia’s latest RTX 5000-series GPUs to speculative devices such as Nintendo Switch 2 prototypes from accessory manufacturers, CES 2025 offered many reasons to be enthusiastic. We attended the event this year to explore all gaming-related offerings, and here are the highlights to look forward to in the gaming world.

Nvidia RTX 5000-series GPUs

A major highlight of CES 2025 was Nvidia, with CEO Jensen Huang commencing the keynote by unveiling the next generation of GPUs for PC gaming – the GeForce RTX 5000-series. The latest desktop graphics cards include the RTX 5090, RTX 5080, RTX 5070 Ti, and RTX 5070, for the time being. Naturally, we anticipate performance improvements across the spectrum with enhanced specifications (including GDDR7 memory). In addition to the cards, DLSS 4.0 and advanced multi-frame generation aim to significantly elevate frame rates without compromising visual fidelity while also accommodating superior ray tracing techniques.

As anticipated, Nvidia introduced the mobile variants of the RTX 5000-series GPUs, which will appear in gaming laptops starting in Q1 2025. One model in particular, featuring the RTX 5090, was the Razer Blade 16. It won’t be long before the new generation of gaming laptops arrives in stores.

Both the RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are set to launch on January 30 for $1999 and $999, respectively. We will keep you informed about the actual availability of the new RTX cards upon their release and will provide thorough reviews when the time arrives.

Black State: A New Game Showcasing Nvidia’s Graphics Technology

At Gamescom 2024, we had the opportunity to see the forthcoming third-person shooter titled Black State. However, we got to experience a new alpha version of the game during the Nvidia Editor’s Day. It served to demonstrate the power of the upcoming RTX 5090 in conjunction with the advantages of DLSS, frame generation, and a complete ray tracing suite all functioning simultaneously. Black State utilizes Unreal Engine 5 and managed to achieve over 200+ fps at 4K, occasionally reaching 300 fps based on in-game performance statistics.

Beyond being a technical demonstration, Black State exhibited solid shooting mechanics and includes a cover system, preparing you for intense firefights within its modern sci-fi universe. A unique feature of Black State is its “portal” system, where certain doors transport you to entirely different worlds with every opening and closing – achieving this without any loading periods. Although the developers didn’t disclose specific plot details, they did mention that the portal system serves a narrative function.

AMD RX 9070 Video Card Benchmarked

AMD is not falling behind in the GPU arena, as it recently introduced a new family of graphics cards. While the newly launched Ryzen 7 9800X3D and Ryzen 9 9950X3D indicate AMD’s leadership in high-end CPUs, it’s the RX 9070 and RX 9070 XT that will rival Nvidia’s mid-to-high-tier GPUs. Interestingly, we had the chance to test the RX 9070 live at CES 2025, using machines running Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. We weren’t able to conduct comparative benchmarks, but we witnessed its capabilities firsthand and the RX 9070 delivered impressive performance.

The RX 9070 XT and RX 9070 are expected to be launched in Q1 2025, and when that occurs, we will be sure to update you on their availability and performance with our evaluations and benchmarks.

Project Ava: Razer’s AI Game Coach

Razer consistently showcases some extraordinary piece of technology at CES, typically in a prototype stage. However, it recently presented more pragmatic concepts aimed at entering the market. The most fascinating display by Razer at CES 2025 was Project Ava – an in-game AI assistant that evaluates your performance and coaches you, offering guidance and recommended actions. We observed it in action with a MOBA, designed to be similar to having an esports coach instruct you during a competitive gaming session. We inquired about ethical concerns, and Razer assured that Project Ava will operate within the parameters of each game’s terms of service and will not provide players with insights regarding probabilities or elements not readily visible to them. Additionally, it will offer post-match analysis to dissect your performance, highlighting what you executed well, where improvements can be made, and strategies for enhancement.

It will also be applicable for single-player games, and we observed…it in action with Black Myth: Wukong battling the Yin Tiger. Project Ava provided insights on a boss’s moveset prior to the confrontation and informed the player about visual indicators, attack openings, and phase transitions throughout the boss encounter. Every time Project Ava was engaged for an inquiry, we noted the server machine running it rev up quickly, and akin to numerous AI applications, it consumes a lot of resources (though it appears not to burden your local setup). Project Ava is slated to enter beta later this year.

Steam Deck Rivals Abound

It appears that every company that has developed gaming laptops has ventured into handheld gaming PCs (similar to the Steam Deck) with varying levels of achievement. While the Asus ROG Ally has secured the top spot among Steam Deck competitors, others like Lenovo and MSI have dipped their toes into the market, showcasing revamped iterations of their handhelds at CES 2025.

Although the refreshed Lenovo Legion Go may stand as the flagship within the company’s handheld range, it is the slightly more compact Legion Go S that’s garnering more attention. This is due to the availability of a model of the Legion Go S that operates on SteamOS instead of the standard Windows 11 utilized by other handhelds. This is significant since it’s the first instance of SteamOS running on a non-Valve handheld, a preference for many over Windows given its user-friendly interface, stability, and optimal gaming capabilities (although you would primarily be tethered to your Steam library). We managed to experience the Legion Go S and left feeling positive about its performance and pricing. Various SKUs will be released this year, starting with one housing the Z1 Extreme processor expected soon, followed by another model featuring the forthcoming and enhanced Z2 processor anticipated around May.

Nintendo Switch 2 Concepts

Continuing with the handheld gaming theme are the unofficial mock-ups of the Nintendo Switch successor, which we will refer to as Switch 2 for simplicity. Accessory manufacturer Genki showcased physical shells of what is presumably the Switch 2 at CES 2025, and we had the opportunity to check them out at the event. Visually, it seems closely reminiscent of the original Switch, albeit with some minor adjustments, but one of the most significant variances is its size. Based on the unofficial mock-up, the Switch 2 appears to be 10.5″ wide, 4.5″ tall, and .5″ thick, boasting an 8″ display – in contrast to the current Switch OLED model, which measures 9.5″ wide, 4″ tall, .5″ thick, and features a 7″ screen. More information about the Switch 2 from Nintendo is expected shortly, and when it arrives, we will be here to relay the details.

Hyperkin’s PS5-Style Xbox/PC Controller

Have you ever wished to use a PlayStation DualSense on an Xbox? Alright, maybe not, but you can get quite close with Hyperkin’s soon-to-be-released Xbox and PC controller dubbed The Competitor. It draws heavily from the DualSense’s design principles – symmetrical stick arrangement, comparable bumpers and triggers, familiar ergonomics, and a two-tone color scheme. The Competitor also includes two programmable back buttons and is equipped with Hall Effect sticks and triggers for enhanced reliability and robustness.

We had the opportunity to test The Competitor at CES 2025 and found its overall feel and performance to be impressive. The placement of the back buttons was optimal, and the Hall Effect sticks performed smoothly and accurately. While it does resemble a DualSense, due to being a wired-only controller lacking the advanced features (haptics, motion controls, touchpad) found in the DualSense, it’s considerably lighter. Hyperkin indicated it’s primarily tailored for PC gamers (and those who may have transitioned to PC for Game Pass) who favor the PS5-style gamepad yet seek something with broader native compatibility on Windows (through Xinput).

Corsair’s Origin Arachnid Gaming PC

Origin PC has garnered a reputation for luxurious pre-built gaming PCs (which often arrive in unique crates upon delivery). With its integration under the Corsair brand, we were introduced to its latest extravagant design named the Arachnid. This impressive fully aluminum open-air case adopts a spider-like design theme (hence the name), complete with pumps and reservoirs for liquid cooling. It is intended to serve as a high-end PC, and thus will be equipped with the latest Nvidia RTX graphics cards and Intel/AMD processors, depending on your chosen specifications. It’s expected to be available sometime in Q1 2025.

Project Arielle: Razer’s Chair with Built-In Climate Control Fans

Another interesting concept from Razer is Project Arielle, a mesh gaming chair featuring integrated bladeless fans capable of providing warm or cool air. While products like the new Blade laptop with an RTX 5090 or the universal handheld PC dock offer more pragmatic solutions in Razer’s lineup, trying out this innovative chair was an eye-catcher at CES 2025.

The fans embedded within the chair are lined with. We are uncertain about the long-term effectiveness of Project Arielle and its practicality as an everyday office or gaming chair, but it certainly presents a unique concept.