Virtual reality is going to be one of the hottest topics at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, CA. In fact, the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), the organization that runs CES, says more than 40 exhibitors will display the next wave of immersive multimedia and virtual reality tech designed for mobile-, PC- and console-based VR.

In January 2015, CES attracted more than 176,000 attendees to marvel at everything from autonomous cars to the tiniest app startup. This year, with so much VR going on, below are our top expectations for those attending CES and interested in virtual reality.

 

#1 - New VR companies will take center stage

With HTC's big reveal of what the company is hailing as a “very, very big technological breakthrough” and Oculus opening up preorders, there is a lot to be excited about headed into CES. [Greenlight VR will make our own big announcement in early 2016. Stay tuned.]

But, while much of VR spotlight will focus on Oculus Rift, HTC Vive and Sony PlayStation VR, you also will see numerous 360 3D video cameras and VR content creation software tools that allow semi-professional filmmakers, developers and consumers to capture, create and share their own VR content easily.

 

#2 - New exhibitors will provide real insight into the future of VR

VR gaming companies will occupy  much more floorspace this year. In fact, the Gaming & Virtual Reality Marketplace will expand by 77% over its footprint at the 2015 CES, CTA reports. However, in addition to these companies, you will see new companies demoing virtual reality SaaS platforms for retailers, manufacturers, and consumer brands. You will also see virtual currency and native advertising solutions built for use inside immersive worlds.

 

#3 - Virutal reality solution vendors will be battle tested

While 2015 was filled with innovative new companies entering the virtual reality industry with fresh ideas and loose prototypes, the 2016 CES virtual reality companies will attend the show with distinctive solutions with real points of differentiation, significant reference customers, and impressive ROI measures already in place.

-----

To meet with a Greenlight VR analyst during CES, email analysts@greenlightvr.com. For those companies unable to attend Las Vegas, we will continue to schedule analyst briefings throughout January.