For gamers who want to see a preview of the best hardware and software advances in PC gaming to watch out for in 2019, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is a great place to kick off the new year. Microsoft’s device partners were on hand this week showing off innovative notebooks, eye-popping visual styling, and slick in-game features that will provide powerful platforms for our full line of PC games. As CES comes to a close, you can’t help but be in awe of all that was unveiled this week. Three major trends emerged promising a stellar year in gameplay for both casual and hardcore PC gamers:

• Thinner and lighter gaming laptops with better graphics: Slim, stylish notebooks with powerful gaming features let you travel to gaming meetups without missing a beat.
• Devices that combine the power of productivity and gaming in a device: From business apps to graphic design and video creation tools, these machines work as hard as they play.
• Cutting-edge gaming technology with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs that brings DirectX Raytracing to your device: Enjoy incredible realism on a growing selection of gaming notebooks.

More Power, Better Graphics in Thinner PCs

While some PC gamers prefer to set up shop with powerful desktop rigs with customizable LED lights and visible cooling components, laptops are packing more portable gaming power these days in thinner and lighter forms. At CES 2019, partners showcased a variety of new, slim notebooks that make it easier to take your favorite games everywhere. Play at home or on long flights, or get together with friends for multiplayer action.

• ASUS showed off the ROG Mothership (GZ700) and ROG Zephyrus S (GX701) gaming laptops.
  • ROG Mothership sports a reimagined design that stands tall to draw more air into its advanced cooling system, housed in a finely machined aluminum chassis that frames a jaw-dropping 17.3” FHD IPS-level 144Hz/3ms with G-Sync technology display, powered by the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics and Intel 8^th Gen Core i9 processor. It comes with Hyperdrive Extreme that uses ASUS-exclusive technology to combine up to three NVMe PCle 3.0×4 SSDs for the world’s fastest RAID 0 storage in a gaming laptop.
  • ROG Zephyrus S GX701 is a 17-inch gaming laptop with a PANTONE validated super-narrow bezel 17” display with a 144Hz refresh rate and 3ms GTG response time, that’s only 18.7 mm thin (less than an inch), and the only one in its product category with NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design that combines GPU, thermal design and software to deliver powerful performance in an incredibly slim notebook.
• Dell showcased the thinnest and lightest Alienware 17-inch gaming notebook, the new Alienware m17, along with the recently announced Alienware m15, for gamers on the go who want a light, thin device for easy mobility. At just 5.79 pounds for the m17 and 4.76 pounds for the m15, both laptops feature the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20 Series GPUs, which deliver advanced gaming features including real-time raytracing, artificial intelligence, and programmable shading.
• HP has taken the popular OMEN 15 Laptop to the next level. First announced in May 2018, the Omen 15 features single-panel access for storage and memory and a variety of ports, allowing easy expansion and hardware customization on top of the laptop’s amazing speed and performance. Enhanced editions presented at CES add NVIDIA’s newest mobile graphics cards for immersive gameplay along with easy mobility.

• iBUYPOWER launched the next evolution of esports focused Small Form Factor PCs. Revolt 3 combines form and function into a competition-grade system with dual-sided tempered glass windows and a unique layout mean that every piece of your PC’s performance is on display. Revolt 3’s chassis is designed to expand to fit larger hardware and larger cooling options. Need space for an extra-long video card and thick radiator? Revolt 3 can extend up to 40mm to accommodate.
• The MSI GS75 Stealth breaks the stereotype of the bulky, heavy gaming laptop with an 8^th Gen Intel Core i9 Processor and GeForce RTX 2080 GPU in a 2.2 kg thin bezel chassis. The immersive 17.3-inch 144Hz IPS-level display provides gamers with a panoramic view of the playing field, while the GeForce RTX 2080 ensures you’re gaming at the highest-quality settings.

Modern Features to Integrate Productivity and Gaming in One Device

Windows 10 gaming PCs have always delivered the high performance, realistic visuals, authentic sound, precise control, and high-quality streaming that gamers covet. But sometimes you just have to get a little work done. A new array of gaming laptops bring together powerful capabilities for video editing, graphic design, content creation, and business productivity, along with the speed and versatility to carry you through immersive multiplayer environments. Now you can move seamlessly from paying the bills to playing the newest titles.

• Acer unveiled two new gaming notebooks: the Predator Triton 900 and the Predator Triton 500. Both combine new, functional designs with powerful internals that rival gaming desktops while enabling powerful productivity.
  • The 0.94-inch thin Predator Triton 900 is a fully convertible 2-in-1 that features four usage modes, a 17-inch touchscreen, and a trackpad beside the keyboard for natural hand placement. With the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 GPU, an Xbox wireless receiver, and Waves Maxx technology for hyper-realistic 3D audio, the Predator Triton 900 pulls no punches in delivering a best-in-class gaming experience.
  • At just 0.70 inches thin and 4.1 pounds, the 15-inch Predator Triton 500 can easily be slipped in a backpack or briefcase. The “weight” is the only thing light about it: Powered on, it’s a gaming superhero, with up to eight hours of battery life.

• The Corsair One Pro i180 delivers massive performance in a compact size for content creators, from game designers to video editors and beyond. Developed in partnership with Intel and clad in a 2 mm thin, aircraft-grade, bead-blasted aluminum gunmetal housing, the CORSAIR ONE PRO delivers incredible, 24-thread performance at speeds up to 4.5GHz, and GeForce RTX 2080 Ti GPU for cutting-edge graphics and real-time raytracing. It easily handles today’s most demanding applications, from video encoding to photo editing to rendering 3D graphics and more.
• Gigabyte announced the new AERO 15 and AORUS, some of the first Windows 10 laptops to feature Microsoft AI capabilities – giving gamers a dynamically optimized experience. Whether they are gaming or simply editing, gamers will experience the perfect CPU, GPU, fan, keyboard and sound setting configurations optimized based on their usage patterns. The Cool n Quiet app leverages Microsoft AI to dynamically distribute power based on how a the laptop is being used, dynamically reducing the heat and noise and shifting workloads depending on the scenario.
• The New Lenovo Legion Y740 and Y540 laptops are more powerful than ever and engineered to handle the toughest technical challenges while retaining a clean aesthetic that looks just as great in a living room as it does in a conference room with their discreet designs. Available with up to the latest NVIDIA GeForce RTX GPUs, Intel Core processors and Windows 10 Home, these laptops offer blazing-fast gaming speeds to play the latest releases, edit photos and videos, binge-watch shows, or multitask.

• MSI showcased the high-performance, good-looking PS63 Modern with its streamlined, portable design and powerful performance on multitasking and graphics rendering. Its 15.6-inch IPS-level display and 1.65 kg heft make it ideal for anyone who wants the freedom to take an idea outdoors and discover a new realm of creativity.
• Razer recently presented the new Razer Blade Stealth 13, redesigned with a high-grade aluminum unibody frame to deliver increased performance in a compact chassis with up to 13 hours of battery life. Now available with NVIDIA graphics and up to 4k resolution with thin side bexels that are over 60 percent thinner than the previous version for a visually stunning, edge-to-edge picture.

Raytracing Comes to Life

The Windows 10 October 2018 Update includes native support for DirectX Ray Tracing when coupled with NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX GPUs. DirectX Raytracing delivers a level of realism that traditional rasterization can’t provide, such as reflections, shadows, and ambient occlusion. The result is an in-game environment that’s richer and more compelling than ever before. CES 2019 attendees got a first look at new PC gaming rigs that feature NVIDIA’s new GeForce RTX 20-Series GPUs, which bring raytracing to life in eagerly anticipated new games like EA’s Battlefield V.

• CyberPowerPC presented its latest line of Syber Tracer III gaming laptops powered by the new NVIDIA GeForce RTX 20-Series Graphics, offering gamers the performance of a high-end desktop system on a 15-inch or 17-inch mobile gaming powerhouse.
• Raytracing is also a powerful new feature on lighter, thinner devices including the Alienware m17 and Alienware m15 mentioned above, and on productivity powerhouses including the Corsair One Pro i180.

• Origin PC introduced new EVO series laptops, the EVO16-S and EVO17-S, which feature new thin and light designs with powerful hardware inside. Thanks to NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics, up to an RTX 2080 GPU with Max-Q design, the EVO series lets you play games with real-time ray tracing technology enabled.

These are just some of the new products bringing thin and light devices, powerful productivity, and advanced raytracing to gamers in 2019. Check back on Xbox Wire frequently to keep up with the latest PC gaming product releases and news.