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January 2025
CES 2025: My Favorite (and the Worst) Gaming Tech From This Year’s Show
CES isn’t typically where we see the year’s biggest gaming announcements, with major upcoming games usually being saved for summer and winter, and new console announcements now often coming in the spring or fall. But after spending a week in Vegas, I’m now leaving feeling like the gaming industry is about to go through a big shift. Some of it is for the better, with small creators getting a chance to change how we interact with our favorite games, while the rest of it reflects the tech industry’s incessant need to stuff useless AI into our lives. With that in mind, here are my four favorite (and three least favorite) gaming announcements from CES 2025.
Favorite: MCON Magsafe phone controller
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
There’s no reason we shouldn’t all be gaming on our phones more—and I don’t mean Candy Crush. (Not that there’s anything wrong with Candy Crush, of course.) These things have gotten powerful enough to run games released for the PS5, but thanks to their lack of physical controls, most developers are still making heavy compromises for their mobile titles.
That’s where 20-year-old Josh King comes into play. The YouTuber made waves late last year when he released a video showcasing his prototype MCON controller, which uses MagSafe to give your phone a similar form factor to, say, a Nintendo DS. While other phone controllers usually require you to remove your case and can be annoying to take on and off your phone, using the MCON is supposed to be as simple as using a MagSafe power bank.
I’m in love with the result. It has a full suite of controls, the magnetic connection is strong, and using it is as easy as snapping it onto my device and flipping out the hidden controls. Plus, if you don’t have an iPhone, it works with MagSafe adapters.
King is currently working with peripheral company Ohsnap to finalize the design, but if you’re sold already, there is a Kickstarter where you can pre-order your own MCON starting at $99. I can’t wait to get mine and actually start treating my iPhone like the proper handheld it clearly has the chops to be.
Least Favorite: Razer Project Ava AI esports coach
Credit: Razer
Razer’s Project Ava is one of two concepts the company’s bringing to CES this year, and of the two, I hope it’s the one the company leaves behind.
Have you ever heard of backseating? It’s the phenomenon where a streamer gets stuck while playing a game and their viewers keep piping in via the chat function to tell them how to progress. Most streamers I’ve seen explicitly ask their audience to avoid it, usually considering it more annoying than helpful.
Ava, meanwhile, promises to bring a bespoke AI backseater to everyone with a computer.
Essentially, the way it works is that Ava will watch you play and offer tips based on what it sees, loudly speaking over the in-game audio to do so. Razer insists it’s not cheating, since Ava can’t access information not available to you, but I think that still misses the point.
First, it’s unclear where Ava’s getting its tips, and second, it could end up being pretty distracting if it talks over your gameplay. But really, it’s the whole advice angle I have an issue with.
If I’m playing Dark Souls, the developers have usually worked out a more elegant way to cue me into when I should dodge than an AI yelling in my ear. If I rely on Ava, I’m training myself to ignore those hints, robbing myself of some of the experience at the least and making myself worse at the game at the most.
Even in multiplayer, part of the fun for me is figuring out the best builds and most optimal routes. If Ava is just telling me what I should do, then am I really playing or learning the game, or am I just pressing buttons while the robot makes all the real decisions?
There is a place for guides—far be it from me to gatekeep. But this sort of real-time interruption seems more likely to spoil my fun than enhance it.
Favorite: Lenovo Legion Go S brings SteamOS outside the Steam Deck
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
Valve’s Steam Deck is one of my favorite gaming purchases I’ve made in a long time, making my game library portable with a lot more flexibility than the Nintendo Switch. A big part of that is the company’s SteamOS operating system, which makes it convenient to change the handheld’s settings and access your Steam games on the fly.
Attempts to copy the Steam Deck without SteamOS, like the Asus ROG Ally or the Lenovo Legion Go, just haven’t done it for me, as they rely on Windows, which is a much clunkier experience when using a controller. These devices are technically more powerful, but the performance increase isn’t worth it to me.
That’s why I’m so excited for the Lenovo Legion Go S. Announced during CES, this will be the first gaming handheld not from Valve to use SteamOS. It’ll have Windows versions, too, but starting in May, you’ll be able to get it with the operating system I love so much. Even better, it does look to offer specs with a slight-to-moderate improvement on the Steam Deck, and its starting price of $500 is actually cheaper than the entry level Steam Deck OLED. I’m excited to see more partnerships follow suit.
Least Favorite: The PUBG Ally brings the dead internet theory to games
Graphics card and now AI company Nvidia is about to fill your game lobbies with bots, but like, in a futuristic way. Announced during CES, Nvidia is working with PUBG developer Krafton to bring “co-playable characters” to the famous battle royale title.
Essentially, the experience teams you up with a bot, but you can give it commands to tell it to find armor or weapons for you or coordinate with you in a fight.
I could actually see this being really cool in a single-player game, being the next evolution of the type of gameplay seen in titles like Star Wars: Republic Commando. But in multiplayer, it just raises too many questions.
Is the bot going to be more aware of the map than humans? How good should it be at shooting, before it starts to feel either like a cheater or a liability? And perhaps most importantly, will it feel satisfying to win if an AI guided you to victory? Or will it be the gaming equivalent of a rich person hiring an experienced hunter to take them on a curated expedition and do all the work except pulling the trigger?
There’s a lot of tough balancing acts to figure out here, but even assuming everything plays out as desired, I’m still not sure what the point is. Part of the fun of playing a shooter online is knowing that when I take down the enemy, I’ve ruined some 11-year-old’s day. If half the people I’m going to be shooting at are robots, why not just play a single-player game instead?
Favorite: The Razer Project Arielle has sold me on heated and cooling gaming chairs
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
Razer’s Project Arielle is the company’s second concept device for CES, and the one I’m definitely more excited about. Essentially, it takes the Razer’s existing Fujin Pro gaming chair and straps some heaters and a bladeless fan onto it, with surprisingly effective results.
What I initially thought was going to be a gimmick turned out to be a nice little oasis on the CES show floor, either warming me up after an hour in the freezing media room or blowing cold air on my back and neck after I spent some time wandering around the sweaty show floor.
Sure, you could get a similar experience with a space heater or a fan, but having the climate control integrated directly into your chair allows it immediate access to your back and neck, and I found it felt more effective and comfortable than my desk fan at home.
Las Vegas is a nightmare when it comes to consistent temperature, and after a week here, I’m just about ready to stage a heist on this thing and take it home. I’m hoping Razer gives this the same treatment it gave its haptic gaming cushion concept from last year and actually brings it to market.
Least Favorite: Nvidia RTX Neural Faces is an AI yassification filter
The culture war spares no one, especially when it comes to gaming. If you’ve looked up The Last of Us Part II or Horizon Zero Dawn on social media, no doubt you’ve seen photoshops of their female leads that attempt to make them look like they just walked out of a Sephora, despite them spending their games deep in the heart of the apocalypse. Critics have started to call these edits “yassification,” and it seems like Nvidia’s taking a side here: its new RTX Neural Faces feature might as well be an AI yassification filter.
The idea is to help game NPCs cross the uncanny valley by using AI to help with more natural lighting, skin, and hair, especially when players are looking at that NPC from an unusual angle. The result just kind of looks like it’s trampling over the artists’ carefully made decisions with whatever Nvidia thinks “natural” means.
In an example video posted by Nvidia, an NPC with Neural Faces applied seems to have totally different bone structure, a fresh layer of foundation, some new mascara, neater brows, and bigger but much deader eyes. Cool if you’re into that, I guess, but it’s clearly not the look the modelers or lighting artists were going for, and it definitely wouldn’t be appropriate for plenty of gaming’s most famous characters…unless you’re curious what a Solid Snake makeup tutorial would look like?
Favorite: Acer Nitro Blaze 11
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
If the Lenovo Legion Go S stands out from other gaming handhelds because of its software, then the Acer Nitro Blaze 11 is the opposite. Frankly, it’s the biggest gaming “handheld” I’ve ever used, and while that means it’s not necessarily the most convenient, there’s a certain maximal joy to be taken from carrying it around.
With so much room, it’s packing some pretty impressive specs, but what really takes the cake is its 11-inch, 2560 by 1600 display. It gets bright, it comes with a sturdy kickstand, and it can display up to 120 frames per second. It’s also surprisingly lightweight at 2.3 pounds. That’s a pound heavier than the Steam Deck, but compared to a laptop, it’s still reasonable.
Granted, if you get tired of holding it to play it, the Nitro Blaze 11 does have one trick. Like the Nintendo Switch and the original Lenovo Legion Go, it’s got detachable controllers. But unlike those devices, its screen is big enough to make kickstand mode feel worth it to me (I usually just hold the competition).
To be honest, at this point in my life, I’m not likely to opt for the Nitro Blaze 11. I’m older, I’m busier, and convenience trumps performance for me. But a younger, more explicitly gamer-y version of me would have been all over this.
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The Best Items to Keep Your Car Clean and Organized
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We talk a lot about the general rules for decluttering and organizing, namely that you need a spot for everything, containers to keep it all neat, and a structured approach to deciding what to keep and get rid of. Usually, we’re referring to the home, but you should also be applying this information to your car, where you spend a considerable amount of time and need quick access to your stuff when the moment calls for it. In addition to cleaning your vehicle, you should be organizing it. Here are a few tools to help you.
The best tools for organizing your car
First of all, let’s talk about the center console, also known as the area where you throw everything and pray for the best. There are organizers available for all kinds of vehicle makes and models that will slip in there and provide you with compartments, containers, holders, and all manner of little organizing essentials, but to find yours, you’ll need to run a search for your exact car and the words “center console organizer.” That said, you can also skip the customization and just pick up these storage expanders, which you secure by stuffing the long part into the gap between your console and seat. You’ll get two and they come with some dividers inside, so you can store your wallet, drink, and other essentials without having to toss too much into the center.
Fortunately, other kinds of organizers are more standard and fit in most vehicles, meaning your options for pockets and containers are surprisingly robust. That’s good news because—and remember this—when you’re organizing, every single item you keep in a space needs a designated spot. They should be stored with similar items and, ideally, placed in a container to keep them all together. This behind-the-seat organizer will help you with that:
Another option is this big storage container that straps into a back seat ($23.98), which has 11 compartments and two cup holders. While this is great for when you have other people back there, it isn’t accessible to you in the driver’s seat. Don’t worry, though: Again, you have options. For instance, pick up this card and document holder designed for the glovebox ($11.99). Registration, insurance, and other necessary docs can be stashed in here so the next time you’re (god forbid) pulled over, you’re not fumbling around searching. (Like center console organizers, glovebox organizers can also be ordered for your specific car type and are fitted to your box’s dimensions, offering containers and pocket space.)
Another solution with some handy pockets is this car trash can. No more tossing trash into a side bin or on the floor of the passenger’s seat. If you’re serious about organizing (and decluttering), it’s time for a real trash holder and this one, with its secure hole and strap-on functionality, is perfect for going behind the headrest of the passenger seat, an easy reach away from you. Disinfecting wipes or napkins can go in the storage pockets, too, making it an multi-use cleaning and organizing godsend.
That’s all for the areas accessible to passengers, which is important, but you also have to consider the other elements of organization in and around your car. How’s your trunk looking? Don’t even answer that. Just check this out.
Simply put, you need pockets and structure in the trunk. Again, everything needs a place and “the trunk” is not sufficient on its own; it’s just too big and likely to get cluttered, especially when things shift around back there.
Simple car cleaning
Finally, being organized is one thing, but being clean is another. Here’s a list of the best car vacuums out there so you never have to deal with crumbs and messes. Beyond that, consider designating at least one of the new compartments you create with these storage solutions to cleaning supplies, like Clorox wipes and the like. One ever-popular option that is effective but small and easy to store is this sticky gel ($9.99) that pulls dust out of your vents and crumbs off your surfaces:
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The Eight Weirdest Things I Saw at CES 2025
CES is a week-long showcase of new products and service from across industries. Some products are true innovations, while others are definitely duds. Some, however, are just plain weird.
As I walked around CES this week, from convention center halls to media-only events, I had a blast checking out the weirdest tech I could find. After all, just because something is weird, doesn’t make it boring or useless. On the contrary; some of these items were among the most interesting things to see. These eight products, however, stood out most to me:
Electric Salt Spoon
Credit: Jake Peterson
This was CNET Group’s pick for weirdest and most unexpected product of CES, and it’s not hard to see why. Kirin’s Electric Salt Spoon makes food taste saltier, not with extra sodium, but via electricity.
According to Kirin, the salt spoon uses a mild electrical current to attract sodium molecules in your mouth that would otherwise be lost on your taste buds. In doing so, the food on the spoon tastes saltier than it otherwise would. You choose one of four intensity levels (the company recommends the lowest setting for beginners), press the button, and you’re good to go. The spoon is enormous, however, which makes it difficult to activate the electric current while eating at the same time.
It’s weird, but also noble, since it could enable people who need to cut down on their sodium intake to still enjoy “salty” foods.
I only saw the spoon at the show, and didn’t have a chance to taste test the product. However, Mashable’s Matt Binder did: He wasn’t sure at first whether it was working, until the spoon shut off halfway through a sip of broth, due to how awkward it was to hold. Losing the effect while eating with the spoon did show off how it was making the food saltier.
Bodyfriend
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
I didn’t think one of the weirdest things I would see at CES would be a massage chair, but that’s because I didn’t think someone would make a Transformers-style massage chair—and one so clearly inspired by Bumblebee, at that.
To be clear, Hasbro has nothing to do with the chair. This is Bodyfriend, a massage chair with arms and legs that can move as if it were a robot. That, supposedly, helps people stretch muscles they wouldn’t otherwise be able to move themselves. However, to me, it seems like a slow-moving robot that’s fallen and can’t get up.
The chair has 733 parts and can measure your heart rate, in addition to, of course, offering massages. You can see CNET’s Bridget Carey give it a try at CES Unveiled:
Petal
Credit: Jake Peterson
Do you love your plants? Do you ever wonder how they’re feeling? Do you wish they could text you? Of course you do. That’s why there’s Petal, from the makers of Bird Buddy.
Petal is a camera with a flexible stem you can add to your yard, to keep tabs on your plants and flowers. Of course, since it’s 2025, Petal is also powered by AI and can identify potential hazards to your flora, such as insects and bees. There’s even an interactive option that lets you “chat” with your flowers via Bird Buddy’s chatbot, so you can learn how many things your flower “saw” today.
Nékojita FuFu
Credit: Jake Peterson
If you hate your drinks being too hot, you don’t have to cool them down yourself; instead, you could use Nékojita FuFu. This small cat device sits on the rim of a mug or bowl, and, using a tiny internal fan, blows on your hot drink or food for you.
It sounds silly, and it definitely is, but the company claims it works: The FuFu can cool hot water down from 190°F to 160°F in three minutes, and 151°F in five minutes. Compare that to 176°F after three minutes and 171°F after five minutes without the cat, and it does seem to do something.
I can’t imagine these things gaining widespread popularity, but it’s also fun. It reminds me of novelty tea infusers, like “Mr. Tea.” If it makes you happy to have a cute cat on your mug cooling your coffee to a drinkable temperature, I’m all for it.
I also like the idea proposed by the top comment on our article about the Nékojita FuFu: “Put this on one of the rechargeable ‘stay hot mugs’ and let ’em fight it out.”
AeroCatTower
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
The AeroCatTower is an air purifier. It’s also a cat tower. You might have gathered that by the creepy cat sitting atop the device.
It’s not clear how well the AeroCatTower cleans the air, but it does take your cat into consideration. When your pet jumps on top to rest, the machine slows down so as to not disturb them. Plus, there’s a built-in seat heater to make sure they’re extra comfy. Hey, maybe it’ll keep your cat off your keyboard.
Realbotix
If you were walking around CES and weren’t sure whether or not you saw Realbotix’s booth, you missed it. Realbotix is out here trying to make anthropomorphic AI-powered robots, and the result is, well, weird. Just watch CNET’s interview with Aria, one of Realbotix’s robots, to see why. Aria’s face is firmly in the uncanny valley, as is the fact her lips are totally out of sync with her speech. Her movements in general are far from natural. The whole thing kind of seems like chatting with a character from a PS1 game.
What’s weirder, though, is when Realbotix swaps out the faces on the robots, leaving you with a flimsy, creepy face mask. I get what Realbotix is going for here, but its current robots are disconcerting, to say the least. (I walked past this booth and audibly said “Jesus Christ” to myself.)
Credit: CNET/YouTube
ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable
Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt
We covered two major products from Lenovo at CES this year: One was the Lenovo Legion Go S, the first PC gaming handheld not from Valve to natively run SteamOS. Very cool. The other was the ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 Rollable, a laptop that has a rollable display that extends an extra 2.7 inches vertically. Very weird, but also very cool.
Lifehacker associate tech editor Michelle Ehrhardt sat down with Lenovo to try out the funky laptop. As advertised, you can press a button or use a hand gesture to unfurl your laptop’s display to a full 16.7 inches, which is neat. You get the benefit of a large display in the form factor of a 14-inch laptop—plus the novelty of revealing parts of your display you never knew were hidden in the laptop, of course. The rest of the machine is a basic Copilot+ PC, though, with an Intel Core Ultra 7 chip, up to 32GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage—so no overly fancy internals to compliment the novel display tech. At $3,500, Lenovo may have priced this into being more weird than cool, though.
Dell’s big rebrand
Credit: Dell
You know what’s weird? Throwing out an established brand like XPS in favor of language every other tech company uses. It’s a confusing move from Dell, who made headlines during this week’s CES when it announced the end of XPS, Inspiron, Latitude, Precision, and its other brands. Now, Dell computers will come in three lines: Dell, Dell Pro, and Dell Pro Max. In each of those lines, there are three extra lines to consider: Base, Plus, and Premium.
Your friend might have a Dell Plus, while another might buy a Dell Pro Base, all the while you have a Dell Pro Max Premium. That’s not so confusing, is it? If it is, check out Khamosh Pathak’s explainer here.
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