9. Virtual Reality Gets Real
As seen at this year's
CES, the next generation of virtual reality has arrived. 2016 is the year that Oculus Rift finally release their long-awaited headsets, as well as a raft of other companies including Samsung and HTC throwing their hats into the ring. VR has been a long time coming, but has never been able to shake off the novelty factor. The sensory-deprivation aspect of immersive gameplay has always been a bit of a drawback if you happen to have a particularly sharp-edged coffee table, and the technology has never been quite good enough to be truly convincing. This looks set to change in 2016. HTC Vive's "Chaperone" feature is a good example. Previously, any attempts to blend the real and virtual worlds, either as augmented reality or so that you don't end up bashing into that coffee table, has always resulted in less-that-immersive gameplay. However, Chaperone supposedly works more with your instincts than your vision, pushing the simulation into your subconscious and allowing your brain to blend them seamlessly. This kind of technology probably isn't going to be in every home by the end of 2016, but it looks like the early adopters are finally getting something to get their teeth into.