How Haptics Quietly Took Over CES 2025
From racing sims to accessibility wearables, these haptic innovations stood out at CES 2025
While AI and futuristic gadgets dominated the headlines at CES 2025, haptics made an undeniable impact — both on the show floor and in private demos. From immersive gaming peripherals to accessibility breakthroughs, haptics is evolving from a niche innovation to an essential part of how we interact with technology.
Gaming Meets Next-Level Immersion
CES 2025 made one thing clear: gaming is about to feel different — literally. Roto VR’s Explorer chair brought physical movement into VR, swiveling with in-game actions to reduce motion sickness and increase immersion. Sony, meanwhile, explored haptics beyond the headset, debuting a Last of Us location-based experience that used vibration and physical effects instead of VR to transport players into the game.
Haptic-enabled seating was another major trend. Companies like Nitro, Thermaltake, and SIMLYTE showcased seats embedded with tactile feedback, designed for gaming, sim racing, and even automotive applications. Combined with the growing ecosystem of haptic vests, gloves, and controllers from brands like bHaptics, the boundary between the digital and physical world continues to blur.
Meanwhile, Haply, fresh off winning a Best of Innovation award for its MinVerse 3D, announced plans to launch on Kickstarter — bringing its high-fidelity haptic technology to a broader audience.
Beyond Gaming: Haptics for Accessibility and Everyday Tech
Haptics is also proving its value beyond entertainment. DotLumen’s haptic headset stood out as a major innovation, using cameras and forehead vibrations to help blind individuals detect obstacles in their path. Afference’s Ring introduced precise finger-based haptic feedback for gesture control, hinting at a future where we interact with technology more intuitively.
In automotive tech, BMW’s panoramic head-up display hinted at a future where drivers interact with their cars through touch-based gestures rather than physical buttons. Meanwhile, haptics found its way into everyday accessories, with innovations like my very own TITAN Ono, a pendant that blends relaxation and entertainment through high-definition vibrations.
Why This Matters
While AI and screen-based experiences continue to evolve, CES 2025 demonstrated that feeling technology is just as important as seeing it. Haptics is becoming an essential layer of interaction across industries, from gaming and accessibility to automotive and wearables.
If you’re curious about where haptics is heading next, stay ahead of the curve by subscribing to All Things Haptics for more insights and updates.
📢 Read more about these companies and projects in my CES edition of All Things Haptics blog here!
