IntellectBeat

Sony may be back in profit thanks to strong demand for its latest-generation PlayStation and its assorted games. However, the days of the dedicated game console look to be numbered. The majority of US and European homes currently have a PlayStation or Xbox nestling under the television but according to Parks Associates, fewer than 50 per cent of US homes will still have one by 2019. What's more, in some European countries, the trend is at a more advanced stage - game console penetration in French homes, for example, has already dropped from 59 to 49 per cent over the past three years. "Game consoles remain one of the key elements of the connected home, but other devices are gaining importance, including smart TVs and streaming media players," said Brett Sappington, Senior Research Director, Parks Associates. Gaming has never been a more popular pastime for consumers of all ages and genders. However, people are becoming more and more likely to reach for a smartphone o...

During Samsung's developers' conference in San Francisco on Wednesday, the company announced that it is working on a standalone virtual reality headset, according to Variety. Samsung intends to build a headset to rival those of Oculus and Vive, announced Injong Rhee, head of research and development. Positional tracking would resolve many of the flaws in the current Gear VR headset. Rhee also mentioned that the company was researching wireless possibilites, which would be a significant breakthrough for the VR market. Andrew Dickerson, director of software development, also revealed during the conference that the company will release its Gear 360 camera this week.