With major companies pulling out left and right, the lineup at CES 2022 is becoming increasingly scant.
The consumer tech expo's return to an in-person format will be considerably reduced, and reviews of new devices delayed somewhat. CES 2020 occurred just before the first wave of coronavirus infections swept the United States, while CES 2021 moved online in the wake of the pandemic.
CES 2022 was meant to be a return to form for the showcase. The approach of the holiday season and increased nationwide travel triggered a massive spike in Omicron variant coronavirus. As a result of the ongoing spike in infections, many major companies are pulling out of the event.
On Tuesday, AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) and MSI became the latest two companies to pull from the CES 2022 lineup. The duo follow in the footsteps of Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), Google (parent company Alphabet, (NASDAQ: GOOGL)), Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), and other major tech companies.
Sony (NYSE: SONY) and Samsung are among the companies still holding demonstrations at the showcase. Many companies are still holding digital presentations and conferences despite canceling in-person appearances.
In terms of virtual lineup, there's still quite a bit on offer at CES 2022. Some firms like LG appear to have had a backup virtual plan in place or were at least able to pivot to online presentations quickly.
The slimmed in-person experience won't be the same for many attendees. In terms of tech reviews, cancellations, and the transition by some companies to virtual delays demo products reaching reviewers. This means that many release dates will approach without as many advance reviews.
As more travelers return home amid a COVID battered holiday season, Omicron numbers are unlikely to wane. With little under a week left before CES 2022, it's possible that more companies could drop from the lineup.