14 DAY TRIAL // Even though the DirectX 11 graphics technology has been around for a while, only a limited number of games can truly take advantage of it. This goes to show that it will still be some time before tessellation truly becomes the next standard. In such conditions, one would think that 3D gaming, largely seen as the next big step, is still a way off, but market analysts don't appear to share this opinion. In fact, Jon Peddie Research believes that the rapid growth of Stereoscopic 3D PCs, as a market, will start this very year.
Most current high-end PCs already are stereo-3D-capable, because of the graphics cards they use, and most upcoming configurations should also include this functionality. However, a PC cannot be truly considered 3D-capable unless it comes with all the necessary parts and accessories, namely a 3D monitor, the obligatory glasses and, of course, 3D content (games, movies, etc.). For 2010, JPR predicts that about one million such complete solutions will be sold.
1 million may not seem like much in a world with about 7 billion people. All is not lost though, as JPR believes the figure will turn from 1 million into 75 million by the time 2014 comes and goes. This corresponds to an actual available market for S3D PCs, peripherals and content, of roughly $34 billion. Nevertheless, one should not hazardously assume that this evolution will lead to a very strong emphasis on the 3D format. In fact, JPR, in spite of its optimism, believes that, even in 2014, only a fraction of the whole video and consumer electronics market will come in 3D.
Of course, it should probably be noted that a glasses-free monitor should come out sooner or later and, depending on the timing, such a product could dramatically affect the rate of adoption of this display mode. Only a fraction of video games are expected to be designed for 3D during the next few years.