The 14^th ChinaJoy Expo, also known as the China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference, commenced on Thursday at the Shanghai New International Expo Center (SNIEC) in Shanghai.

ChinaJoy is the biggest gaming and comprehensive entertainment exhibition in the country and Asia, where visitors and gamers have the opportunity to play games and experience brand-new technologies in the gaming industry.

Like Us on Facebook

Numerous Chinese and international companies, such as Sony, HTC, China Mobile, LeEco, and Immerex, are expected to be present during the event to unveil their latest products and services, including VR and augmented reality (AR) headsets and related devices. They also plan to showcase the latest trends in gaming, animation, and films.

This year, ChinaJoy introduces the eSmart session where it focuses on "smart gaming hardware and entertainment accessories in the VR/AR sector", according to China Daily. eSmart was introduced by the China VR/AR Entertainment Industry Alliance (VREIA) together with the Hannover Milano Fairs Shanghai Ltd.

According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), global shipments of VR hardware is expected to grow this year, with total volumes reaching 9.6 million units. Vice President of Devices & Displays Tom Mainelli of IDC said, "In 2016, the first major VR Tethered HMDs from Oculus, HTC, and Sony should drive combined shipments of over 2 million units,"

"When you combine this with robust shipments of screenless viewers from Samsung and other vendors launching later this year, you start to see the beginning of a reasonable installed base for content creators to target," he added. In China, the VR market was said to be worth around $230 million in 2015 and is expected to reach more than $860 million this year and $8.5 billion in 2020.

At ChinaJoy 2016, Sony demonstrated its new VR headset called the PlayStation VR (PS VR), which is expected to be available on Oct. 13 in mainland China for around $450. It is said that over twenty new games, including Final Fantasy XV, can run on the company's new platform.

In addition to eSmart, ChinaJoy will also hold the Comic & Animation World Amazing Expo (CAWAE), including three new theme areas: the Next-gen Arcade, Console and Home Entertainment Area (ACH), the Internet Video and Music Area, and the In-car Entertainment Area.

TagsVirtual Reality, VR, Augmented Reality, AR, Virtual Reality VR China, ChinaJoy, China Digital Entertainment Expo & Conference, Shanghai, Sony VR, Playstation VR, PS VR