[Let’s Play With Samsung] ① Get Your Game On: No Console Required, With Samsung’s All-in-One Gaming Hub on Your Samsung Smart TV

To kick off the series, Samsung Newsroom met with the developers and strategic planners of Samsung Gaming Hub,¹ which combines the power of streaming and gaming all in one place. From the story of the platform’s development to insights on their favorite games now available on Samsung Smart TVs, the experts behind Samsung Gaming Hub share the inside story of Samsung’s new all-in-one cloud gaming experience.

Power Up Your Gameplay Visuals With the Neo QLED

Samsung continues to lead innovation in Smart TV technology, driven by the goal of providing more and increasingly better entertainment options for consumers. As a result, the company decided to explore new gaming features that could be enjoyed specifically on Samsung Smart TVs.

In 2018, Samsung broke new ground by becoming the first in the industry to implement Auto Game Mode on TVs. Since then, Samsung has led the way in developing Smart TVs focused on leveling up the gaming experience. As a result, for the past four years, Samsung has won the CES Innovation Awards in the gaming category. In addition, Neo QLED proved its technological prowess last year by becoming the first TV to receive certification for Gaming TV Performance from Verband Deutscher Elektrotechniker (VDE), a well-regarded electrical engineering certification institute in Germany.

The Gaming TV Performance recognition from the VDE is granted based on the qualities of ‘Low Input Lag’ and ‘HDR with a brightness of higher than 1,000 nits.’

Input lag refers to the time it takes for an input command on a gamepad to appear on the screen. The shorter the input lag, the faster the response speed, allowing players greater control over their gameplay experience. The input lag for Samsung’s Neo QLED was 10ms or below in all game segments, meeting or exceeding the evaluation standards across the board.

The TV was also recognized for its technological advancement in HDR as well. Neo QLED provides the optimal contrast by making brighter screens even brighter and darker screens even darker. This technology earned Neo QLED the VDE certification.

What’s more, since last year, the entire line-up of Neo QLED has been equipped with the AMD FreeSync Premium Pro feature — another industry first. The FreeSync Premium provides a soft yet vivid picture quality by reducing or removing input delay, lagging screens and screen distortion while connecting your game console or PC to the TV display. As such, users can enjoy fluid, tear-free racing games with Neo QLED.

The Best of Gaming, All in One Place

With the hardware in place, powerful software is the next step for leveling up any home gaming rig. Launched on June 30th, the Samsung Gaming Hub will be the ultimate home for gaming, using only your TV.

The Gaming Hub is the Smart Hub’s new section dedicated to the latest games. Acting as a go-to streaming platform, the Samsung Gaming Hub displays popular games, recently played games and recommendations just for you — all in one, convenient place. No console is required. Gamers can simply select any game on the screen and play instantly. They won’t even have to wait for the game to download. It’s all there, right away. The Samsung Gaming Hub also supports multitasking, letting users explore videos or listen to music while playing games.

▲ Heej Chung, GEM PM of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics

“The biggest advantage is that the users can enjoy streaming games through Samsung Smart TVs and monitors without having to buy any extra gear,” said Heej Chung. “In other words, it’s a comprehensive game service where users can enjoy gaming content and experiences all at once in Samsung Smart TVs.”

“The way we watch videos has evolved from playing VHS tapes and installing set-top boxes to subscribing to OTT services and streaming videos. Likewise, the way we play games has shifted to gaming on the cloud,” said Chung. “Just as Samsung TVs have evolved with how we watch videos, we want to offer a better gaming experience for users.”

The Future of Games, for All

The Samsung Gaming Hub is gaining attention from users worldwide for giving users instant and seamless access to a wide variety of games. By partnering with NVIDIA GeForce NOW, Google Stadia and Utomik, Samsung is offering a selection of games beloved by gamers available on demand.

However, the benefits don’t stop there — the time, money and hassle involved with buying compatible equipment for different consoles, and the lengthy process of installing and uninstalling games for the sake of storage space, are all resolved with the Samsung Gaming Hub.

▲ JunHo Hwang, Software R&D Lab of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics

“In the past, we had to buy a separate gear to play exclusive games,” said Junho Hwang. “What’s more, gamers who bought the DL (downloaded) version of games had to delete previously installed games often to secure enough storage to install new ones.”

“However, with the Samsung Gaming Hub, users can explore and play games offered by our various partner companies without buying a separate console,” said Hwang. “Since games are streamed, users don’t need to worry about storage space or installation time at all.”

▲ Jay Park, GEM PM of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics

This makes the gaming industry, as anyone can play and enjoy CPU-intensive games, even without a PC. “The Samsung Gaming Hub provides games on the cloud, so users don’t need to worry about minimum system requirements or recommended configurations,” said Jay Park. “With the low latency mode and AI upscaling, we’ve improved performance and resolution, which are the most important aspects of cloud gaming.”

Stream Xbox Straight to Your TV

The news that surprised gamers the most this year was the collaboration agreement between Samsung Electronics and Microsoft. Through the partnership, Samsung’s Gaming Hub became the world’s first Smart platform to include the Xbox app. This means that 2022 Samsung Smart TV user can enjoy Xbox-exclusive games without having to buy a console.

▲ Juyeon Park, GEM PM of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics

“I’ve been a gamer since I was a kid in elementary school, so this has been the most enjoyable and exciting project for me. I hope many gamers will feel free to play these games without worrying about buying gear,” said Juyeon Park.

Top Video Game Picks From Samsung Developers

As more and more at home gamers turn to playing games on large, high-resolution screens, we wanted to know — what are the best games to play on Samsung Smart TVs?

Hwang recommends “It Takes Two,” a game where the main characters, Cody and May, work as a couple and try to escape a fantasy world and return to Rose, their daughter. “The storyline has to do with family, and it’s also not so difficult to play either,” said Hwang. “It’s a fun game to play with family members who are new to video games.”

For solo players, Jay Park recommends “Forza Horizon 5,” a racing game chosen by more than 10 million gamers. “The game takes place in Mexico, so it’s great for enjoying the natural scenery abroad. You can also play with expensive cars without worrying about taking care of them, so it’s quite cathartic,” said Park. “I’ve played this game while testing the Gaming Hub, and the time just flew by. I was so drawn into the experience.”

Fun for the Whole Family

These days, we live in a world where our TV instantly connects us to thrilling action movies, or up-to-date news from all over the world, anytime. While quality gear is important, what matters more to consumers is quality content.

“We came up with the idea of the Samsung Gaming Hub so that anyone, with their friends and family, could start playing games just as people naturally turn on a TV at home,” said Heej Chung. “I hope the Samsung Gaming Hub will be a starting point to deliver the joy of gaming for all users, not just gamers.”

The visionaries behind Samsung Gaming Hub also emphasized their determination to expand content experiences. “We’re going to keep adding more content and updating new features. We are just getting started, so we hope many people will show encouragement and interest so that this service can further develop.”

The Samsung Gaming Hub invites you to a new world of gaming. Stay tuned for more updates from the Samsung Newsroom learn what unfolds next in the Samsung Gaming Hub and tips on building your ideal at-home gaming station.

¹ Gaming Hub is available in the following countries/regions: U.S., Canada, U.K., Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Korea and Brazil.