According to the latest data from International Data Corporation (IDC), Samsung captured 18.9% of the global gaming monitor market by revenue,¹ reinforcing its leadership in high-performance gaming displays. Samsung also ranked first in the OLED gaming monitor segment for the third consecutive year, achieving a 26% market share.²

“As the No. 1 gaming monitor brand, our goal is to continue leading the market with differentiated innovation,” said Hun Lee, Executive Vice President of Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics. “Strong partnerships with game studios guide our innovation, while a clear technology roadmap keeps us focused. By expanding our gaming library and broadening platform compatibility, we’re delivering displays that perform when it matters most to gamers.”

“In gaming, the smallest difference makes all the difference,” said esports star Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok of T1. “Being No. 1 for seven consecutive years shows that so many of us choose Samsung for a reason. I’m excited to see what innovative gaming technologies Samsung will bring next to help us perform at our best.”

Samsung’s sustained leadership reflects its focus on next-generation gaming monitor technology and immersive gaming experiences. That momentum was recently on display at GDC 2026 in San Francisco, where Samsung showcased its latest Odyssey lineup, giving developers a firsthand look at glasses-free 3D and HDR10+ GAMING. The 2026 Odyssey lineup includes:

• 27-inch Odyssey 3D (G90XF model): Glasses-free 3D gaming with advanced eye-tracking that delivers natural-looking depth and makes action jump off the screen.
  • Odyssey 3D Hub supports a growing library of compatible titles, including Hell is Us and Cronos: The New Dawn, with plans to support over 120 titles this year.
• 32-inch Odyssey OLED G8 (G80SH model): Stunning 4K QD-OLED at 240Hz with exceptional color and contrast, protected by Samsung OLED Safeguard+ technology.
• 32-inch Odyssey G8 (G80HS model): The industry’s first 6K gaming monitor, delivering native 165Hz performance with Dual Mode support up to 330Hz in 3K. This model also offers VESA-certified DisplayPort 2.1 (DP 2.1) connectivity, which supports smooth gaming and efficient video playback.
• 27-inch Odyssey G6 (G60H model): The world’s first 1,040Hz gaming monitor with Dual Mode, delivering esports-level motion clarity and responsiveness.

For more information about Samsung’s gaming monitor lineup, please visit www.samsung.com.

Images contain AI-generated elements. Individuals and products depicted are not AI-generated.

1. Global No. 1 Gaming Monitor in 2019 to 2025 Source data: IDC Quarterly PC Monitor Tracker 2025 Q4 (Based on Value Amount) ︎
2. Global No.1 OLED Gaming Monitor in 2023 to 2025 Source data: IDC Quarterly PC Monitor Tracker 2025 Q4 (Based on Value Amount)
   * From 2019 to 2022, 100Hz or higher applied before the gaming MNT refresh rate change / 144Hz or higher applied thereafter ︎

During the event, Samsung Electronics also showcased its latest Odyssey gaming monitors and technologies at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis. Samsung brought together gaming industry leaders, enthusiasts and media to get a firsthand look at the Odyssey gaming monitor lineup and to play some of the hottest titles on PC, including Cyberpunk 2077 and Hell is Us.

Running throughout the week, the Samsung Odyssey Gaming Lounge became a playground for PC visuals, complete with groundbreaking demos, unscripted reactions and candid conversations about what comes next for advanced gaming displays.

“Samsung has redefined 3D gaming — the technology is so sharp and crisp.”

— Floyd Broadnax, gaming content creator

Developers See What Glasses-Free 3D Can Do for Gameplay

The centerpiece of the showcase was Odyssey 3D. Using advanced eye-tracking and view-mapping technology, the monitor delivers a glasses-free 4K 3D display that adjusts depth in real time as players move in front of the screen. This delivers a completely new, immersive way to experience gameplay.

Developers, media and partners lined up to try the thriller Hell is Us from Rogue Factor in 3D on the 27-inch Odyssey 3D (G90XF), ahead of its public availability on Samsung’s 3D gaming library.

“Samsung has been the leading force for 3D gaming. I play everything from horror to FPS games, and the technology is really going to enhance my experience.”

— Ashley Rodgers, gaming content creator

Hell is Us drew a large crowd, with excited visitors eager to experience the game’s tight corridors, distant silhouettes and small environmental cues in glasses-free 3D. On Odyssey, visitors said it was easier to read where to go and feel the adrenaline and fear of each encounter without losing the game’s sense of mystery.

Cronos: The New Dawn showcased a different side of 3D gaming through a launch trailer. The added depth on screen makes every moment feel more immersive and enhances the player’s sense of scale and atmosphere.

“Samsung knows games and the brains of the developers, and that is something hardware companies don’t often know.”

— Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, Creative Director, Rogue Factor

Next-Generation Displays Draw Attention From Technical Leaders

HDR10+ GAMING quickly became a talking point in the room. Instead of relying on trial-and-error calibration screens, developers watched the game feed send scene-by-scene information to the monitor so highlights, shadows and color stayed closer to what they see in their own builds.

Developers and media also gravitated toward the 32‑inch Odyssey G8 6K (G80HS), testing how higher resolution affects UI and environmental detail. In busy scenes with dense 4K UHD elements, the extra pixels helped keep fine elements sharp without forcing changes to the game’s core art style.

On the 27-inch Odyssey G6 (G60H), the focus shifted to speed. With a 1,040Hz refresh rate, visitors looked at how fast camera pans, aiming and rapid inputs felt onscreen, and what that might mean for future competitive and high-performance titles.

“With our proven track record in hardware and software innovation, we’re partnering with global gaming studios to chart a clear path forward on compatibility. Ultimately, that’s about delivering an exceptional gaming experience our customers deserve.”

— Kevin Lee, EVP of Customer Experience, Visual Display (VD) Business, Samsung Electronics

A separate roundtable brought together leaders from across the industry, including Jakub Knapik, VP of Art and Global Art Director of CD Projekt RED; Yves Bordeleau, Founder and Head of Studio at Rogue Factor; Jonathan Jacques-Belletête, Creative Director at Rogue Factor; Piotr Babieno, Founder and CEO of Bloober Team; and Samsung’s EVP of Customer Experience Kevin Lee.

Up-and-coming studios spoke about using new display technology to experiment and take creative risks, while larger publishers focused on setting standards that can scale across multiple genres and platforms. The group compared how they roll out new display features across engines and franchises — from integrating HDR10+ GAMING and 3D to deciding which features make sense for competitive games versus story-driven titles.

“I honestly think HDR10+ is a major milestone in color reproduction, one that we’ve all been waiting for. Thanks to it, players will be able to experience our true artistic intent — not to mention a far more immersive high dynamic range.”

— Jakub Knapik, VP of Art and Global Art Director, CD Projekt RED

For industry leaders, seeing their own content firsthand on Odyssey gaming monitors turned abstract specs into real trade-offs they could see and judge on screen. Samsung’s GDC 2026 showcase made it easier to evaluate which combinations of glasses-free 3D, HDR10+ GAMING, resolution and refresh rate will matter most for the games developers are building now.

Samsung’s gaming momentum shows no signs of slowing. With Hell is Us and Cronos: The New Dawn joining a library that already spans 60+ titles, including The First Berserker: Khazan, Stellar Blade and Lies of P: Overture, the company is on track to double its 3D game portfolio to over 120 titles by the end of 2026.

As developer partnerships deepen and consumer interest accelerates, Samsung is positioned to lead next-generation gaming through its comprehensive suite of monitor technologies, from 3D depth and dynamic HDR10+ GAMING to high-resolution 6K capability.

Samsung Electronics today shared its plan to expand support for glasses-free 3D gameplay on the Samsung Odyssey 3D gaming monitor. At GDC Festival of Gaming 2026 in San Francisco, Samsung will spotlight Hell Is Us and Cronos: The New Dawn as part of its expanding 3D gaming ecosystem, demonstrating how leading titles are embracing immersive display without the need for special glasses. 

“The Odyssey 3D is designed for gamers who want to experience their hobby in a way that feels like they’re completely embedded in the action,” said Kevin Lee, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display (VD) Business at Samsung Electronics. “Through partnerships with leading gaming studios, we are committed to creating an ecosystem of top-tier titles, making great games extraordinary.”

Gaming’s Most Acclaimed Titles Become Fully Immersive 3D Experiences — Expanding Partnerships With Leading Developers

Hell Is Us, the critically acclaimed action-adventure horror game from Rogue Factor, will arrive on Samsung’s Odyssey 3D ecosystem in March, becoming a part of the first wave of newly added 3D-enabled titles for 2026.

Cronos: The New Dawn, developed by Bloober Team, will join this expanding 3D gaming library by the end of the year. This survival horror game, which has received generally positive reviews from critics, will provide an immersive gaming experience by integrating with the 3D technology.

Both titles will be playable in 3D through the Samsung Odyssey 3D Hub, the company’s dedicated 3D content platform, which already supports over 60 titles. 

In addition to 3D gaming technology, Samsung offers HDR10+ GAMING, which delivers optimized HDR performance to each game by automatically analyzing each scene and frame, thereby enhancing immersion. Since 2022, the company has integrated HDR10+ GAMING into its Odyssey gaming monitors and TVs featuring refresh rates above 120Hz.

Samsung has partnered with top video game studio CD PROJEKT RED as part of its commitment to advancing display technology alongside leading developers.

This collaboration will explore how technology can be advanced to increase the immersion of video games for players, and Samsung is already working with CD PROJEKT RED to integrate HDR10+ GAMING into its hit video game Cyberpunk 2077.

Additionally, Samsung announced the expansion of its HDR10+ GAMING partnership with Pearl Abyss. HDR10+ GAMING will be featured in Pearl Abyss’s upcoming open-world action-adventure game Crimson Desert, set to launch in March, ensuring gamers enjoy a premium HDR experience.

The Full Odyssey Experience Comes to GDC 2026

At GDC 2026, Samsung will host hands-on demo sessions for journalists and industry experts to gain an up-close look at its latest Odyssey monitors and an opportunity to play Hell Is Us in 3D before the public.

The demo sessions will feature Samsung’s Odyssey gaming monitor lineup:

• 27-inch Odyssey 3D (G90XF model): Glasses-free 3D gaming with advanced eye-tracking that delivers natural-looking depth and makes action jump off the screen. This glasses-free 3D gaming monitor will expand the lineup with the launch of a 32-inch model by the end of the year.
• 32-inch Odyssey OLED G8 (G80SH model): Stunning 4K QD-OLED at 240Hz with exceptional color and contrast, protected by Samsung OLED Safeguard+ technology.
• 32-inch Odyssey G8 (G80HS model): The industry’s first 6K gaming monitor, delivering native 165Hz performance with Dual Mode support up to 330Hz in 3K. This model also offers VESA-certified DisplayPort 2.1 (DP 2.1) connectivity, which supports smooth gaming and efficient video playback.
• 27-inch Odyssey G6 (G60H model): The world’s first 1,040Hz gaming monitor with Dual Mode, delivering esports-level motion clarity and responsiveness.

Odyssey 3D: Glasses-Free Gaming at Its Peak

While previous 3D approaches required either special glasses or sacrificed performance, the Odyssey 3D is a groundbreaking gaming monitor that delivers stunning 3D gameplay without compromise. Using advanced Eye Tracking and View Mapping technology, the monitor requires no glasses. It adjusts the 3D depth of the scene in response to the viewer’s position in real time, ensuring an optimized 3D effect.

Combined with a 165Hz refresh rate and 1ms GtG response time, the Odyssey 3D delivers smooth, responsive gameplay, resulting in a 3D effect that holds even during fast camera movement, gunfights and high-speed traversal — without the eye strain traditionally associated with 3D displays.

The addition of Hell Is Us and Cronos: The New Dawn expands Samsung’s 3D gaming library, which currently supports more than 60 titles — including The First Berserker: Khazan, Stellar Blade, Lies of P: Overture and MONGIL: STAR DIVE. With these additions, the company’s selection of 3D games is on track to reach over 120 titles by the end of 2026.

– Junhwan Kim, Lead programmer, Engine Program team, Nexon Games

Game development is an art, and like any masterpiece, it requires the right tools. Nexon’s upcoming title, The First Descendant, is set to redefine the looter-shooter genre with its stunning visuals and immersive gameplay. At the heart of this development process is Samsung’s Odyssey OLED G8 — a monitor that not only displays these graphics but elevates them to a new level of realism.

Join us as we dive into the behind-the-scenes journey with the developers at Nexon Games, who reveal how this cutting-edge display technology has helped bring their ambitious vision to life. From the precision of color to the speed of response, discover why the Odyssey OLED G8 is more than just a monitor — it’s a game-changer in the industry.

▲ (From left) Lead Engine Programmer Junhwan Kim from the Engine Program team and Lead World Concept Artist Sinwook Wi, from the Environmental Concept Design team at Nexon Games, sat down with Samsung to talk about their latest project, The First Descendant and how the Odyssey OLED G8 played a role in its development.

Q. Can you tell us about your role in developing The First Descendant and how you contributed to the game’s creation?

Kim: I’m responsible for the game engine. I develop the software that integrates essential elements like graphics, sound and physics engines, make them work seamlessly together.

Wi: I handle the environmental concept design. My role involves creating the overall concept of the game and designing the backgrounds and characters to fit within that environment.

▲ (From left) Gley, Blair and Enzo, key characters from Nexon’s looter-shooter game ‘The First Descendant’ (Image courtesy of Nexon)

Q. What sets The First Descendant apart? What were some of the key innovations and design choices that defined your approach?

Kim: The First Descendant is a looter shooter that blends third-person shooter (TPS) mechanics with role-playing game (RPG) elements. It features spectacular combat scenes, high-quality graphics and a rich loot system filled with powerful guns and gear. The core of the game lies in its storytelling, character development and the pursuit of the best weapons and equipment.

A major focus for us was bringing the open world of The First Descendant to life through cutting-edge graphics. Using Unreal Engine 5, we leveraged Nanite to achieve highly detailed environments, allowing us to render complex landscapes and objects with incredible precision. This was crucial for creating an immersive open-world experience where players can explore vast and visually stunning environments. Lumen played a significant role as well, enabling real-time lighting that reacts dynamically to the game’s world and characters, further enhancing the realism of the gameplay.

* Open World: A game design element that allows players to freely explore most areas with minimal restrictions.

* Unreal Engine 5: A game engine developed by Epic Games, known for key features like Nanite, which efficiently handles high-capacity graphics, and Lumen, which enhances lighting effects.

▲ Junhwan works on the development of ‘The First Descendant’ using the Odyssey OLED G8. The Odyssey OLED G8 delivers superb graphics with its high resolution and color accuracy.

Wi: The game is set in an apocalyptic world where factions — each with their own traditions — battle for survival. The story follows humanity’s fight against the Vulgus, invaders who nearly wiped out the human race. Players take on the role of descendants, embarking on a quest to find the Iron Heart, the ultimate weapon to end the war.

On the design front, our goal was to create an apocalyptic world that felt rich and immersive while avoiding the overly dark and futuristic look often seen in similar settings. The environment itself is a key part of the storytelling. So, we integrated colorful, future-oriented designs for city of Albion to balance the grim atmosphere with a sense of hope. This approach doesn’t just end at the visual appeal but also helps the game engage players on an emotional level, too.

▲ Sinwook works on the design for the city of Albion, a key area in ‘The First Descendant,’ using the Odyssey OLED G8. The monitor’s consistent colors and detailed contrast has helped bring out the intricate design elements.

Q. As a game developer, what do you consider the most important factors in creating a visually immersive gaming experience?

Kim: A high-quality display is crucial to accurately present the game’s graphics and visuals. Today’s gaming standards demand seamless gameplay with vibrant graphics, high frame rates, detailed resolutions and minimal input lag. To fully experience these advancements, it’s crucial to use a gaming monitor with high resolution, a wide color gamut and fast response times.

As part of our collaboration with Samsung, I received the Odyssey OLED G8 during the development of The First Descendant, and what stood out to me was the monitor’s awesome display quality — color accuracy, expressions and its quick response time. The monitor delivers colors and contrast with a high level of precision, which was crucial for developing the game. The 0.03ms (GTG) response time made a noticeable difference during our demonstrations as well.¹

“[With the Odyssey OLED G8,] You get two distinct display experiences with a single monitor—16:9 for working and 21:9 for playing”

– Wi Sinwook, Lead World Concept Artist, Environmental Concept Design team, Nexon Games

Wi: As a World Concept Artist, I constantly ask myself, “How can I best convey the immersive universe to players?” I want players to experience every detail of the environments and even the subtle expressions of the characters as they were intended. For that, a display accurately reproduces colors and fine details is crucial. When players can see the subtle nuances in shading and the vibrant colors, it significantly enhances their immersion in the game.

▲ Sinwook builds out the background concept designs for ‘The First Descendant’ using the Odyssey OLED G8.

Q. Other than picture quality, were there any other the Odyssey OLED G8 features that stood out when you were working on and demonstrating the game?

Kim: The First Descendant is a multi-platform game, available on PC (Steam) and consoles. The fact that the Odyssey OLED G8 supports up to three external inputs,² was especially helpful when we were testing across the different platforms. The sleek, metal design also saved space and complemented the game’s sci-fi aesthetic.

▲ Junhwan demonstrates the console version of ‘The First Descendant’ on the Odyssey OLED G8. The Odyssey OLED G8 offers enhanced convenience with 2 HDMI 2.1 ports, 1 DisplayPort 1.4 and a USB hub.

Wi: Working on the design and demonstrating the game on the Odyssey OLED G8, I found the gameplay smoother and more comfortable compared to my previous monitor. The colors and contrast were balanced and accurate, even on the big screen.

I also really appreciated the ability to switch the screen ratio between 16:9 and 21:9 with just a single setting change. Normally, I avoid wide monitors due to the viewing angle, but the Odyssey OLED G8 made it convenient to switch between ratios for different tasks — 16:9 for working and 21:9 for demonstrating the game. The big advantage is that you get two distinct display experiences with a single monitor.

▲ The Odyssey OLED G8’s Game Bar allows users to switch between 21:9 and 16:9 screen ratios, enabling them to enjoy games in their preferred ratio.

“The fact that the Odyssey OLED G8 supports up to three external inputs, was especially helpful when we were testing across platforms like PCs and different consoles”

– Junhwan Kim, Lead Programmer, Engine Program team, Nexon Games

Q. What features of the Odyssey OLED G8 do you think will elevate the experience for The First Descendant players?

Kim: The First Descendant is the world’s first HDR10+ GAMING title. We collaborated with Samsung to implement this technology in our game, optimizing peak brightness of the monitor and supporting standard HDR without the need for manual adjustments.³ Playing The First Descendant on the Odyssey monitor with HDR10+ GAMING allows you to experience the game’s vivid, high-quality graphics at their best.

* HDR10+ GAMING: A gaming technology that enhances image quality by analyzing game content to enhance the depth of graphics and supporting features like response time and Auto HDR.

▲ The Odyssey OLED G8 supports HDR10+ GAMING, allowing gamers to enjoy an optimized HDR gaming experience without manual adjustments in supported titles. ‘The First Descendant’ is the first game to feature HDR10+ GAMING technology.

Wi: Unlike my previous monitor, where colors near the edges tended to darken, the Odyssey OLED G8 maintained consistent brightness across the entire screen. The thin frame and bezel also made it easier to focus on the game.

▲ The Odyssey OLED G8’s slim metal design and Core Lighting+ on the back enhance user immersion and create a stylish gaming space.

Kim: I also found the Game Bar feature to be helpful. When the Odyssey OLED G8 is connected to a PC or console, it automatically calls up the Game Bar. Selecting FPS mode in the Game Bar brightens dark areas in the game, giving you an advantage over hidden enemies. Also, the sound becomes richer, further enhancing the immersion.

▲ (Left) Default Game Bar settings without a selected genre, (Right) FPS genre selected in Game Bar.

Q. Any final words for The First Descendant players?

Kim: If you’re a fan of The First Descendant, or any third-person shooter (TPS) game with high-quality graphics, the Odyssey OLED G8 is an excellent choice. It has high refresh rate, wide color gamut and fast response time, which really enhance the gaming experience.

Wi: I’ve always debated between choosing a monitor with high resolution and refresh rate for gameplay versus one with accurate colors and contrast for development. The Odyssey OLED G8 meets both needs perfectly, so I can confidently recommend it to any gamer…or developer!

¹ Based on GtG measured under internal test conditions. Results may vary by content, monitor settings and the performance of the input source.
² Supports 2 HDMI 2.1 cables, one Display Port 1.4 and three USB 3.0 ports (1 Up, 2 Down)
³ To use HDR10+ GAMING, the content must be HDR10+ GAMING compatible, and additional settings may need to be adjusted depending on the content.

– Bill Mandel, VP, Samsung Research America

HDR (high dynamic range) technology has been revolutionizing visual quality in movies and TV shows for several years. Now, with Samsung championing HDR10+ GAMING, the same visual transformation is making its way to the video game industry. It’s beneficial for game makers and players alike, and truly makes it possible to get the most visual impact out of gaming’s modern graphics and realism.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with Bill Mandel, Vice President, and Steve Larson, Senior Manager at Digital Media Solutions, Samsung Research America, to discuss HDR10+ GAMING and how the technology is changing the gaming industry.

▲ Steve Larson (left), Senior Manager and Bill Mandel, VP, Digital Media Solutions, Samsung Research America

Gamers and Game Creators Deserve HDR, Too

While HDR dramatically heightened the visual experience for television and film, its application in video games has been limited. Game engines have built-in color management systems that help the connected TV or monitor know what colors to show. However, a lack of communication between screens and game engines requires users to manually calibrate their displays.

“HDR10+ GAMING establishes a direct line of communication between the screen and the game engine”

– Steve Larson, Samsung Research America

In search of a solution, SRA started to develop HDR10+ GAMING. By automatically adjusting HDR settings based on the screen’s capabilities, HDR10+ GAMING unlocks a premium visual experience through accurate color, contrast and brightness.

“HDR10+ GAMING establishes a direct line of communication between the screen and the game engine,” said Larson. “The screen can now understand what the game engine is doing, and the game engine knows what the screen can display. That produces a much better visual output.”

“It’s all about making colors truer to the vision of video game creators,” said Mandel.

Engineering a Simple Solution for the Artists

Game developers were the first to call for new technology that addressed the limitations of HDR.

“The initial need came from game developers themselves who want the games they build to look the best they possibly can,” said Mandel. “They were struggling to get colors to look the way they hoped across monitors.”

▲ Bill Mandel, VP, Digital Media Solutions, Samsung Research America, explains how HDR10+ GAMING was introduced to bring better visual experience to all gamers

“We wanted the specs we published to be simple for game developers to use, without a heavy burden,” said Larson. “Once they integrate our specs into their game engine, they can use it across any game built in that engine. This significantly simplifies adoption across the industry because it doesn’t rely on certain configurations or devices. It’s easy.”

Making It Simple for the Players

With HDR10+ GAMING, gamers no longer need to deal with dials and test patterns to calibrate their monitors.

“HDR10+ GAMING simplifies the process by automatically adjusting settings for games, just like it does for movies,” said Mandel. “This ensures gamers get the best picture quality without any hassle — just turn on the game and go.”

▲ Bill Mandel (top), VP, and Steve Larson, Senior Manager, Digital Media Solutions, Samsung Research America demonstrate how HDR10+ GAMING automatically elevates the gaming experience

Because HDR10+ GAMING works both on TVs and gaming monitors, gamers can now enjoy a consistent visual experience with immersive graphics across platforms without setting anything up. This standard is especially important as today’s gamers expect photorealistic graphics in gaming today.

“When activated, your device automatically identifies that HDR10+ GAMING is an available option in any compatible game and takes advantage of it,” said Larson. “There’s no need to navigate a hidden menu or adjust settings.”

Lowering the Threshold for the Gaming Industry

For game developers, one major advantage of HDR10+ GAMING is that it is free to implement. With the right application programming interface (APIs), they can integrate HDR10+ GAMING into their existing game engines without any specialized training.

“It’s simple. Once developers integrate our specs into their game engine, they can use it across any game built in that engine”

– Steve Larson, Samsung Research America

Putting these standards into action, Samsung partnered with NEXON in September 2023 to launch the world’s first HDR10+ GAMING title, “The First Descendant.”

At Summer Game Fest this past June, the company showcased its latest Odyssey OLED gaming monitors with HDR10+ GAMING capabilities. The combination of HDR10+ GAMING and Samsung’s Odyssey OLED gaming monitors demonstrates how advanced display technology can elevate the gaming experience in video games like “Red Dead Redemption 2.”

Moreover, Samsung has worked with partners such as CD PROJEKT RED on “Cyberpunk 2077” — bringing the game’s fictitious Night City, California, to life like never before. The copy was a great hit, selling over 25,000,000 copies worldwide.

“We designed the system to be incredibly simple to implement,” said Larson. “In fact, CD PROJEKT RED told us that they knew HDR10+ GAMING was something they wanted to use. They were impressed with how fast and easy it was to implement. Their team was actually able to get it up and running in about half a day.”

“This is a free license technology. We’ll see a lot more games and platforms adopting the technology”

– Bill Mandel, VP, Samsung Research America

A Radiant Future Ahead for HDR10+ GAMING

Samsung is looking to expand HDR10+ GAMING to include additional game engines, particularly those that are more niche. The company is already working with major studios and developers to add into their proprietary engines and some of the more widely adopted ones.

“Through collaborations with game companies, we will expand the HDR10+ GAMING ecosystem — ensuring broader adoption and richer gaming experiences,” said Mandel.

This wide network will provide game developers with a versatile and powerful set of tools to create visually stunning games more efficiently.

▲Steve Larson (left), Senior Manager, and Bill Mandel, VP, Digital Media Solutions, Samsung Research America

“As this is a free license technology, we’ll see a lot more games and platforms adopting the technology,” Mandel continued. “For consumers, it means a consistent and immersive gaming experience across a range of devices — with minimal setup and maximum visual impact.”

Mandel and Larson anticipate a notable increase in the number of developers, games and users leveraging HDR10+ GAMING soon.

“Expect big things to come!” said Mandel.

Samsung Newsroom sat down with five prominent SDC23 speakers to delve deep into some of the company’s updates and how they add convenience to and revamp the user experience.

SmartThings and Matter: Offering an Even Better Connected Experience

Charles Kim of the SmartThings Team highlighted the updates to Samsung’s SmartThings home ecosystem, including expanded support for Matter devices, and discussed how SmartThings is leading the new era of smart homes through its advanced multi-device network.

Q. SmartThings has been working hard to create a hyper-connected experience for customers based on seamless interoperability with third-party devices. Could you discuss a few of the most notable announcements unveiled during this year’s SDC?

Matter stands as the universal IP-based communications protocol for smart home IoT devices, and is supported by major corporations all over the world. When it comes to expansive smart home experiences, Samsung has been at the forefront of widening its device network, which was furthered by its added support for Matter devices beginning last year. To expand on this, we are now offering an enhanced Matter-compatible ecosystem that will allow developers to create new apps, hubs and clouds.

One of our first steps is to expand the application of Matter to a broader range of devices and introduce new features to these devices to enhance its capabilities. These features include adding control functionalities for Matter-compatible devices, which support Matter Bridge¹ devices as well as over-the-air (OTA)² and Multi-Hub Network.³ One of Matter’s key advantages is its compatibility with various platforms from different companies. As such, it facilitates easier usage of the Multi-Admin⁴ feature, allowing administrators to efficiently control multiple devices simultaneously from a single platform.

To take innovation further, we plan to introduce an Application Programming Interface (API) for controlling Matter devices via the SmartThings Hub — making it easier for developers to utilize Samsung’s platform. In addition, the Software Development Kit (SDK) will allow the seamless integration of Matter devices within the SmartThings platform.

We hope that this will empower more developers to deliver new, advanced services to users that utilize Matter devices within the SmartThings platform.

Q. How will SmartThings contribute to the evolution of smart homes in the future?

Our vision for SmartThings encompasses various dimensions of home automation. Currently, users can control Samsung and third-party IoT devices in their homes through SmartThings, which gives them the ability to optimize and automate certain functions among connected devices. Looking forward to the future, smart homes are poised to elevate personalized home experiences by harnessing the power of device-connected AI and machine learning, which will deliver users ultra-personalized home services that meet their unique needs and preferences.

One of these future-forward settings is Ambient Sensing, which recognizes the space the user is in and automatically adjusts to the user’s preferred settings. Additionally, we intend to advance Edge Computing technology to ensure a stable and secure connection experience for users, enabling SmartThings to serve as a main hub for such services. Our aim is to help users enjoy a higher quality of life, and we will continue enhancing SmartThings in order to achieve this goal.

HDR10+ GAMING: Delivering a Perfectly Immersive Gaming Experience

Alongside the rapid expansion of the gaming market came an increased demand for an enhanced gaming environment. In line with these trends, Samsung has been working with leading game content companies to develop advanced visual technologies, setting a standard for the industry. Suzie Hyun of Samsung Research America spoke about HDR10+ GAMING.

Q. As game image quality technology continues to advance, what are the advantages of using HDR10+ GAMING while playing games?

In comparison to the conventional Standard Dynamic Range (SDR) format, High Dynamic Range (HDR) displays images at a higher brightness, greater contrast and with a wider color range — accentuating all on-screen details and making gameplay even more immersive.

From the standpoint of a developer, an ideal HDR gaming experience provides jaw-dropping realism, fully immersing users in the heart of the action. Equipped with HDR10+ GAMING technology, game creators are able to provide next-level immersion, drawing users deeper into the game world.

On the user side, HDR10+ GAMING technology automatically sets the game and display to optimal HDR settings, ensuring a consistent, stunning and engaging gaming session from start to end.

Q. How is HDR10+ different when watching videos and gaming?

HDR10+ GAMING technology delivers cutting-edge gaming experiences by combining ultra-responsiveness, an important factor for ideal gameplay, with leading image quality optimization technology. Equipped with these advanced technologies, HDR10+ GAMING provides immersive gaming experiences and allows users to experience the content as the game creator intended.

The Software Platform Innovation for Home Appliances: Tizen

The Tizen operating system will be extended and is set to be integrated into a broader range of home appliances. SeongIl Hahm of the S/W Development Team explained Tizen and its distinguished services that upgrade user experiences.

Q. What role does Tizen play in home appliances?

The landscape of home appliances has undergone a remarkable transformation, expanding beyond customers’ imagination. With the integration of the latest AI technologies, these appliances can perform a variety of unique functions. For example, appliances can detect food, the user’s voice and presence using high-tech cameras, microphones and Neural Processing Units (NPUs).

In driving these innovations forward, Tizen — Samsung’s open and flexible operating system (OS) ­— will help evolve home appliances and expand their capabilities. Samsung plans to expand Tizen to home appliances equipped with even larger screens than before, which will allow users to intuitively check the status of their devices and control them, as well as monitor other devices connected to SmartThings.

Tizen not only supports network, multimedia, web and security capabilities, but it also offers flexible software performance based on different hardware modules across product lines. It provides a web and development environment that is most commonly used by developers so helps them to adopt services easier.

Q. During SDC23, new technologies such as on-device AI and AI Home Edge Hub were introduced. How will these advancements elevate the capabilities of home appliances?

On-device AI-support signifies the integrated AI engine within home appliances, supporting round-the-clock deep learning inference. Home appliances generate a wealth of information, far beyond what users may realize. Learning from this information can significantly improve the user experience. Examples of AI functionalities include how refrigerators and air conditioners can save energy by predicting the temperature, how vacuum cleaners adjust the cleaning mode according to the floor type, and how washers and dryers can optimize laundering according to the clothing material.

Another important consideration that AI performance levels vary among different home appliances led us to work on developing AI Home Edge Hub. By device-to-device sharing of AI capabilities, it significantly enhance the performance of each device.

To illustrate this, let’s imagine that an AI inference task was delivered to the Family Hub, which is the most smart appliance nearby. Upon receiving this information, the Family Hub transmits it to the robot vacuum cleaner, which then notifies the user when the cleaning process is complete.

Many of these futuristic scenarios will become realizable through cutting-edge software innovation.

Samsung Privileged Health SDK: Helping the Development of Advanced Digital Health Services and Solutions

Incorporating essential features such as sleep, fitness, mental health services and health indicator monitoring, Samsung Health has firmly established itself as a comprehensive health solution. Sungchull Lee of the Health S/W R&D Group presented Samsung Privileged Health SDK, which offers users an unparalleled digital health experience.

Q. Could you introduce some of the main developers and partners that are using Samsung Privileged Health SDK?

With the Samsung Privileged Health SDK, Samsung aims to support developers and service providers in developing more sophisticated and advanced digital health services and solutions.

Developers and service partners around the world have expressed their interest in utilizing Samsung Privileged Health SDK and many are using it to develop apps. Interested parties can apply to the Partner Program via the official Samsung Developer website and can begin developing and utilizing the platform’s suite of tools once approved.

According to data measured on the Galaxy Watch’s BioActive sensor, our SDK partners span across a variety of digital healthcare fields — including heart health monitoring, remote patient monitoring, mental health services, worker healthcare and digital therapeutics. Moving forward, our primary goal is to strengthen Samsung Privileged Health SDK’s role as a health platform and expand its ecosystem to support the sustained growth of our partners.

Q. What are the strengths of the Samsung Privileged Health SDK, and how can digital health services harness its capabilities?

Samsung Privileged Health SDK offers a convenient and consistent development environment, as developers can measure biometric information through the Galaxy Watch’s BioActive sensor.

Within the Samsung Privileged Health SDK, there is a range of data types available for service research and development, including the Galaxy Watch’s specialized functions — body composition and skin temperature measurement. Additionally, the platform incorporates an advanced batching method, which aggregates data for a certain period of time to ensure both efficient data measurement and minimal battery consumption.

The skin temperature measurement function, for example, can be used to improve sleep habits, predict the menstrual cycle, estimate exercise intensity and so on, whereas the inter-beat interval can calculate stress index, detect sleep stages and monitor irregular heart rate.

Samsung’s commitment to enhancing SDK’s capabilities persists, and it will continue to provide a consistent and simple API with samples to make it easier for developers to utilize.

Samsung Health Stack: Contributing to Broadening the Digital Health Ecosystem

Amidst increasing adoption of digital tools and software for medical research within the healthcare industry, Eric Song of Samsung Research’s Data Services Lab introduced Samsung Health Stack — a groundbreaking open-source tool designed to simplify the management and analysis of health research.

Q. Samsung Health Stack was first unveiled at SDC last year, and subsequently released version 1.0 this year. What objectives does Samsung aim to accomplish with Samsung Health Stack?

Looking at recent trends in the IT industry, a variety of wearable devices are rapidly evolving. In the same regard, sensor technology that can be deployed is advancing at a swift pace.

Alongside these technological advancements, the concept of “digital therapeutics” has gained traction within the healthcare industry. Many organizations are actively seeking to treat diseases in novel ways, including the use of software to further these aims. The goal of Samsung Health Stack is to make it easier for medical researchers, who may be unfamiliar with IT systems, to safely access and utilize digital health information.

Additionally, as an open-source project, Samsung Health Stack seeks to dismantle the barrier between medical researchers and the field of digital technology field, laying the groundwork for the development of the digital health industry.

As it supports developers and researchers in the field, Samsung Health Stack will contribute to the establishment of a digital health ecosystem for both Samsung and the broader healthcare industry.

¹ Technology that enables devices with multiple connection protocols, such as Zigbee and Z-Wave, to connect to Matter and allows Matter and non-Matter devices to communicate.
² A function that supports firmware updates of Matter devices.
³ A function that connects Samsung’s various hubs on a single platform.
⁴ A function that controls Matter devices and multiple connected platforms simultaneously and shares the device’s status with users.