Samsung He has fully immersed himself in the strategy of play on TV without a console. After revealing that Xbox would offer its Game Pass Ultimate titles on Smart TVs launched in 2022, the South Korean went one step further and announced that it will offer the catalog of other serviceslike GeForce NOW, Stadia, and Amazon Luna on your Gaming Hub.
The Gaming Hub is a platform where people can access cloud gaming services. According to Samsung, gamers will be able to easily browse and discover available games regardless of platform.
The application takes advantage of the hardware features of the latest Smart TVs and monitors. According to the company, these offer faster decoding and an optimized buffer control technology that reduces the input lag by 30% compared to previous models. It will also use scaling technology using AI to offer good image quality in 4K and 8K resolutions.
The hub has shortcuts to Xbox Game Pass, GeForce Now, Stadia, Utomik and soon Amazon Luna. There are also sections of the most popular games, the ones you played recently and even related videos. The side menu integrates search buttons, settings and one that seems to send us to YouTube Gaming.
Samsung wants you to forget about video game consoles
One of the important points of the Gaming Hub is that es compatible with controllers and Bluetooth headsets, so there is no need to buy new hardware. The Samsung website indicates that it is compatible with the most popular voice controls and headsets, although it does not specify brands and models. If you have an Xbox or PlayStation control, it is almost a fact that you will be able to synchronize it.
The interface looks friendly at first glance and has the option to be customized. Samsung has used other services to design an experience that revolves around video games. The Gaming Hub not only has access to streaming services, but also integration with Twitch, YouTube and Spotify directly from the experience menu in Home.
Gamers can get the latest gaming news, view tutorials, stream their favorite music and podcasts, and watch trailers for the most anticipated games, all from the convenient new Gaming Hub. Additionally, users will be able to see expertly curated recommendations based on the latest and most popular games.
Gaming Hub: availability and compatible models
The Gaming Hub will be available later this year via system update for the Smart TV Neo QLED 8K, Neo QLED 4K, QLED and the Smart Monitor Series of 2022. It is worth saying that it is free, although it will be necessary to have an active subscription to the services like Game Pass Ultimate, GeForce Now or Stadia to be able to play in the cloud.
It is also important to mention that the Gaming Hub can only be used in Spain, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, Korea and Brazil. For now, Latin America is not in the plans, however, Game Pass will be available for users from Mexico and Argentina.
The integration of these services in Smart TVs is the first step to a future where a console will not be necessary to play. Of all the companies, Microsoft seems to be ahead with xCloud. It remains to be seen if there are agreements with other manufacturers or if it decides to launch a “Chromecast” to play in the cloud on any TV, regardless of the date of manufacture.