Samsung today announced several new features for its 2022 TV sets, including a new Gaming Hub that will allow Samsung Smart TVs to compete with built-in services such as Apple Arcade and various consoles.
The Samsung Gaming Hub is a new Tizen-powered “discovery platform” that allows owners of Samsung TVs to play console-quality games via integration with streaming services. Samsung is collaborating with NVIDIA and Google, and the upcoming service will support GeForce NOW, Stadia, and Utomik, a PC game streaming service.
Samsung’s Hub is intended to provide a large library of games, which will be available on select 2022 Samsung Smart TV models that have the necessary hardware. Because Apple does not have its TV, Samsung and Apple are not direct competitors in the TV hardware market, but the new gaming service has the potential to make Samsung TV software more appealing than set-top box alternatives like the Apple TV. Samsung will also be able to compete more effectively with LG, which announced in November that it would integrate streaming game services into its television sets.
On Apple TV, Apple provides the Apple Arcade gaming subscription service, as well as an App Store for playing independent mobile games, with support for third-party controllers from companies such as Sony and Microsoft. Apple cannot compete in console-level gaming, though there have been rumors of an Apple TV with a more powerful processor that focuses more on gaming, it is unclear whether such a product will be released.
Samsung’s gaming service will also make it easier to discover new games and watch YouTube streamers play games, and there are plans to integrate with other streaming services.
Other notable features of Samsung’s upcoming 2022 TV models include the Gaming Hub. There is a built-in NFT Platform app that allows users to discover, buy, and trade digital artwork via supported Micro LED, Neo QLED, and The Frame television sets.
NFTs are non-fungible (or unique) tokens that are used to share one-of-a-kind works of art, images, songs, and other digital items. For those interested in NFTs, Samsung’s TV sets will allow them to be purchased and displayed.
Other features of the 2022 Samsung TV include improved picture and sound quality, larger screen sizes of up to 110 inches, faster processors, HDR10+ gaming support, watch-together integration, smart calibration, and more.
