Samsung to debut cloud gaming TVs at CES

As CES 2022, Samsung is set to unveil new cloud gaming capable TVs that will let players play games without a console. The new TVs will do so using familiar cloud gaming platforms Google Stadia and Nvidia GeForce Now.

According to Samsung, “certain” 2022 TV models will provide you access to GeForce Now, Stadia, and Utomik cloud gaming services through its new Samsung Gaming Hub. The interface is being touted as a Netflix for games, where you can instantly access your most recent games or discover new ones. Players will be able to purchase games directly from the hub, which will also provide game recommendations to help you increase your library.

Unlike Microsoft’s Xbox Gamepass, however, players will not be able to directly download the games to their TVs. Instead, they’ll stream them, meaning that a high-speed internet connection will be necessary to use the service. And even then, it may suffer from some lag. (Read: PlayStation’s new Game Pass competitor could be the answer to Xbox’s subscription dominance)

Samsung’s Gaming Hub will support pairing various controllers, including those for the PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X, as part of integrating its TVs into your gaming setup, though it’s unclear if you can use these to play cloud games. YouTube Gaming is also integrated into the hub.

Of course, these cloud services demand a subscription. Nvidia’s GeForce Now includes a free tier, but the best experience costs $10 (Php 500) per month for the Priority Tier or $100 (around Php 5,000) every six months for the new RTX 3080 tier, which allows for 1440p gaming at 120Hz. Meanwhile, after a one-month free trial, Google Stadia costs $10 (Php 500) per month, while the lesser-known Utomik costs $7 (around Php 350) per month for individuals and $10 (Php 500) for families.

“We know that gaming continues to increase in popularity for our customers and we have bridged the gap between our Smart TV leadership and advanced gaming software to create an easier way for people to enjoy the games they love, faster,” said Samsung Electronics corporate president Won-Jin Lee. “We developed the Samsung Gaming Hub with our incredible content partners to benefit all gamers, and we plan to continue our collaboration to grow the ecosystem.”

Interestingly enough, these aren’t Samsung’s cloud gaming-capable TVs. In 2015, the company introduced a few sets that worked with Sony’s streaming service, PlayStation Now. For a while, things stayed quiet, but it was only a matter of time until some of the more contemporary cloud gaming systems made their way to modern televisions.

The new gaming hub will have GeForce Now, Stadia, and Utomik, but they will not come pre-installed on TVs. Surprisingly, neither PlayStation Now nor the massively popular Xbox Game Pass will be available at launch.

Samsung Gaming Hub will be available later this year and will be accessible from the new 2022 Smart Hub on these TVs.

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