After adding the Gaming Hub service to its smart TV products, enabling them to use streaming game services such as Microsoft Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and NVIDIA GeForce NOW, and play with Bluetooth game controllers, Samsung announced the launch of the "Designed for Samsung Gaming Hub" certification before CES 2024, allowing more third-party accessory manufacturers to design game controllers with higher compatibility and better operating experience for Samsung Smart TVs.
Since Samsung's smart TV products have a certain market share in the global market and have even been the world's largest TV brand for 17 consecutive years, the "Designed for Samsung Gaming Hub" certification can also provide a certain sales guarantee for third-party accessory manufacturers.
In fact, regular Bluetooth game controllers can actually be used with Samsung Smart TVs, but there are still some compatibility issues. However, Bluetooth game controllers that meet Samsung's certified design will not have compatibility issues and will even include a dedicated button for quickly launching the Gaming Hub service, as well as buttons for operating the TV's power switch and volume control.
Currently, the streaming game services that can be activated through the Gaming Hub service include Xbox Game Pass, GeForce NOW, Amazon Luna, Boosteroid, Blacknut, Utomik and Antstream Arcade. In addition, you can also use streaming video services including Spotify, Twitch and YouTube.
The first gaming controller to meet Samsung's "Designed for Samsung Gaming Hub" certification is the PDP Replay, launched by PDP. It has a battery life of up to 40 hours, a low-latency Bluetooth connection distance of up to 30 feet, and a set of Gaming Hub quick launch buttons on the top of the front of the gaming controller. It is now available for pre-order through its official website.
