How Samsung Has Catapulted Visual Technology for Video Games Using HDR10+ GAMING

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.

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."

"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."

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.

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