HDR10+, as you may know, is Samsung’s proprietary standard for dynamic HDR content. It enables frame-by-frame metadata enhancement to the content in terms of colors, brightness, and contrast. So far, we have seen HDR10+ compliance on TVs, phones, and select OTT platforms. However, when it comes to gaming devices like consoles, PCs, and monitors, the HDR10+ is yet to become a reality. Meanwhile, there is Dolby Vision support on some of these platforms. But, as Samsung has announced recently, in 2022, we could get to see QLED TVs and gaming monitors wielding this feature.
The South-Korean giant claims that it is bringing “premium HDR gameplay with HDR10+ gaming standard support for its new screens”.
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The company said, “We are extremely proud to announce that the new HDR10+ GAMING standard will be adopted by Samsung’s 2022 Neo QLED line up with the Q70 TV series and above and gaming monitors, allowing users to enjoy a game-changing experience through cutting-edge visuals and richer, life-like images,” said Seokwoo Yong, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D Team, Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics. “Samsung will continue to invest in users’ viewing experiences as technology continues to advance and provide enhanced new features and capabilities.”
HDR10+ Gaming Standard: What that means?
HDR10+ Gaming was first introduced earlier this year in the month of October. During its announcement, Bonggil Bak, Principal Engineer for SW R&D Group, Samsung Electronics elucidated a bit on this technology. According to him, when you play an HDR10+ ready game on an HDR10+ ready display, the latter’s physical attributes are shared with the game’s processing block. The game automatically does its HDR10+ video output optimization for the given display with regards to brightness, contrast, and color. An HDR10+ game will have more visual metadata than the regular HDR10. For context, the peak brightness will be 4x more.
Not just that, the new standard also facilitates low-latency and over 120Hz VRR (Variable Refresh Rate). Even the competing Dolby Vision gaming doesn’t boast this 120Hz+ gameplay.
And all that will be done in real-time sans the user input or involvement. You don’t have to bother with the game settings. This also benefits the creator as Mr. Bak says this “very effectively preserves the original creative intent of the game creators.”
Samsung will be providing the devs with the required tools to equip their games. So far Saber Interactive has initiated to showcase HDR10+ support for two of their titles: Redout 2 and Pinball FX. Also, Game Mechanic Studios will be bringing its HDR10+ games Happy Trails and the Kidnapped Princess soon.
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All of these games will be Nvidia powered and cards from GeForce RTX 30, RTX 20, and GTX 16 lineups will be gaining this support. When and other granular details are yet to be revealed. We will update you when we have them.