At CES 2024, PDP will unveil the first certified gamepad under the scheme.
With the help of a certification program, Samsung intends to strengthen the ecosystem surrounding its smart TVs that is centered on game streaming. This announcement was made today, in advance of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2024 in Las Vegas. The Designed for Samsung Gaming Hub program provides third-party accessory manufacturers with an official accreditation indicating their products are compatible with the platform. There is a pre-order option available for the first licensed gamepad for the application, which comes from PDP.
A badge that reads “Designed for Samsung Gaming Hub” will be affixed to the goods of hardware partners who collaborate with Samsung through participation in the program. The business claims that the designation indicates that the controller will give the “best possible game streaming experience on Samsung Gaming Hub, regardless of the supported Samsung device players choose.” This is despite the fact that Samsung Gaming Hub is compatible with the majority of ordinary Bluetooth gamepads. “compatibility, quality, performance, safety, and security” are the characteristics that Samsung refers to as being represented by the label on its products.
If, on the other hand, you already have a Bluetooth gamepad that is compatible with Samsung Gaming Hub and you are not concerned about having specific shortcut buttons, then you should be able to remain with it.
There is a comprehensive list of game streaming providers that are included in Samsung Gaming Hub. These services include Xbox Game Pass, GeForce Now, Amazon Luna, Boosteroid, Blacknut, Utomik, and Antstream Arcade. (The Google Stadia, which has since been sold off, was formerly included on that list.) Additionally, it is able to broadcast material from sites such as YouTube, Twitch, and Spotify.
The PDP Replay Wireless Controller is the first hardware partner product to receive certification to meet the requirements. It has a low-latency Bluetooth connection that can be established up to 30 feet away and has a battery life that can last for up to 40 hours. There is a button that’s specifically designed to start the Samsung Gaming Hub, and it also features buttons for the TV’s power and volume.
Additionally, Samsung has stated that Amazon and Best Buy would sell the PDP Replay at a later time. The PDP Replay is currently available for pre-order on the PDP website.