The Samsung Gaming Hub, part of the company’s 2022 and 2023 smart TVs (it’s also found on select 2020 and 2021 TVs), gives you access to cloud-gaming services including Nvidia GeForce Now and Xbox Game Pass, no console necessary. But sometimes connected features like this fall short of their promises, so I wanted to find out whether the experience is good enough to replace an Xbox.Â
Again, the Gaming Hub is for cloud-gaming services, so you aren’t downloading games onto the TV to play locally; the TV must be connected to the internet at all times. Samsung recommends a 5GHz Wi-Fi connection of 20 Mbps or higher, or a wired Ethernet connection. Streaming games means you can jump right into playing them without waiting for lengthy installs or running out of storage space. With games getting larger all the time, downloading a game can take a while, even with a fast, steady connection.Â
Xbox Game Pass has a large selection of games, new and old, that are ready to stream — a perfect fit for the Gaming Hub. However, in order to access the Xbox Game Pass game library, whether through an Xbox or a Samsung TV, you’ll need to subscribe. Specifically, you’ll need the $17 monthly Ultimate subscription to access the cloud section of games.Â
Setting Up
In the Gaming Hub, you’ll find a list of available cloud-gaming services in addition to Xbox Game Pass, such as GeForce Now and Amazon Luna. If you have an Xbox controller with Bluetooth, you can connect it directly to the TV. If you aren’t sure which controllers will work, go to xbox.com/smart-tv-pair for a list. Surprisingly, you can even use a PlayStation 5 controller.
At any time, you can hold down the Play/Pause button on the TV remote to open a side menu that gives you access to popular games as well as Spotify (if you’d like to listen to music or a podcast while gaming). It also features gaming videos from YouTube and a settings menu. You can search for games, access controller and sound options,…
Read the full article here