It looks like Samsung is finally getting serious about gaming with the unveiling of a new officially licensed wireless controller for use with the Samsung Gaming Hub.
The design of this gamepad, called the Replay controller, will look eerily familiar to anyone who's ever held an Xbox Wireless Controller. However, there are some key differences here, such as the attractive Midnight Blue color scheme or the ability to use it as a regular TV remote.
In addition to all the inputs you'd find on a standard gamepad, the Replay controller features volume buttons on the d-pad, a TV power button, and two programmable back buttons.
Instead of a conventional console, it's specifically designed for the Samsung Gaming Hub – a game streaming platform that loads onto some Samsung products. It includes a range of cloud streaming apps such as Xbox Cloud Gaming, Amazon Luna and Nvidia GeForce Now that allow users to stream games over the internet without the need to download.
The controller uses a Bluetooth wireless connection and is compatible with a range of Samsung Smart TVs, Samsung monitors and the Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen projector. As a Bluetooth device, it will probably also work with some mobile phones, although exact compatibility in this area has yet to be officially confirmed.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about the Replay controller is the fact that it is manufactured by gaming peripheral giant PDP. The company has a great track record of making high-quality controllers at affordable prices, so I'm optimistic that this is going to be a pretty solid product – even if the market for the accessory is probably quite small.
This isn't all Samsung has in store, however, as it will unveil a new 'Designed for Samsung Gaming Hub' program at CES 2024, according to a recent press release. The Replay controller is part of this program, but the company will also be working with several other accessory manufacturers to create a whole range of Samsung Gaming Hub-compatible products.
Everything included in the program will display a prominent 'Designed for Samsung Gaming Hub' label, which Samsung says “indicates that the product has been tested for compatibility, quality, performance, safety and security on Samsung devices.”
If you're interested in more gaming products, check out our guides for the best gaming tvs and the best monitors for Xbox Series or best monitors for PS5.