Samsung Showcases Horizon: Forbidden West in Stunning 8K at 120fps—But Wait!

Samsung's 8K Gaming Showcase: What You Need to Know
introduction to the Event
Samsung recently showcased a remarkable demonstration of the game Horizon: Forbidden West running in real-time at an impressive 8K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. This event was touted as a world-first, but there are importent details that could affect how this experience translates to everyday gamers.
The Setup Behind the Demo
The demonstration featured a Samsung TV connected via HDMI, displaying smooth gameplay. however, achieving such high performance may not be feasible for most users due to several factors, including cost and technology limitations.
Modified Technology
Reports indicate that the Samsung TV used in this demo was modified in some way. The current HDMI 2.1 standard does not support the bandwidth needed for true 8K video at high frame rates. Future versions like HDMI 2.2 are expected to offer better capabilities, but for now, Samsung utilized display Stream Compression (DSC) technology to make this possible. While DSC is available on some Samsung TVs already, it raises questions about how much of this demo can be replicated by consumers.
Upscaling Techniques Used
Another critical point is that Horizon: Forbidden West did not run in native 8K resolution during the demo. Instead, it operated on an AMD Ryzen 9800X3D CPU paired with an AMD Radeon RX 9070XT GPU—this setup can only output up to a maximum of 5K resolution. To achieve what appeared as true 8K visuals, Samsung employed AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) technology for upscaling images similar to Nvidia’s DLSS method.
Evaluating Claims of True Gameplay Experience
While achieving non-native 8K at a refresh rate of 120Hz is impressive and deserves recognition,one must question whether it's accurate for Samsung to claim they demonstrated actual gameplay at full native resolution when adjustments were made behind the scenes.According to industry experts from flatpanelshd, maintaining genuine native resolutions while gaming requires frame rates exceeding just over half of what was shown—60 frames per second or more—to ensure smooth performance without lag or stutter.
Future Availability and Accessibility
As exciting as this demonstration was, it highlights that systems capable of delivering games at both true native resolutions and high refresh rates are still far from being widely accessible or affordable for average gamers today.It may take time before such advanced setups become commonplace within homes across various budgets.
Despite these challenges regarding accessibility and authenticity in gaming experiences like Horizon, one can only imagine how stunning such visuals would appear on-screen during gameplay sessions if all conditions were met perfectly—even if recorded footage wouldn’t fully capture its essence unless viewed on an actual capable display like an authentic 8K monitor.
Conclusion
while Samsung's showcase brought attention-grabbing advancements in gaming graphics with their presentation featuring Horizon: Forbidden West, potential buyers should remain cautious about claims surrounding true performance levels achieved through modifications rather than standard consumer setups available today.