PlayStation 4 Pro and X Box One X are now both on sale, supporting 4K gaming through checkerboard rendering. Sony and Microsoft have each announced that their next-gen consoles will support 8K resolution, but there is much speculation as to whether this means true 8K content scaling up or simply scaling 4K content up to this higher resolution.
Pimax unveiled at this year’s Consumer Electronic Show (CES) a prototype of its 8K virtual reality headset that the company plans on mass producing following an extremely successful Kickstarter campaign last year. While current models can display visuals that rival some high-end consumer PC graphics cards, for full 8K resolution it requires even more powerful GPU.
While such technologies offer impressive pixel density and color range, most gamers do not view owning such screens for gaming as being solely about showing off expensive hardware or just enjoying games to their maximum quality. Instead, investing in such displays for emotional as well as rational reasons appeals to buyers looking to show off expensive purchases while enjoying games with optimal visuals and audio.
Given this background, 8K technology is no surprise that it’s reaching consumers as a means of expanding the functionality of existing TV sets. Pixel density provides enough pixels for high-resolution video content in place of standard 16:9 displays or as digital wallpaper for PCs or home office workstations; additionally, more and more NFTs are now being sold with stunning 8K resolution being an attractive selling point for some buyers.
Though a number of companies are working on 8K monitors specifically tailored towards gaming, Samsung’s 8K Ultrawide Gaming Monitor stands out. This 27-inch display can be purchased in either UHD or 4K resolution and features an “Art Store,” targeted specifically at gamers by partnering with NFT marketplaces worldwide. The Art Store will feature over 2,500 pieces from top galleries around the world. Players will be able to customize their monitor’s display by choosing from among a selection of artwork they find pleasing – they will also have access to purchase, sell and trade these NFTs directly through its app on the monitor itself. Starting this summer, the Samsung Ultrawide Gaming Monitor will be available in the United States for $2,500. More details can be found on Samsung’s website; additionally, an application is being developed that will allow players to stream game contents onto the monitor itself.
