3.24 billion of the world’s nearly 8 billion inhabitants are gamers. As a result, it comes as no surprise that the segment was one of the main focus points of this year’s IFA 2023 show. A fun way to relieve stress, connect with friends and pass the time, gaming is diverse in that consumers can turn almost any internet-connected mobile phone, tablet, laptop, or console into an instant entertainment hub.
This theme of accessible gaming was central to the IFA Management team’s curriculum development for the sector. “What we’ve looked into as an events team – particularly in the time of COVID – was what can cloud gaming provide as a platform with also an eye to the future distribution of digital games as a high priority,” said Cornelia Schwobe, IFA Sales Director of Consumer Electronics and former head of Event Operations & Technology at EA Sports.
IFA, which is the largest European consumer electronics show, was the catalyst for product drops from some of the biggest companies in the gaming world including Lenovo and Samsung. As a result, the show floor was jam-packed with all the latest software, monitors, consoles and accessories the market has to offer. Here is our roundup of the best new gaming-related products unveiled at the show.
Lenovo Legion Go
The Lenovo Legion Go is the first product to make our list and for good reason. The device is the first Windows gaming handheld device produced by the company. Powered by AMD Ryzen Z1 Series processors, the Lenovo Legion Go runs a Windows 11 system and boasts an 8.8-inch QHD+ 16:10 Lenovo PureSight gaming display that can handle resolutions ranging from 1600p to 800p and 144Hz to 60Hz refresh rates. Touted as a device that brings PC-level gaming to the mobile segment on the go, there isn’t much the Legion Go is missing.
Jun Ouyang, Lenovo’s vice president and general manager of the Consumer Business Segment, Intelligent Devices Group, said in the company’s press release: “We began designing the Lenovo Legion Go over two years ago in order to empower gamers around the world to game their way. With the introduction of the Lenovo Legion Go, we are excited to expand our Lenovo Legion gaming ecosystem with a device that allows gamers to—literally—game on the go.”
Samsung Odyssey Neo G9 Monitor
Samsung went on a bit of a tear in the lead-up to this year’s show by dropping the Odyssey Neo G9 Monitor and the Freestyle 2nd Gen with Gaming Hub projector, which will be featured later on this list.
The Odyssey Neo G9 Monitor features what the company touts as the “World’s First Dual UHD display,” designed to elevate picture quality. The monitor also delivers 7680×2160 resolution and has a 1000R curved 57-inch screen, which utilizes quantum mini LED technology. According to Hoon Chung, EVP of Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, “The world of gaming is constantly evolving, and our latest monitor technology is crucial for gamers to open new doors to adventure and perform their best. Samsung’s monitor leadership is further boosted by our newest Odyssey monitors, which unlock the ultimate level of immersion and create new experiences for gamers worldwide.”
Dolby Atmos Flex Connect
Now onto a product not directly tied to the gaming world, but is sure to enhance any gaming setup. Dolby Atmos Flex Connect allows users to connect a TV’s sound system with the company’s accessory wireless speakers to customize the audio setup of any room. TCL will be the first company to implement the technology on its 2024 lineup of TVs.
The company is extremely excited about the flexibility offered by this new technology. John Couling, SVP of Entertainment at Dolby Laboratories said in the product announcement on August 28, 2023: “Dolby Atmos FlexConnect is an entirely new category of experience that offers consumers the freedom and flexibility to choose how they want to arrange their devices while still getting a great immersive Dolby Atmos experience.”
The Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen with Gaming Hub
Projectors have never gotten a great rep from the gaming community, in large part due to the category’s emphasis on emulating the big-screen experience, while lacking many of the platforms and features gamers look for.
The Samsung Freestyle 2nd Gen with Gaming Hub won’t rival a dedicated gaming setup, but it does provide major upgrades for casual gamers looking for a multifunctional device that combines a movie theater atmosphere with gaming integration. The portable projector can create images up to 100 inches and features the company’s Gaming Hub, which consolidates titles from Xbox and other gaming companies into one streaming platform. According to Florian Liewer, Senior Director of International Gaming Marketing at Microsoft, in the company’s IFA press release: “Samsung’s state-of-the-art technology signals a thrilling new chapter in gaming. We are inviting more players to embark on a journey with us and create an adventure that unravels in your living room via the Gaming Hub.”
