Samsung, Microsoft Opens F2P Zones in London, New York

Samsung is giving more gamers the gaming experience of a lifetime for free.

The popular tech giant recently collaborated with Xbox to introduce a new free-to-play (f2p) "Gaming Zone" featuring its screens at Microsoft Experience Centers (MEC) in two cities.

The Gaming Zone is connected to Samsung's Gaming Hub, allowing gamers to enjoy their favorite video games through the cloud gaming capabilities of Xbox's app on smart TVs.

Samsung, Xbox Team Gaming Zone Details

Samsung mentioned in its announcement that it teamed up with Microsoft and its Xbox team to introduce a free-to-play Gaming Zone, a dedicated space where gamers can play their favorite Xbox games on the Samsung Gaming Hub. These Gaming Zones are located in two MECs: one in London, located at 253-259 Regent Street, London, W1B 2ER, per Esports News UK, and one in New York City.

These MECs now have three dedicated gaming areas that use a wide array of Samsung gaming scenes for everyone to enjoy. These are the Cloud Gaming Zone, Living Room Zone, and Tournament Zone.

The Cloud Gaming Zone features 55-inch QLED Smart TVs for game streaming via the Samsung Gaming Hub, allowing visitors and gamers to instantly play games from Xbox and other top gaming partners without an Xbox console.

The Living Room Zone at the two MECs is different from each other. The one in London has a 98-inch Neo QLED HDR Smart TV, while the one in New York has an 85-inch Neo QLED 8K TV at its store entrance.

Last but not least is the Tournament Zone, which comes with some unique Samsung screens. The one in London features 24-inch Odyssey G3 gaming monitors, while the one in New York has 27-inch Odyssey G5 Gaming Monitors.

These monitors give gamers the option to play games either on Xbox Game Pass or Xbox console.

Sangsook Han, Executive Vice President of the Visual Display Business at Samsung Electronics, said that working with Microsoft to make the Gaming Zones a reality and deliver the impressive experience of Samsung Gaming Hub to global gamers is "a great pleasure."

He added that Samsung will expand its partnerships and innovative technology to create "an even more mature service that is loved by gamers all over the world."

What is The Samsung Gaming Hub?

The Samsung Gaming Hub is a one-stop hub for a gamer's needs, per Samsung's Support page. From here, gamers can browse, play, and stream titles directly from their favorite provider without needing a console.

It also features over 100 high-quality games through the Xbox App since June 2022, which gamers can play after subscribing to Xbox Game Pass. Additionally, all games played through the Gaming Hub are stored on it, providing gamers with an immediate and convenient way to access the games they want to play.

However, the Samsung Gaming Hub is only available in select countries, which include Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Korea, Spain, the US, and the UK.