NAB 2025 Highlights: 8K 120Hz Gaming-Horizon: Forbidden West Demands Next-Gen Ultra High Bandwidth F

The 2025 NAB Show in Las Vegas gave gaming enthusiasts a glimpse into the future: 8K resolution at 120Hz refresh rates is no longer a concept — it’s becoming reality.

Leading tech companies collaborated to present an impressive live demo, running Horizon: Forbidden West (Steam platform) on a powerful gaming PC setup featuring AMD’s Ryzen 7 9800X3D processor and Radeon RX 9070 XT graphics card. Although the game rendered natively at 5K, it was upscaled via advanced super-resolution technology to a stunning 8K output.

Horizon Forbidden West runs at 8K 120Hz on Samsung TV via HDMI 2.1

The video signal, compressed with DSC (Display Stream Compression) and transmitted over HDMI 2.1b, was displayed on a custom Samsung 65-inch Neo QLED 8K TV, supporting ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode), VRR (Variable Refresh Rate), and AMD FreeSync Premium Pro. This combination ensured fluid gameplay and ultra-responsive feedback — key to any premium gaming experience.

It’s believed that the “world-first” claims being made during the showcase were related to achieving 8K 120Hz gameplay over HDMI 2.1, which has a maximum bandwidth of 48 Gbps. To push beyond this limitation, DSC was used to deliver the high frame rate and resolution.
Some speculated that Samsung’s “modifications” to the display involved DSC, but in truth, most 8K TVs made since 2021 already support DSC natively. It’s more likely those customizations related to other performance optimizations such as latency tuning, heat management, or enhanced VRR handling.

Meanwhile, a major future shift in interface technology is also on the horizon:

In January, the HDMI Forum introduced the new Ultra96 cable, set to support HDMI 2.2, which will double the available bandwidth to 96Gbps. This leap will allow native transmission of 4K at 480Hz, 8K at 240Hz, and even 10K at 120Hz — all without DSC. While the full specification is expected in the first half of 2025, real-world adoption in consumer products may still be a few years away. Until then, HDMI 2.1 + DSC remains the standard for pushing beyond 4K in gaming and video applications.

Traditional copper HDMI cables are nearing their physical limits. They struggle when handling 8K 60Hz or higher resolutions, especially over distances beyond 3 meters. Signal degradation, interference, and handshake instability are real risks in premium setups.Fiber optic HDMI cables solve these issues by transmitting signals as light, eliminating EMI, maintaining full bandwidth over longer distances, and ensuring stable transmission for 8K 120Hz content, especially when using DSC.
If your gaming rig or home theater setup is aligned with what we saw at NAB 2025, then the HDMI cable you choose is no longer an afterthought — it’s an essential part of performance delivery.

At AOCFiberlink, we engineer solutions for demanding AV environments. Our Super Slim 8K HDMI 2.1 Fiber Active Optical Cable is designed for gamers, creators, and AV integrators seeking seamless 8K transmission in sleek, flexible form factors.

AOCFiberlink Ultra-slim 8K Fiber Optic HDMI2.1 Optical Cable

AOCFiberlink Ultra-thin 8K HDMI2.1 Active Optical Cable

• Native support for 8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz, and all HDMI 2.1 functions (eARC, VRR, ALLM)

• DSC-ready transmission to enable 8K 120Hz over HDMI 2.1

• Ultra-slim and ultra-flexible for easier installations and tight spaces

• Stable performance over up to 100 meters — far beyond copper cables

• Immune to EMI for crystal-clear signal quality

The NAB 2025 showcase marked a turning point: 8K 120Hz gaming is now real — and accessible. But whether it’s via HDMI 2.1 with DSC or future HDMI 2.2 standards, your cable is the critical link between your GPU and your display.

Until HDMI 2.2 arrives in full force, HDMI 2.1 AOC cables like AOCFiberlink’s super slim series remain the most reliable and future-ready solution to unlock ultra-high-resolution gaming performance.