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It's been nearly three years since the launch of HDMI 2.1 gaming consoles like the Xbox Series X and PS5, and now HDMI 2.1 capture cards are finally hitting the market. AVerMedia has introduced its Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 HDMI 2.1 USB capture card, priced at $299.99, offering streamers and gamers the ability to capture gameplay at 4K/60fps while playing the latest consoles with 120Hz options enabled.
This release is particularly significant because there have been limited options for capturing 4K/60fps over USB until now, especially since Elgato's 4K 60 S+ was discontinued late last year. Many users had to resort to PCIe capture cards.
AVerMedia's latest capture card is capable of supporting up to 4K/144Hz pass-through with HDR and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support. This means you can play games at 4K/144Hz on a gaming PC and then capture footage at 4K/60fps on a streaming PC. It also allows for playing at 4K/120Hz on the latest generation consoles and capturing at 4K/60fps.
While AVerMedia's capture card offers these capabilities, it's worth noting that it doesn't initially support the full HDMI 2.1 specification. Currently, it supports resolutions of 1080p/240Hz and 1440p/144Hz at launch, with a promised firmware update on October 19th to enable 1440p/240Hz. However, there's no mention of support for 1080p/360Hz yet. AVerMedia states that support for additional resolutions will be added gradually.
The Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 also includes Gaming Utility software that allows users to control the device's RGB lighting and synchronize it with other RGB ecosystems. It features a party chat function for recording voice chats during gameplay.
While AVerMedia and MaxSquare have launched HDMI 2.1 capture cards, Elgato has not officially announced its own HDMI 2.1 USB or PCIe cards to complement its range of popular capture cards.
AVerMedia's Live Gamer ULTRA 2.1 is currently available for purchase on Amazon, priced at $299.99. This capture card is expected to be a valuable addition for streamers and content creators looking to capture high-quality gameplay from the latest gaming consoles.
