Samsung fined $15M in Korea over Galaxy S21, S22 gaming throttling

South Korea's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) has fined Samsung Electronics 20 billion won, roughly $15.1 million, ruling that the company misled consumers in its advertising of gaming performance on the Galaxy S21 series, Galaxy S22 series and Galaxy Tab S8 series.

At the center of the case is a software feature called Game Optimizing Service (GOS). Samsung did not clearly tell users that the service automatically throttles processor and graphics speeds during graphically demanding games. The company rejects the decision and plans to appeal.

Why the FTC imposed the fine

In the commission's assessment, Samsung used marketing language such as "the ultimate mobile gaming experience" without mentioning predetermined performance limits that kick in after a certain period of use on these devices. The FTC said that hiding those limits prevented consumers from making an informed purchase decision.

According to the ruling, the peak performance of the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22 and Galaxy Tab S8 was capped after a certain time. GOS automatically lowered CPU and GPU speeds at that point to keep temperatures at safe levels, which reduced overall gaming performance. The drop led to stuttering, lag and lower graphics quality in demanding games.

Samsung's defense and planned appeal

Samsung describes GOS as a safety feature, saying the service is designed to optimize performance and provide stable gameplay during long gaming sessions. The company also points out that a software update released in March 2022 gave users the option to override the GOS limits.

Samsung further argues that earlier lawsuits over the GOS controversy, both in South Korea and abroad, have been concluded or withdrawn. The company said it will appeal the fine and, in a statement, added that it will actively present and defend its position through the legal process going forward.

Why GOS became contentious

Thermal throttling means reducing the speed of the processor and graphics unit to prevent smartphones and tablets from overheating. In this case, the dispute turns on how fully the existence of that limit was disclosed to users, and how well it squared with marketing claims like "the ultimate mobile gaming experience."

The FTC concluded that Samsung engaged in misleading advertising by concealing these limits. Samsung presents GOS as a safety and optimization feature and cites the March 2022 update and the outcome of earlier cases in its defense. How the appeal plays out should become clear in the coming period.