A four-year legal battle over Samsung Electronics’ Game Optimizing Service (GOS) on its Galaxy S22 smartphone series concluded last month with a court-ordered settlement requiring the company to compensate affected users, Korean news outlets reported on Wednesday.
The class-action lawsuit, initially filed in 2022 by approximately 1,800 Galaxy S22 consumers, centered on allegations that GOS throttled the performance of the devices’ central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) across a wide range of applications to prevent overheating. Users argued that Samsung failed to adequately disclose the service’s functionality and its impact on device performance.
The controversy erupted shortly after the Galaxy S22’s release when users discovered the GOS software, which could not initially be disabled, was limiting performance even in apps unrelated to gaming. Further fueling the backlash, it emerged that GOS did not restrict performance during benchmark tests, leading consumers to believe Samsung intentionally misrepresented the phones’ capabilities.
In the initial court ruling, the Seoul court acknowledged that Samsung’s marketing materials contained potentially misleading representations. However, the court did not find Samsung liable for damages. Plaintiffs subsequently appealed the decision, with hearings taking place in December 2025.
Following unsuccessful mediation attempts between the parties, the Seoul High Court intervened and imposed a compulsory mediation decision. This type of ruling is legally binding if neither party objects within a two-week period, effectively functioning as a court settlement.
While initial reports indicated plaintiffs were seeking 300,000 won (approximately $200 USD) each in compensation, the exact amount Samsung will pay remains unclear. The court’s decision brings an end to a protracted legal dispute that has drawn scrutiny to Samsung’s software practices and transparency with consumers.
The Civil Division 12-1 of the Seoul High Court, presided over by Judges Jang Seokjo, Ham Sanghoon, and Seo Seungryul, issued the final mediation order, according to reports from The Asia Business Daily.
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