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OBS Studio 28, released on 31 August 2022, was more than an interface refresh: it introduced HDR and 10-bit workflows, moved OBS to Qt 6, added native Apple Silicon builds, expanded platform-specific audio capture, and included obs-websocket 5.0. Whether those changes matter to you depends on your operating system, hardware, plugins, capture source, and streaming destination. OBS 28 is a historical release; its 2022 compatibility notes do not establish what current OBS versions or streaming services support today.
What changed in OBS Studio 28?
OBS Project marked the release’s tenth anniversary with OBS Studio 28.0. Its most consequential changes affected what OBS could encode and capture, which computers it supported, and how plugins and automation tools connected to it—not just how the application looked.
- HDR and 10-bit color workflows became possible with compatible codecs and encoders.
- The interface moved from Qt 5 to Qt 6, ending support for several older operating systems and requiring Qt 6-compatible plugins.
- OBS offered native Apple Silicon builds.
- Windows gained application-specific audio capture; macOS capture gained ScreenCaptureKit support with version-dependent capabilities.
- obs-websocket 5.0 was included in OBS downloads.
OBS also listed an updated AMD encoder implementation on Windows, NVIDIA background removal integration on Windows, automatic recording splits by time or file size, and the Yami default theme. These are selected additions, not a complete changelog; platform-specific availability applies where noted.
HDR and 10-bit: what became possible, and what was required?
OBS 28 added color-format and color-space settings for HDR and 10-bit output. The release notes specify that these workflows required AV1 or HEVC encoding; selecting an HDR color space alone was not enough.
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HDR streaming settings and limits
For HDR, OBS recommended P010 as the color format and Rec. 2100 PQ as the color space. At the time of OBS 28’s release, OBS described HDR streaming as supported through YouTube’s HLS service when using an HEVC encoder. That is a statement about the 2022 release, not a guarantee of YouTube’s current support matrix.
OBS 28 could also tonemap an HDR game source into an SDR scene. Conversely, a 10-bit SDR recording could use P010 with an SDR color space such as Rec. 709 or Rec. 601, but still needed AV1 or HEVC encoding.
Hardware and workflow caveats
OBS’s release notes said 10-bit HEVC encoding required an NVIDIA 10-series, AMD 5000-series, or newer GPU. Intel QuickSync and Apple VT were not yet supported for that feature at the time. OBS also noted that HDR preview did not work on macOS or Linux then, and that several inputs and encoders still needed updating.
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Some filters would not function on HDR-rendering sources: Apply LUT, Chroma Key, Color Key, Image Mask/Blend, Luma Key, and Sharpness. If your scene depended on one of these, test the complete workflow rather than assuming an HDR-capable encoder would preserve every effect.
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Capturing HDR from an external device
For an external HDR source such as a console or camera, OBS’s 2 August 2022 guidance said the capture device needed to support a 10-bit format such as P010. Device-based HDR capture was supported on Windows at that time. OBS listed tested devices including the ASUS CU4K30 and 4KPRO, EVGA XR1 Pro, AVerMedia Live Gamer 4K (GC573), Elgato 4K60 Pro Mk.2, 4K60 S+, and 4K Pro. These are examples from that dated guidance, not a purchase requirement or confirmation of current availability; check the current device specifications and OBS support before buying.
Qt 6 changed upgrade compatibility
OBS moved its user-interface framework from Qt 5 to Qt 6 to keep pace with toolkit updates and support newer operating systems and architectures. The cost of that transition was dropping support for older platforms. OBS 28 did not support Windows 7 or 8, macOS 10.13 or 10.14, Ubuntu 18.04, or 32-bit operating systems. Users on those systems could not treat OBS 28 as a compatible routine upgrade.
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Plugins built around Qt 5 might stop working unless their developers updated them for Qt 6. That did not mean every plugin broke: compatibility depended on the individual plugin and platform. OBS’s compatibility page, dated 31 August 2022, offered a snapshot rather than a complete list. Before upgrading, check each essential plugin’s current version and platform and CPU-architecture support, particularly on Apple Silicon.
What native Apple Silicon builds meant for Mac streamers
OBS 28 offered native Apple Silicon builds, allowing the app to run without x86 emulation. OBS described the native build as running more optimally but supplied no benchmark, so there is no supported numeric performance gain to quote.
The practical choice was whether the plugins and other dependencies a streamer needed were available for the native build. OBS cautioned that some third-party plugins might not yet be available for Apple Silicon and said users could use x86 builds when they needed plugins not available natively. Check plugin architecture compatibility before choosing which build to use.
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Audio capture became more platform-specific
Windows: capture audio from one application
OBS 28 added application-specific audio capture on Windows, making it possible to capture audio output from a single process. This could help separate a game or other application from general desktop audio. The release notes describe this as a Windows feature; do not assume the same capture option exists on every operating system.
macOS: ScreenCaptureKit and direct audio
On macOS 12.5 and later, OBS added support for Apple’s ScreenCaptureKit framework. OBS described improved capture performance and noted direct audio capture without third-party solutions on macOS 13 and later. Those capabilities have distinct minimum OS versions.
OBS also listed Apple VT encoder improvements and support for CBR, CRF, and Simple Mode on Apple Silicon; CBR required macOS 13 or later. These are release-specific notes, not a statement that every encoder option behaved identically on every Mac.
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obs-websocket 5.0 came with OBS downloads
OBS 28 downloads included obs-websocket 5.0 as a first-party plugin. In its 3 August 2022 announcement, OBS Project said the version 5 rewrite brought a new protocol, additional features, and improved reliability, and that integration would help standardize official API support for third-party scripts and tools.
If you used automation, remote controls, or software integrations, check whether they supported the version 5 protocol. Do not assume a setup built around an older websocket plugin or protocol would transfer unchanged.
Does OBS 28 matter for your setup?
Start with the feature you actually want, then check the constraints that govern it. OBS 28’s release notes describe several distinct workflows rather than one universal upgrade benefit.
| Your goal | What to verify | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|
| Stream or record HDR/10-bit | AV1 or HEVC encoder, supported hardware, P010 and appropriate color space; destination support for streaming | HDR depends on the full encoding, scene, platform, and delivery chain. OBS 28’s YouTube HLS/HEVC statement was specific to the 2022 release. |
| Capture an HDR console or camera | 10-bit-capable capture device and compatible OS; OBS’s 2022 device guidance specified Windows for device-based HDR capture | An HDR capture card is relevant to an external-source workflow, not ordinary SDR streaming. |
| Upgrade an older computer | Operating system and 64-bit architecture | Windows 7/8, macOS 10.13/10.14, Ubuntu 18.04, and 32-bit systems were unsupported by OBS 28. |
| Keep a plugin-dependent workflow | Plugin update, Qt 6 compatibility, operating system, and CPU architecture | Check the exact plugin; the dated compatibility snapshot was explicitly non-exhaustive. |
| Use a Mac with Apple Silicon | Whether every required plugin supports the native architecture | Choose the native build when dependencies support it; OBS said an x86 build remained an option for unavailable plugins. |
| Separate application audio | Windows application-specific capture, or the relevant macOS version and capture route | These were platform- and version-specific additions, not universal audio features. |
| Automate OBS remotely | Whether scripts and integrations support obs-websocket 5.0 | Version 5 used a new protocol, so verify compatibility instead of assuming older setups work unchanged. |
Common upgrade problems and what to check
- OBS 28 will not install or run on an older system: check the OS and architecture against the release’s dropped-support list. OBS 28 was not compatible with Windows 7/8, macOS 10.13/10.14, Ubuntu 18.04, or 32-bit operating systems.
- A plugin disappears or fails after upgrading: check for a Qt 6-compatible release built for your platform and architecture. If none is available, consult the plugin developer before relying on it in a live production.
- The Apple Silicon build lacks a plugin: verify whether the plugin supports native Apple Silicon. OBS said an x86 build could be used for plugins not available natively.
- HDR output is unavailable or looks wrong: verify the AV1/HEVC encoder, P010 format, intended color space, compatible hardware, and the source-to-destination workflow. Check whether any filters on the HDR-rendering source are among those OBS listed as nonfunctional.
- An external HDR source stays SDR: check whether the capture device supports a 10-bit format such as P010 and whether the OS and capture path match OBS’s documented support. The 2022 guidance was Windows-specific for device-based HDR capture.
- Audio from one app is missing: confirm you are using the Windows application-specific audio feature rather than assuming it is available on another platform. On macOS, check the OS version and the ScreenCaptureKit/direct-audio conditions.
- An automation tool stops connecting: check whether it supports obs-websocket 5.0 and its new protocol.
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