Hue Entertainment

Hue Entertainment is an upgrade to the Hue system which makes it possible to play fast, synchronous light effects on Hue lights, e,g. to be able to synchronize it with games, movies and music.

The first way to get started is to use the Hue Entertainment Development Kit (EDK). This takes away the complexity of connecting to a bridge and implementing the security protocol, and it also provides an effect rendering engine to make it easy to create light effects. Filling in the following form is required to get access to these tools which are available in source code: EDK Access Request. This is not necessary to use the Hue Entertainment API directly (see below).
Please use the readme in the EDK repository to get started. Below are some additional guides for using the Hue EDK:
Hue EDK Effect Creation
EDK Connection Flow

An alternative is to use the new Hue Entertainment API directly:
Entertainment API Guide

Other useful resources:

And two important notes:

  • It is not allowed to use the the Hue API (including Hue EDK) to sync lights with encrypted video content – Terms of Use section 8.1(xv)
  • Photosensitive seizure warning – A very small percentage of people may experience a seizure when exposed to certain visual images, including flashing lights or patterns that may appear in video games. Even people who have no history of seizures or epilepsy may have an undiagnosed condition that can cause these “photosensitive epileptic seizures” while watching video with the additional light effects. These seizures may have a variety of symptoms, including lightheadedness, altered vision, eye or face twitching, jerking or shaking of arms or legs, disorientation, confusion, or momentary loss of awareness. Seizures may also cause loss of consciousness or convulsions that can lead to injury from falling down or striking nearby objects. Immediately stop usage and consult a doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Parents should watch for or ask their children about the above symptoms. Children and teenagers are more likely than adults to experience these seizures. The risk of photosensitive epileptic seizures may be reduced by taking the following precautions.
    • Use it in a well-lit room
    • Do not use it if you are drowsy or fatigued
    • If you or any of your relatives have a history of seizures or epilepsy, consult a doctor before participation.