Introduction
For more than a decade, x265 has been the backbone of the streaming and broadcast industry, supporting video delivery for some of the biggest platforms and devices around the world. At MulticoreWare, we are proud to have been the original creators and ongoing maintainers of x265 – an encoder that set the standard for HEVC (H.265) performance and continues to produce efficiency improvements in today’s bandwidth-limited environment.
However, the industry is advancing. With new standards like VVC (H.266) and MPEG-5 LCEVC, video compression is entering a new phase where efficiency, scalability, and adaptability must keep up with growing video traffic, higher resolutions, immersive formats, and a more diverse device landscape.
Why x265 Still Matters
Even as we look ahead, HEVC remains critical today:
- HEVC is natively supported on billions of devices, from smartphones and smart TVs to set-top boxes.
- It remains a cornerstone of ATSC 3.0 and is widely deployed in OTT workflows.
- Operators continue to realize meaningful bandwidth savings and CDN cost reductions with optimized HEVC implementations.
At MulticoreWare, we continue to enhance and commercially license x265 – ensuring enterprise customers benefit from robust support and ongoing optimization.
The Rise of VVC (x266)
As video traffic continues to grow, the need for a major improvement in compression efficiency is clear. Versatile Video Coding (VVC, H.266) offers up to 40 – 50% bitrate reduction compared to HEVC, while supporting next-generation use cases such as 8K and UHD content at scale; HDR, HFR, and immersive video; and broadcast standards like Brazil’s TV 3.0.
MulticoreWare’s x266 development is built on the same foundation that made x265 an industry standard – open, efficient, and performance-focused. Customers and partners can count on us for commercial-grade VVC solutions that boost adoption and reduce integration risks.
The LCEVC Advantage
Beyond core codecs, the industry is also adopting enhancement layers like MPEG-5 LCEVC, which offer compression improvements and lower complexity without requiring a complete generational codec upgrade. By adding LCEVC on top of x265 or x266, service providers and device manufacturers achieve up to 40% additional bitrate savings, faster encoding, lower computational load, broader device compatibility, and alignment with future standards like DTV 3.0 and ATSC 3.0.
MulticoreWare is one of the few companies offering end-to-end integration services for LCEVC, bundled with our Ultraziq encoder family.
A Unified, Future-Proof Approach
What sets MulticoreWare apart is our one – stop codec and optimization ecosystem:
- x265 and x266 – spanning HEVC and VVC.
- Ultraziq Live and VoD encoders – commercial – grade, performance – optimized, and LCEVC – enabled.
- Engineering services – integration, customization, and long-term support for partners across broadcast, OTT, telco, and device manufacturing.
This unified strategy ensures our customers can transition smoothly from HEVC to VVC, with LCEVC bridging the gap, and without disrupting workflows or investments.
Looking Ahead
No single codec will define the future of video compression. Instead, smart use of many standards and AI-driven tools will. At MulticoreWare, we believe that VVC, LCEVC, and intelligent preprocessing offer the most practical, sustainable way forward.
As we transition from x265 to x266, MulticoreWare remains dedicated to providing high-quality, efficient, and scalable video solutions. Reach out to us to discover how our codecs and services can help accelerate your move into the x266 era and beyond.
Contact us today at info@multicorewareinc.com to learn more.
