We now know more information about the upcoming AV2 codec from the Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), which is slated to launch by year’s end. In the presentation above, Netflix’s Andrey Norkin laid out key details about the codec. According to Norkin, AV2 shows around 30% greater video compression efficiency over its predecessor. Multi-stream and immersive formats will be supported, as well as significant improvements to 3D video quality. Optional extensions for the codec are also planned, according to Norkin, and will be offered as optional extended profiles.
While AV2 is confirmed for a late 2025 launch, widespread hardware adoption is expected to take at least a couple of years.
The following was originally published September 18, 2025:
The Alliance for Open Media (AOMedia), a global endeavor made up of some of the biggest names in video technology including Samsung, AMD, Apple, Google, Nvidia, Disney, and more, have announced that it will be launching its next video codec by the end of the year. The new codec, AV2, is a follow up to AV1, which the group launched in 2018. According to AOMedia, AV2 is designed to not only upgrade an improve upon its previous codec, but to also function as a “foundational piece of AOMedia’s future tech stack.”
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“AV2, a generation leap in open video coding and the answer to the world’s growing streaming demands, delivers significantly better compression performance than AV1,” announced AOMedia. “AV2 provides enhanced support for AR/VR applications, split-screen delivery of multiple programs, improved handling of screen content, and an ability to operate over a wider visual quality range. AV2 marks a milestone on the path to an open, innovative future of media experiences.”
As a proponent of open, royalty-free video coding, AOMedia established AV1 as an alternative to HEVC, the dominant codec on the market. The group claims that 53% of its members plan to adopt AV2 within on year of its release, with 88% planning expecting implementation within two years.
