One of the biggest debates in the Fortnite community is whether or not stretched resolutions help gameplay. When comparing stretched vs. native resolutions, there are lots of different factors that influence which one is “better”. Playing on any resolution will have advantages and disadvantages. Understanding why each one is different will give the player a better understanding and will help them decide which one to use. In this article the stretched resolution shown in all the pictures is 1444×1080.
FOV with native resolution (1920×1080) // In-game capture by Nicholas Rivera
FOV with stretched resolution (1444×1080) // In-game capture by Nicholas Rivera
One of the biggest advantages of playing stretched is the vertical field of view or FOV. In native Fortnite resolution, the FOV is set to a specific length and cannot be changed. Playing on a stretched resolution changes that view since it condenses more pixels on the screen. In both of the pictures in this section, the difference is clear. On the native resolution, the player can only see three tiles high, and the stretched can see four tiles high. This is an advantage because that player can see more of a fight going on than the native player. This allows the stretched player to make better decisions because there is less guessing where players are.
Bandolette shooting down an enemy from mid-air // In-game capture by Nicholas Rivera
When playing on a stretched resolution, it is a common misconception that the player hitbox increases. With an increased hitbox, players have an easier time hitting shots since bloom isn’t as bad and players appear larger. This myth comes from CS:GO where stretched resolutions would increase width and not affect height, making the enemies larger. When Fortnite is on a stretched resolution, the player is shrunk down vertically and stretched horizontally, keeping the hitbox even. This is a situation where the placebo effect comes into play since they are larger one way but shrunk the other.
FPS, or frames per second, is how many frames the player can see a second in their game. If a computer cannot get good FPS on native, stretching may be a better option. When playing native on lower-end computers, turning all the settings down makes the game look terrible. Playing a stretched resolution will help to keep the game looking decent while also boosting FPS. This happens because overall there are fewer pixels on the screen, making the game easier to run. The more a player stretches their game, the better their FPS would get.
Bandolette editing on stretched // In-game capture by Nicholas Rivera
Players also like to play stretched because it feels very responsive. When the screen is stretched, it makes the player feel like they are moving faster. As a result, edits and building feel much quicker and more responsive. Player movement also feels much smoother than on native resolution, however, it is up for debate.
While players like myth swear by the stretched resolution and love the way it feels, it may not feel the same for everyone. Some players do not like the way it feels and prefer native resolution. The only way to solidify how stretched feels against native is to try it. If the player feels everything is clean and building and editing are faster, than keep it. But if so many pros agree, maybe stretched resolution is a hidden gem.
enemies are shown in the red circle in both resolutions // In-game capture by Nicholas Rivera
One of the big cons of playing stretched resolutions is the long distance capability. When the player is trying to spot enemies long distance, it is a challenge. Since the pixels are grouped differently, long range fights are hard since the enemy is harder to see. The game also looks fuzzier in stretched, further adding to the complication. In native resolution, the enemy is outlined much more profoundly and is seen more clearly. For some people, the FOV aspect is more important than view distance, so it does not bother them. For those who like longer range fights and sniper battles, native resolution will keep those battles intense.
Overall, the resolution the player decides to choose is based on comfort. Some people get nauseous when they play different resolutions or it gives them headaches. Others do not like to play stretched and prefer native resolution. Whatever the preference, it is always good to know the advantages and disadvantages of each one. Picking resolutions based on their advantages alone will not help, so understanding both sides is the key to finding the perfect resolution for the player. Giving each one a try is great because it may surprise people just how beneficial a stretched resolution can be.
Feature Image Courtesy of @_NicholasRivera
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