Death Stranding May Be First PS5 Game With Ultra-Wide Support
Death Stranding Director’s Cut offers what may be the first PS5 title to receive ultra-wide resolution support, even if the PS5 doesn’t support it.
Despite the PS5 not having the support for it, Death Stranding Director’s Cut may be the first title on the console to support ultra-wide resolutions. Ultra-wide resolution runs a picture in a 21:9 aspect ratio, presenting a 3440x1440 or 2560 x 1080 resolution that increases the horizontal pixel density. PC gamers are already familiar with ultra-wide support, as it has become a regular feature in recent years. This is thanks in part to the more affordable ultra-wide monitors as of late. However, console players haven’t had the option for the feature as neither the PS5 nor Xbox Series X consoles support them. Former PlayStation exclusives have received ultra-wide support when ported to PC though.
Director’s Cut introduces a swath of content and gameplay additions from the original version of Death Stranding. During the latest State of Play, a trailer showed off new combat mechanics, weapon and traversal options, and expanded story content. Many of the complaints about the original release, which centered around the less than stellar combat and overall pacing, seem to be addressed with this new version.
First reported by VGC, Death Stranding Director’s Cut appears to be the first PS5 title to support the ultra-wide resolution. Although the console doesn’t currently support the resolution, this could be a hint that the console will be receiving an update in the near future to enable the feature. How ultra-wide will be implemented on the console has not been explained as of this writing. The PS5 is also slated to receive updates to enable expanded memory sometime this Summer as well.
In a post on the PlayStation Blog and a Q&A on YouTube, Kojima Productions’ head of publishing Jay Boor lists the major additions coming to the Director’s Cut. He explains that this new version will have two picture modes for the PS5: Performance and Fidelity. Performance mode will run at an upscaled 4K resolution with up to 60fps and Fidelity will run in native 4K. Both of these modes will support HDR and ultra-wide resolution.
The PS5 version of Director’s Cut will also include enhanced sound with the 3D Audio compatible headphones, adaptive trigger and haptic support for the Dual Sense controller, and faster load times. Players will be able to upgrade to the digital deluxe version on PS5 for $10 if they owned the original game on PS4. Save files will also be transferable from the PS4 version to the Director’s Cut.
With all of this new content, Death Stranding Director's Cut looks like a much different game than its original iteration. Death Stranding was a very divisive game but it was not without some very passionate fans. Hopefully people who were hesitant or reserved about Kojima's surreal title will find something to love in the Director's Cut, whether they can play it in ultra-wide resolution or not.
Death Stranding Director's Cut releases September 24, 2021 on PS5.
Source: VGC, PlayStation Blog, Kojima Productions/YouTube