Valorant is a fast-paced tactical shooter that relies heavily on precision, timing, and clear visuals. For players using ultrawide monitors or non-standard resolutions, getting the game to display properly in widescreen can make a significant difference in both performance and immersion. Whether you’re aiming for a broader field of view or simply want to make the most out of your display, understanding how to enable and optimize widescreen support in Valorant is essential. Properly configuring your settings not only helps the game look better but can also improve your overall gameplay experience.
Understanding Widescreen in Valorant
What Is Widescreen?
Widescreen typically refers to any display resolution with an aspect ratio wider than the standard 16:9. Common examples include 21:9 and 32:9 ultrawide monitors. These displays offer a broader horizontal viewing area, which is useful in many games for situational awareness and immersion. However, not all games natively support ultrawide resolutions, and some may apply black bars or crop the screen.
Does Valorant Support Ultrawide?
Valorant is developed by Riot Games and uses a fixed 16:9 aspect ratio for gameplay. This means that even if you’re using a 21:9 monitor, the game will default to 16:9 by adding black bars on the sides. This limitation is intended to ensure a level playing field in competitive scenarios, preventing players with ultrawide displays from gaining an unfair advantage in terms of peripheral vision.
That said, there are still ways to customize your display and get a better fullscreen experience, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. Some players prefer a stretched image, while others simply want to eliminate black bars for a cleaner view.
Changing Valorant’s Display Settings
Step 1: Launch Valorant
Open the Valorant launcher and enter the game. Once you’re in, head to the settings menu by clicking the gear icon in the top right corner of the screen, then selecting Settings.
Step 2: Navigate to Video Settings
Within the Settings menu, click on the Video tab. This section contains all the resolution and aspect ratio options that affect how the game is displayed.
Step 3: Select Display Mode
Under the General tab of Video Settings, you will see a setting labeled Display Mode. Choose one of the following based on your preference:
- Fullscreen: Recommended for optimal performance and minimal input lag.
- Windowed Fullscreen: Useful if you’re multitasking or using a dual monitor setup.
- Windowed: Allows for a resizable window, less immersive but flexible.
To achieve the best widescreen experience, selectFullscreen.
Step 4: Adjust Resolution
Now choose a resolution that fits your monitor. If you have a 21:9 display, for example, your native resolution might be 2560×1080 or 3440×1440. Valorant will most likely display with black bars at these resolutions. If you want to eliminate the black bars, you’ll need to use a workaround (explained below).
Using GPU Settings for Widescreen Effect
For NVIDIA Users
If you are using an NVIDIA graphics card, follow these steps:
- Right-click on your desktop and open the NVIDIA Control Panel.
- Go to Display >Adjust desktop size and position.
- Select your monitor and choose Full-screen under the Scaling section.
- Set the Perform scaling on option to GPU.
- Check Override the scaling mode set by games and programs.
- Click Apply to save changes.
This may stretch the image to fill the screen entirely, removing black bars, although the game will still technically be rendering in 16:9.
For AMD Users
If you are using an AMD GPU, follow these steps:
- Right-click on your desktop and open AMD Radeon Software.
- Navigate to Display settings.
- Find the Scaling Mode option and set it to Full Panel.
- Enable GPU scaling if it’s not already turned on.
Similar to NVIDIA settings, this stretches the 16:9 display to fit a widescreen format. Some players prefer this for a more immersive view, though it can distort the image slightly.
Is It Worth It to Play Valorant in Widescreen?
Advantages
- Maximizes use of your monitor’s full width.
- Can feel more immersive and cinematic for casual play.
- Stretched view may make targets appear wider, aiding accuracy (a controversial tactic).
Disadvantages
- Image distortion from stretched display settings.
- Not supported officially for competitive advantage.
- May reduce performance if you force higher resolutions.
Ultimately, the choice depends on whether you value immersion and screen real estate or competitive integrity and clarity.
Alternative Solutions
Playing in Borderless Fullscreen
If you prefer ease of use and multitasking, borderless fullscreen is a good compromise. It uses your monitor’s resolution while maintaining 16:9 aspect ratio, and allows you to alt-tab quickly without disrupting the display.
Using Third-Party Tools (Caution)
Some players use third-party software to force ultrawide support or modify the game’s aspect ratio. However, this comes with risk. Valorant’s anti-cheat system, Vanguard, may flag or block such tools, potentially leading to account suspension. It’s best to avoid unsupported modifications.
Game Optimization Tips
Match Resolution with Refresh Rate
Ensure your monitor’s refresh rate and in-game resolution are synced for smooth gameplay. You can check this in both Valorant’s video settings and your GPU control panel.
Lower Graphics Settings If Needed
Using a high-resolution widescreen mode can be demanding. Reduce shadows, anti-aliasing, and detail settings to maintain a consistent frame rate.
Test Before Competitive Play
If you’re experimenting with display settings, test them in practice or unranked matches. Get used to the field of view and visual changes before playing ranked games.
While Valorant doesn’t officially support ultrawide gameplay beyond 16:9, there are still ways to achieve a widescreen display by tweaking your settings. Whether through GPU scaling, stretched resolutions, or fullscreen modes, you can find a setup that works best for your system and playstyle. Be mindful of the pros and cons of each method, and always prioritize performance and visual clarity to stay competitive. With the right configuration, you can enjoy a widescreen Valorant experience without sacrificing gameplay quality.