As we rumble towards the release date of the PlayStation 5, Sony has issued a statement saying that, while the PS5 will support 1080p, 4K, and 8K resolutions, it won't support 1440p.
The PlayStation Displays a Resolution Blind Spot
The editorial team at IGN Italy has had confirmation from Sony that 1440p resolution won't be available to PlayStation 5 owners. This may be bad news if you own an ultra-wide monitor and are planning to use it with your PS5.
While it doesn't mean you can't use a 1440p monitor at all, it does mean that you will have to either scale the image up to 1440p, or scale it down if it is in a higher resolution such as 4K. So it isn't ideal, but it isn't the end of the world, either.
What Does This Lack of 1440p Support Mean?
In many respects, the lack of 1440p support won't affect most PS5 gamers. Those with 1080p, 4K, or 8K displays won't have a problem, as the PlayStation 5 will natively support all three.
However, if you use a 1440p monitor for gaming, then you may reach a sticking point when it comes to buying a PlayStation 5. This is because the PS5 hasn't been designed to support that resolution.
1440p monitors have seen a rise in popularity thanks to PC gamers. So, unless you are already a PC gamer who owns a 1440p monitor and who plans on buying a PlayStation 5 to use with it, this shouldn't be a problem.
If that was your plan, then it might be preferable to seek out different display options so that you can use your PS5 as it is intended to be used; in the correct resolution. Sure, you can scale the image, but would you want to?
Scaling the display up or down comes with its own issues, such as degradation of quality. Surely nobody wants that when they have just spent their hard-earned money on a brand new, next-generation device. You would much prefer to play the games in all their glory.
Will the Lack of 1440p Support Affect Sales?
In reality, probably not. Most people will be playing their new console in one of its native resolutions, so it is unlikely to make too much of a dent in PS5 sales figures. According to Steam, only around 7.5 percent of its userbase have 1440p monitors. And the number for PlayStation gamers will be significantly less.
If you plan to buy a 1440p monitor to play PS5 games on, we advise that you don't. Instead, plump for something in one of the PlayStation 5's native resolutions of 1080p, 4K, or 8K and avoid disappointment when it comes time to setting your new console up.
Image Credit: Natanael Ginting/Shutterstock
