Splitgate 2 Stretched Resolution Guide for More FPS
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Splitgate 2 is a fast, portal-driven arena shooter, and that pace is exactly why players reach for stretched res — wider player models for snappier flick aim and a useful FPS bump for smoother movement. But like most Unreal Engine titles, simply picking a 4:3 resolution can leave black bars unless you force your GPU to scale the image across the full panel. This guide shows you the Video settings and the NVIDIA/AMD scaling step to get true stretched res in Splitgate 2.

Stretched is a preference — wider models and a zoomed feel for fast aim. Test it against native 16:9 and keep whatever makes your flicks more consistent.
Why a 4:3 pick can show black bars
When you select a 4:3 resolution, your system has to fit that narrower image onto a 16:9 panel. By default it pillarboxes — centers the image and fills the sides with black bars — rather than stretching it. The component that stretches the image to fill the whole panel is your GPU, not the game. So the real fix lives in your graphics driver, not the Splitgate 2 menu.
Recommended Splitgate 2 stretched resolutions
| Resolution | Aspect | Feel |
|---|---|---|
| 1280 x 960 | 4:3 | Classic stretched, widest models |
| 1440 x 1080 | 4:3 | Sharper 4:3, still wide |
| 1728 x 1080 | widescreen (lower) | Mild stretch, fewer pixels for FPS |
1280 x 960 is the most common competitive 4:3 pick and gives the widest models. If full 4:3 feels too distorted during fast portal play, drop to a lower widescreen resolution like 1728 x 1080 for the FPS gain with less stretch.
Step 1 – Force full-panel GPU scaling
NVIDIA
- Open NVIDIA Control Panel → Adjust desktop size and position.
- Scaling mode: Full-screen.
- Perform scaling on: GPU.
- Tick Override the scaling mode set by games and programs and Apply.
AMD
- Open AMD Software → Settings → Display.
- Set GPU Scaling: On.
- Set Scaling Mode: Full Panel.
If your 4:3 resolution isn’t listed, create it first via Create Custom Resolution (NVIDIA) or Custom Resolutions (AMD). For a monitor-level method, see How To Get Custom Resolution / Stretch Res.
Step 2 – Set the resolution in Splitgate 2
- Launch Splitgate 2 → Settings → Video.
- Set Window Mode to Fullscreen — stretched will not work in windowed or borderless.
- Set the Resolution to your chosen value, such as
1280 x 960. - Apply and confirm the change.
If you don’t pick a true Fullscreen window mode, the GPU scaling override won’t take effect and you’ll keep the black bars.
Resolution scale vs. actual resolution
Splitgate 2 is built on Unreal Engine and includes a resolution scale (or render scale) setting that lowers the internal render target while keeping your output resolution the same. That’s a useful FPS lever, but it does not stretch the image or change your aspect ratio — it just renders fewer pixels and upscales them back to your output. For the wider-models look you need to change the actual output resolution as described above; resolution scale is a separate FPS option you can stack on top.
Still seeing black bars?
This is the #1 stretched-res complaint, and it’s almost always the scaling step:
- Window mode is Windowed or Borderless — it must be Fullscreen.
- NVIDIA scaling is set to Aspect ratio instead of Full-screen, or “Override the scaling mode set by games” is unticked.
- AMD GPU Scaling is off, or Scaling Mode isn’t Full Panel.
- Your monitor’s own scaling (OSD) is overriding the GPU — set the monitor’s aspect/scaling option to Full.
- A driver update reset your scaling — re-check these settings after every GPU driver update.
Related guides
- How To Get Custom Resolution / Stretch Res for Fortnite, Apex Legends, Halo, and any other game
- Does Stretched Resolution Increase FPS?
- Best 4:3 Stretched Resolutions for Competitive FPS
- How Stretched Resolution Makes Aim Easier
- Is Stretched Resolution Bannable?
Splitgate 2’s pace rewards both wider models and higher frames, but its Unreal Engine won’t stretch a 4:3 resolution on its own. Force full-panel GPU scaling, pick 1280 x 960 in Fullscreen, and you’ll trade native pixels for the wide, zoomed look and a smoother frame rate — with no black bars.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get stretched resolution in Splitgate 2?
Force full-panel scaling in your GPU driver first: set NVIDIA scaling to Full-screen with Perform scaling on GPU and tick Override the scaling mode set by games, or enable GPU Scaling on Full Panel in AMD Software. Then open Splitgate 2's Video settings, set Window Mode to Fullscreen, and pick a 4:3 resolution like 1280x960. The GPU scaling step is what actually stretches the Unreal Engine image to fill your panel instead of pillarboxing it.
Does stretched resolution increase FPS in Splitgate 2?
Usually yes. A 4:3 resolution like 1280x960 renders far fewer pixels than native 1080p, so GPU-bound systems typically see a frame-rate boost on top of the wider models. Splitgate 2 is a fast arena shooter built on Unreal Engine, and higher, more stable FPS helps with the quick portal-based movement and flick aim. Pair the lower resolution with reduced graphics settings to maximize the gain.
What resolution should I use for stretched Splitgate 2?
1280x960 is the classic 4:3 choice and gives the widest player models for the zoomed-in flick feel. 1440x1080 is also 4:3 but renders a sharper image while keeping the wide look. If full 4:3 distortion feels like too much during fast portal movement, a lower widescreen resolution like 1728x1080 drops your pixel count for FPS with a much milder stretch.
Is stretched resolution bannable in Splitgate 2?
No. Stretched resolution is a display-scaling feature in your GPU driver, not a modification of the game. You are not editing game files or injecting code, just picking a resolution and telling the GPU how to scale the output image. Using a different resolution and your driver's scaling options is standard PC behavior and is not flagged by anti-cheat.
Why does Splitgate 2 show black bars when I pick a 4:3 resolution?
By default the GPU centers the narrower 4:3 image inside your 16:9 panel and pillarboxes it with black bars on the sides instead of stretching it. To fill the whole panel you have to tell the GPU to perform full-panel scaling — that override removes the bars. Make sure Splitgate 2's Window Mode is set to Fullscreen, because the override won't apply in borderless or windowed.