Here's how to set "modern" resolutions

[Vargias]

EDIT 3: You might need to remove the game + Install folder and reinstall the game before it works, i have no clue yet as to why or how this happens. but i thought i should mention this. so if it doesn't work, try this step and if it doesn't let me know and i'll try my best to help you out.

EDIT 2: Added MORE Resolutions, and wrote a better "README".
640x400, 640x480, 800x600, 1024x768, 1024x576, 1280x720

EDIT: i made some downloadable ini files, do read the "readme".

you can download them here
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1FbqvQpO25ri8DtwjfIq3KgaT93cfR8Nw?usp=sharing

How to support and set "modern" resolutions:

To set a custom resolution that is higher than what you are able to select inside the game, you have to edit three .ini files that are inside the game's folder
(ie. C:\Program Files\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Command & Conquer Red Alert II)

The three files you are looking for are:

DDrawCompat.ini
RA2.ini
RA2MD.ini

Step 1
First, you have to put in your resolution in the first file (DDrawCompat.ini). Open it in the text editor put in your resolution at the SupportedResolutions line. So for example, it could then look like this

SupportedResolutions = 640x400, 800x600, 1024x768, 1920x1080, 2560x1440

When you are done, save it.

Step 2
Edit the second file (RA2.ini). The lines you are looking for are

ScreenWidth=800
ScreenHeight=600

Edit these two lines and put in your resolutionSo for example, it can look like this:

ScreenWidth=1920
ScreenHeight=1080

OPTIONAL, add this to the same .ini files

VideoBackBuffer=no
AllowHiResModes=yes
AllowVRAMSidebar=no

When you are done, save it.

Step 3
Repeat step 2 for the last file RA2MD.ini and play.

The menu UI may be small but in game it will be the same as your chosen resolution.

[jonoliveira12]

Another way to do it:

Go to the DDrawCompat.ini, find the "SupportedResolutions = 640x400, 800x600, 1024x768, 1920x1080, 2560x1440", delete the numerical values, and write "native" in place.

Ingame just write HIRES when on the main menu, and you will be able to select greater resolutions in the settings.

The game will remember the new resolutions, so long as you never change them back, otherwise you will need to write HIRES on the main menu to readjust.

[Payayom666]

If you already have the game through EA, can you play with these modern resolutions here on Steam?

[Vargias]

Publicado originalmente por jonoliveira12:

Another way to do it:

Go to the DDrawCompat.ini, find the "SupportedResolutions = 640x400, 800x600, 1024x768, 1920x1080, 2560x1440", delete the numerical values, and write "native" in place.

Ingame just write HIRES when on the main menu, and you will be able to select greater resolutions in the settings.

The game will remember the new resolutions, so long as you never change them back, otherwise you will need to write HIRES on the main menu to readjust.

i made some changes to it, and listed it as optional

[Vargias]

Publicado originalmente por Payayom666:

If you already have the game through EA, can you play with these modern resolutions here on Steam?

no clue, on that, i guess you can try? i don't even have the login details for my ea account anymore, so i can't check

[Nyerguds]

Publicado originalmente por Payayom666:

If you already have the game through EA, can you play with these modern resolutions here on Steam?

What? That's some bizarre brain twist you're making there. What you own on the EA app doesn't have any influence on configuring your Steam game.

[1MantisPhoenix]

The GUI doesn't allow the change in my case :? but the game plays 1920x1080 as desired;
did that stretch yes, or no :? menu is very small in the 1080 screen;
how to scale up the GUI?

[1MantisPhoenix]

Trying to fix the GUI not scaling to 1080p;

Publicado originalmente por jonoliveira12:

Another way to do it:


Ingame just write HIRES when on the main menu, and you will be able to select greater resolutions in the settings.

The game will remember the new resolutions, so long as you never change them back, otherwise you will need to write HIRES on the main menu to readjust.

What do you mean by this?
Ingame just write HIRES when on the main menu, and you will be able to select greater resolutions in the settings.
Which INI has the ingame to write HIRES?
steam launcher options?

[OmegaReaper]

Publicado originalmente por Vargias:

How to support and set "modern" resolutions:

To set a custom resolution that is higher than what you are able to select inside the game, you have to edit three .ini files that are inside the game's folder
(ie. C:\Program Files\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Command & Conquer Red Alert II)

The three files you are looking for are:

DDrawCompat.ini
RA2.ini
RA2MD.ini

Step 1
First, you have to put in your resolution in the first file (DDrawCompat.ini). Open it in the text editor put in your resolution at the SupportedResolutions line. So for example, it could then look like this

SupportedResolutions = 640x400, 800x600, 1024x768, 1920x1080, 2560x1440

When you are done, save it.

Step 2
Edit the second file (RA2.ini). The lines you are looking for are

ScreenWidth=800
ScreenHeight=600

Edit these two lines and put in your resolutionSo for example, it can look like this:

ScreenWidth=1920
ScreenHeight=1080

OPTIONAL, add this to the same .ini files

VideoBackBuffer=no
AllowHiResModes=yes
AllowVRAMSidebar=no

When you are done, save it.

Step 3
Repeat step 2 for the last file RA2MD.ini and play.

The menu UI may be small but in game it will be the same as your chosen resolution.

After doing what this guy said for those that are 1920x1080 screens the best optimal screen setting FOR IN GAME is 1280x720 that will be pretty much fit the screen, also can put this setting in the DDrawCompat.ini.

Should also work on Yuri's Revenge too.

[Casshern1981]

i tried 4K
3840 x 2160 it crashes the game
but 2560x1440 works although everything is very small ^^
Is there a way to tell the game to fill and stretch the whole screen i have a curved widescreen monitor

[Vargias]

Publicado originalmente por Casshern1981:

i tried 4K
3840 x 2160 it crashes the game
but 2560x1440 works although everything is very small ^^
Is there a way to tell the game to fill and stretch the whole screen i have a curved widescreen monitor

remove the optional lines if you added them, whenever i remove them it fills the screen for me no matter what resolution but the videos are still 4:3

[Vargias]

Publicado originalmente por 1MantisPhoenix:

Trying to fix the GUI not scaling to 1080p;

Publicado originalmente por jonoliveira12:

Another way to do it:


Ingame just write HIRES when on the main menu, and you will be able to select greater resolutions in the settings.

The game will remember the new resolutions, so long as you never change them back, otherwise you will need to write HIRES on the main menu to readjust.

What do you mean by this?
Ingame just write HIRES when on the main menu, and you will be able to select greater resolutions in the settings.
Which INI has the ingame to write HIRES?
steam launcher options?

RA2.ini and RA2MD.ini, but you can also type hires at the main menu to activate it.

i'll try to provide download links in a few hrs, just to make it that much easier, i'll provide links when iknow that each one works. so please give me some time to create them. i'm gonna start with that in a bit so expect the download links somewhere in the next couple of hours since i got to do something else first before i can start with this, please be patient

[Nyerguds]

Been playing it on 1024x576, filling my monitor, and it's a very comfortable resolution to play on

[edit]

Seems Tiberian Sun is more picky with its resolutions and only allowed the actual listed ones, so I went with 1128x634 there.

[Emperor's Fist]

960x560 is perfect for 1080p in the original CnC + RA1 and TD+Firestorm. For RA2+YR I would suggest 1280x720 (bonus if you have a 1440p monitor).

[Nyerguds]

Publicado originalmente por 1MantisPhoenix:

What do you mean by this?
Ingame just write HIRES when on the main menu, and you will be able to select greater resolutions in the settings.
Which INI has the ingame to write HIRES?
steam launcher options?

You literally just type it in-game. It's a kind of cheat code.

But it's easier to just put "AllowHiResModes=yes" in the ini, under [Video]. The effect is the same.

[Zef]

4K res crashes the game.

2560x1440 is the max i can go with these settings

Isn't it easier to just use the C&C net launcher? Doesn't that also add other improvements to the game besides a simple resolution switch?