Aspect Ratio / Resolutions on store pages

[Eudae]

Publishers/devs need a way to communicate the aspect ratios and resolutions that their game supports similar to the "languages supported" section on a game's store page.

If I had to guess, roughly 80% of my refunds are because games do not support my aspect ratio. Doesn't bother me too much but I assume steam is eating those credit card fees and it would be easier if I could just avoid games instead of wasting my time.

Maybe something a bit more detailed than "Supports 21:9, 32:9" as well? E.g. some games support my resolution but display their content at 16:9 which is totally fine for some games. However, some will horizontally scale with the resolution and just look absolutely terrible (recently: tyrant's blessing) while others zoom in and lose vertical real estate to "support" ultrawide (recently: the ascent).

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by Eudae:

Publishers/devs need a way to communicate the aspect ratios and resolutions that their game supports similar to the "languages supported" section on a game's store page.

If I had to guess, roughly 80% of my refunds are because games do not support my aspect ratio. Doesn't bother me too much but I assume steam is eating those credit card fees and it would be easier if I could just avoid games instead of wasting my time.

Maybe something a bit more detailed than "Supports 21:9, 32:9" as well? E.g. some games support my resolution but display their content at 16:9 which is totally fine for some games. However, some will horizontally scale with the resolution and just look absolutely terrible (recently: tyrant's blessing) while others zoom in and lose vertical real estate to "support" ultrawide (recently: the ascent).

Not a bad idea on paper the problem is there are quite a few aspect ratios out there. and devs can already put this kinda stuff in the game description. I just don't think developers really see it as an issue since unless you're supporting one of the odd bal aspect ratios...

You best bet is to simply ask in the game forums.

[Eudae]

Originally posted by Start_Running:

Originally posted by Eudae:

Publishers/devs need a way to communicate the aspect ratios and resolutions that their game supports similar to the "languages supported" section on a game's store page.

If I had to guess, roughly 80% of my refunds are because games do not support my aspect ratio. Doesn't bother me too much but I assume steam is eating those credit card fees and it would be easier if I could just avoid games instead of wasting my time.

Maybe something a bit more detailed than "Supports 21:9, 32:9" as well? E.g. some games support my resolution but display their content at 16:9 which is totally fine for some games. However, some will horizontally scale with the resolution and just look absolutely terrible (recently: tyrant's blessing) while others zoom in and lose vertical real estate to "support" ultrawide (recently: the ascent).

Not a bad idea on paper the problem is there are quite a few aspect ratios out there. and devs can already put this kinda stuff in the game description. I just don't think developers really see it as an issue since unless you're supporting one of the odd bal aspect ratios...

You best bet is to simply ask in the game forums.

The same could be said for languages but it doesn't hurt to list out supported ones.

Some games are aspect ratio agnostic (their UI positions properly and their vertical fov remains the same). These games could simply check something like "aspect ratio agnostic". Other games are strictly 16:9. This information would help me avoid those games.

It's often faster to buy the game, install it, try it out, and refund it than it is to wait on a response in the game forums, especially for smaller games.

[Mailer]

If you need to know ahead of time whether a game supports a certain hardware specific then you can use the pcgamingwiki for that. It's usually pretty thorough with what works and what doesn't for each game, and if there is a fix to make it work.

That doesn't mean that every fix is without a compromise but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet when you try to game beyond the developer's realm of concern, as for specifications like the native resolution wherein they made the game.

[Eudae]

Originally posted by Mailer:

If you need to know ahead of time whether a game supports a certain hardware specific then you can use the pcgamingwiki for that. It's usually pretty thorough with what works and what doesn't for each game, and if there is a fix to make it work.

That doesn't mean that every fix is without a compromise but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet when you try to game beyond the developer's realm of concern, as for specifications like the native resolution wherein they made the game.

Yeah. There's also flawless widescreen.

Sorry, I'm not looking for "tips on how to deal with games that don't support ultrawide". This is a suggestion thread specifically about adding this information to store pages.

Generally, I will go to the steam page, search the forums really quick, and then ask on the game's discord. If I don't find anything within 5 or 10 minutes, I'll just buy the game. If it doesn't support ultrawide, I'll generally write a negative review (if it looks like the game should support ultrawide - doesn't always apply) and add a forum post about it so other people can see that it doesn't support ultrawide.

I don't necessarily think games that don't support ultrawide deserve a negative review but if it's not listed on the steam store and I couldn't find the relevant information prior to buying the product then it is what it is.

[Nx Machina]

https://store.steampowered.com/curator/9685213-r-ultrawidemasterrace-Group/

Secondly all information on the store page is supplied by the developer, publisher.

Originally posted by Eudae:

If it doesn't support ultrawide, I'll generally write a negative review (if it looks like the game should support ultrawide - doesn't always apply) and add a forum post about it so other people can see that it doesn't support ultrawide.

Writing a negative review because you chose to buy an ultrawide screen.

You do realise developers choose to support the most used resolutions such as 1080p and do not have to support niche resolutions like ultrawide.

[Eudae]

Originally posted by Nx Machina:

https://store.steampowered.com/curator/9685213-r-ultrawidemasterrace-Group/

Secondly all information on the store page is supplied by the developer, publisher.

Originally posted by Eudae:

If it doesn't support ultrawide, I'll generally write a negative review (if it looks like the game should support ultrawide - doesn't always apply) and add a forum post about it so other people can see that it doesn't support ultrawide.

Writing a negative review because you chose to buy an ultrawide screen.

You do realise developers choose to support the most used resolutions such as 1080p and do not have to support niche resolutions like ultrawide.

Stop derailing the suggestion. This isn't a debate. Does that group cover all games ever made? No? Irrelevant.

I know that all information on the store page is supplied by the developer or publisher, sans the game tags for the most part. I would like a way for them to include aspect ratio in that information so that way I know what I'm getting beforehand if they choose to provide that information. It would also allow steam to further enhance their store filter by allowing me to filter based on said information.

Not that it's your concern but yeah, I'll write a negative review if the game does not support ultrawide because:

1) Steam doesn't let me write a neutral review
2) I've already made a good faith attempt to find out whether or not their game supports my hardware and failed via steam forums or discord

If, going in, I knew the game didn't support ultrawide and I bought it anyway, I would not give a negative review. I play plenty of games that do not support ultrawide. It's not mandatory. I'm simply advocating for more information.

edit:
and by easily, I mean there should be a question about what resolutions and aspect ratios your game supports similar to their language, controls, or platform tags (VR, steamdeck, etc)

[Nx Machina]

Originally posted by Eudae:

Stop derailing the suggestion. This isn't a debate. Does that group cover all games ever made? No? Irrelevant.

You created a thread on a "discussion" forum yet do not want replies only affirmation.

No PC client, store that i use lists resolutions so i do the obvious i research the game including the game forum, the PC wiki etc before buying hence i do not need to refund.

[Eudae]

Originally posted by Nx Machina:

Originally posted by Eudae:

Stop derailing the suggestion. This isn't a debate. Does that group cover all games ever made? No? Irrelevant.

You created a thread on a "discussion" forum yet do not want replies only affirmation.

No PC client, store that i use lists resolutions so i do the obvious i research the game including the game forum, the PC wiki etc before buying hence i do not need to refund.

That's not true at all. I should have been more clear. The only topic up for debate is whether or not the suggestion is valuable and should occur yet so far the responses have all been off-topic.

If you buy new or niche games, you do not always have the luxury of other people providing the information.

The lack of a feature on other pc clients/stores that you use is irrelevant. Steam is the best PC store hands down. Origin/uplay connect/battlenet all severely lack features and are putting their games on steam instead of developing their platforms. Epic has to buy customers and even then fails to pull because it's just not as good. GoG Galaxy is the closest competitor but still relatively new and (I imagine) has a lower market share. Most of those stores lack a review option beyond stars, most of them lack discussion forums, and most of them lack a way to filter and search games based on various properties assigned by the devs/publishers (like aspect ratio could be).

[Eudae]

Originally posted by Nx Machina:

Originally posted by Eudae:

Stop derailing the suggestion. This isn't a debate. Does that group cover all games ever made? No? Irrelevant.

You created a thread on a "discussion" forum yet do not want replies only affirmation.

No PC client, store that i use lists resolutions so i do the obvious i research the game including the game forum, the PC wiki etc before buying hence i do not need to refund.

Also to be honest I'm not even looking for affirmation or discussion. I'm looking for Steam to add this feature to their store page and don't really care about your opinion. This is the only method I found of posting a suggestion. If you have another avenue to post suggestions, I'm all ears. Thanks

[Black Blade]

I do think putting on the store this info, on the one hand, may be helpful
On the other hand, it kind of rolls into that "too much. in being way too general over all
You can have an unlimited amount of aspect ratio, making this a really hard to point out something like that, if this was at the very least something big enough or that made the game unplayable I would understand but this as of the example given seem a little over the top on it
Be nice maybe for developers to have a hardware location to add text of any extra info about their game they like to add, but be hard to filter it by hardware like that
I mean over this seems like info that is rarely truly needed, as most of the games just support the biggest standard of the time, and people beside it may need to look a little more to find info for their very specific system that is rare as much as I know and this sounds like a nitch of a nitch as its not even something that really blocks someone from playing over all

[Eudae]

Originally posted by Black Blade:

I do think putting on the store this info, on the one hand, may be helpful
On the other hand, it kind of rolls into that "too much. in being way too general over all
You can have an unlimited amount of aspect ratio, making this a really hard to point out something like that, if this was at the very least something big enough or that made the game unplayable I would understand but this as of the example given seem a little over the top on it
Be nice maybe for developers to have a hardware location to add text of any extra info about their game they like to add, but be hard to filter it by hardware like that
I mean over this seems like info that is rarely truly needed, as most of the games just support the biggest standard of the time, and people beside it may need to look a little more to find info for their very specific system that is rare as much as I know and this sounds like a nitch of a nitch as its not even something that really blocks someone from playing over all

Actually, there are some games that are just truly unplayable on my monitor without changing my native resolution. These sorts of games typically lack any graphics/display options or have very limited options. "Windowed" mode generally works* if it's supported but personally I wouldn't play a game in that manner. The latest example of this for me is Tyrant's Blessing. That game is either fullscreen (stretches to both sides and looks awful at 32:9) or windowed (play in a box). If more games had black bars on the sides I'd consider that at least partial support.

[Washell]

Steam is data driven. According to their data, ~2.5% of their customers have a 21:9 resolution. Generally, businesses don't spend too much time and effort on a fraction of their customer base. Something you already noticed by the fact few games properly support it.

https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey

Nothing wrong with the suggestion, just don't hold your breath waiting for it.

Originally posted by Eudae:

It's often faster to buy the game, install it, try it out, and refund it

I don't know how frequently you do that, but keep reading your refund emails to check for warnings. Valve might feel you do it too often and invoke the refund abuse clause.

[Eudae]

Originally posted by Washell:

Steam is data driven. According to their data, ~2.5% of their customers have a 21:9 resolution. Generally, businesses don't spend too much time and effort on a fraction of their customer base. Something you already noticed by the fact few games properly support it.

https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey

Nothing wrong with the suggestion, just don't hold your breath waiting for it.

Originally posted by Eudae:

It's often faster to buy the game, install it, try it out, and refund it

I don't know how frequently you do that, but keep reading your refund emails to check for warnings. Valve might feel you do it too often and invoke the refund abuse clause.

Yeah, I'm not holding my breath.

I do it quite often. I do get the warning that says "This is not a way to try out games, if we feel you're abusing it then... blah blah blah".

The clause is ambiguous on purpose. I don't think I'm abusing the refund system but they might. I imagine that I generate them more profit than I cost them though by far so I'm not super worried about it.

[eram]

even if a game runs in 21:9 doesnt mean it has the correct aspect ratio. Ever had a game be zoomed in too much because its only using vertical fov not horizontal fov?