The Order: 1886 16:9 1080p vs 2.40:1 1920×800 Video and Screenshot Comparison: Pixel Count vs Art

Giuseppe Nelva February 16, 2014 8:20 AM EST

The reveal that The Order: 1886 will most probably be rendered in 1920×800 resolution at a 2.40:1 aspect ratio seem to have bunched quite a few sets of underwear, with people rioting because the game is unlikely to touch the “magical” 1080p, and because of the black bands that many see as a waste of screen estate.

First of all, let’s get a misconception out of the way. Many read “800p” and think that the resolution is lower than the “900p” that lately seems to be very popular between developers. That’s untrue, because 1920×800 renders 1,536,000 pixels. 900p is 1600×900 and renders 1.440,000 pixels.

That said, Ready at Dawn specified that the panoramic 2.40:1 aspect ratio comes due to the artistic vision for the game, and it isn’t a matter of performance. The reason why that aspect ratio is often used in films is because it offers more room for detail on the horizontal plane, that tends to be a lot more relevant than the vertical plane for the sake of storytelling and spatial awareness.

But how would The Order: 1886 look if it was rendered in 16:9? We ran a comparison to give you a clearer idea of what that means, and let you take your pick. Finding a clear cut solution that works for everyone is impossible, as this kind of choice is strongly colored by personal taste, but seeing both options side by side may help you decide what your pick would be.

Let’s start with screenshots. Of course you can click on each in order to open a full resolution version:

Since it may be hard for you to tell which solution fits your taste better from static screenshots, we also prepared a video comparison. The first two versions of the trailer below are in full resolution 2.40:1 on top and 16:9 below it.





If you prefer a full screen comparison, we also prepared a third video with both versions, that you can find just below.

It’s definitely true that the 2.40:1 aspect ratio sacrifices some screen estate, and it’s not so surprising that many feel turned off by that, but it’s also true that the panoramic view gives a lot more space for content relevant to the scene or to frame the characters in a more dynamic way. It’s doubtless that Ready at Dawn’s choice has at least some merit.

We’ll have to wait for the game’s release, which is rumored to come this fall, for a final verdict on how gamers will welcome The Order: 1886‘s artistic vision.