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Counter Strike 2: How to play Stretched - 4:3, 5:4 or 16:9?

Published: Sep. 29, 2023
Updated: Oct. 23, 2023

German English

In Counter Strike 2, both newcomers and professionals are again resorting to the stretched display (Stretched). Shooter expert Kevin Willing tells you how you can play CS2 in 4:3, 5:4 stretched or even 16:9 stretched.

Contents of the Guide: In this guide, we will reveal how you can stretch CS2 in various image formats and what advantages and disadvantages this brings. In the end, I (Kevin) will also report on a trick for certain players that you should not miss!

  • In CS2, thanks to driver settings, you can continue to play in the stretched image format.
  • Stretched offers advantages such as larger enemy models.
  • Users with certain monitor models benefit the most from stretched.

How to play Stretched in CS2 - 4:3, 5:4, and 16:9

Adjust the Game Settings: The Guided editorial team has tested various methods for stretching the image format themselves. The noticeable thing was that not every method worked for all guinea pigs. Some could simply adjust the image format and resolution in the settings of Counter Strike 2, which led to an immediate stretch to 4:3 or 16:10. Others, like author Kevin Willing, had to stretch their image using the GPU driver.

Read also: Counter Strike: Skin creator reveals how much money he earns with a skin

To reliably stretch your image format in Counter Strike 2, you need to work with your graphics card driver, and here our guide splits into two paths, one instruction for Nvidia users and one for AMD:

1. Instructions for Nvidia users

  • To start, right-click on your desktop
    • In Windows 10, click directly on "Nvidia Control Panel"
    • In Windows 11, click on "Show more options," then on "Nvidia Control Panel."
  • Now click at the very top on Adjust image settings with preview. And select Apply advanced 3D image settings from the three options under the animation.
  • Now go under Display to the option Adjust desktop size and position and select the second option, Full screen.
  • Right below, choose the option GPU to Perform scaling on.
  • Now remove the check mark to override the scaling mode set by games and programs.
  • Finally, click again on the tab Change resolution.

nvidia-systemsteuerung

In this example, we want to change the resolution from a 16:9 format to a 4:3 format. For this, you have to select a 4:3 resolution. The most common resolution in the 4:3 area is 1024x768. Below, we'll reveal all the resolutions for all formats!

Now save your change finally and start Counter Strike 2. Already in the menu, you should be able to see directly whether the process was successful. Here's a comparison picture:

2. Instructions for AMD users

  • Start the AMD software via the desktop
  • Click on the tab Display
  • Select the full-screen option for Scaling Mode.
  • On the bottom right in the software, you will find the point Custom Resolution.
  • Choose a 4:3 resolution again.
    • Again, you choose the most common resolution, 1024x768, and as discussed above, all the common resolutions for the different formats will follow shortly.
  • Enter the resolution for Resolution and Timing Display.

Now you just have to start Counter Strike 2 and then select the desired resolution from the options menu in the graphic settings.

cs2-stretched-amd

Here you can find the settings in the AMD software.

All common resolutions for the Stretched formats in CS2

Best Resolutions for 4:3 in CS2

  • 800x600
  • 1024x768 - This resolution is used by the pros
  • 1400x1050
  • 1600x1200

Best Resolutions for 5:4 in CS2

  • 1280x1024
  • 1350x1080

Best Resolutions for 16:9 in CS2

  • 1280x720
  • 1600x900
  • 1920x1080 (FullHD)
  • 2560x1440 (WQHD)
  • 3840x2160 (4k)

Read also: Counter Strike 2: Download & install workshop maps

All Advantages and Disadvantages for Using a Stretched Resolution in CS2

Since Counter Strike: Global Offensive, professionals have also been playing in 4:3 Stretched. This term broadly refers to the spreading of a nearly square image (4:3 format) onto a modern wider format (16:9 format), which you know from televisions and monitors.

The image is thus stretched. A stretched image naturally provides various advantages in the competitive nature of Counter Strike 2— but also has some disadvantages!

Pros and Cons of Playing Stretched in CS2

Pros
  • Enemy Models are wider and easier to hit
  • Aiming is smoother and easier
Cons
  • You lose some of your Field of View
  • The assets and the world will get stretched as well.

Do Professionals play Stretched "Low Res" in CS2?

The short answer is yes, and not a few! Among others, NiKo from G2 Esports plays on 4:3 Stretched at a resolution of 1024x768. Other pros who go for Stretched include:

  • Karrigan from the famous FaZe Clan currently plays stretched 16:10 at a resolution of 1600x1024.
  • Also RigoN from Team Bad News Eagles opts for 4:3 but in an unusual resolution of 1280x960p.
  • One of the best players, the AWP himself, KennyS. KennyS also plays in Stretched 4:3 at a resolution of 1024x768, which gives him a huge advantage especially with the AWP.
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Guided has tested it: Owners of widescreen monitors have the greatest hardware advantage

Most players of Counter Strike 2 or generally on the PC should be playing in native 16:9. So, playing in resolutions 1080p, 1440p, and 2180p (4k). However, more and more, cinema formats in 21:9 are spreading in the gamer rooms, so widescreen. Like author Kevin Willing (that's me!) who, as an early adopter, switched to a 32-inch 21:9 monitor from Alienware.

When changing the screen ratios, I noticed one thing: If I switch from native 21:9 format to 4:3 format in Counter Strike, my stretch is much larger— so far so clear. Even better, when I switch to 16:9, I combine the best features of Stretched and normal.

Before the change, I had another advantage on my side, a larger field of view than other players. After the change, I therefore have the field of view with which everyone plays, but a wider enemy model.

Verhaeltnis Formate

The wider your monitor, the more gameplay advantage you get from the 4:3 or 16:9 Stretch in CS2. After several rounds of Counter Strike 2, I can clearly say: playing on Stretched, with a widescreen or a regular monitor is a clear advantage. The only really noticeable disadvantage at 4:3 or 5:4 is indeed only in the field of view. At 16:9, the disadvantage is less apparent.

 

But what about you? Have you already played on Stretched in Counter Strike Global Offensive or are you stretching your image with CS2 for the first time to 4:3, 5:4, or even 16:9. Share with us in the comments. We also warmly invite you to join our social media channels and connect here with new players. You can find all the links to these via our Linktr.ee.

Every tip mentioned in this guide has been practically tested by our team to ensure you receive reliable and accurate information.
The interest in digging deep into the gaming industry stems from the DayZ Mod for Arma 2 in 2012. Kevin started working in the gaming industry in 2016. First as a trainee at Survivethis, the biggest German Survival-Games-Site at that time. Only half a year later, he got accepted at Gamestar and later MeinMMO. Now, on Guided.news he implements all his Knowledge to deliver comprehensive news, guides, interviews and more unique topics.
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