A significant part of the marketing around Microsoft's flagship console, Xbox One X, is that it can play games in 4K resolution without hiccups.
While the benefits of 4K are mostly reserved for those who actually have TVs that support it, a technology called supersampling still provides benefits for those who only have 1080p displays. Sure, supersampling isn't really playing in 4K — not technically — but it still delivers clearer, more vivid images, and an overall improved visual fidelity that improves the general gaming experience.
Heads Up, 1440p Display Users
But while supersampling provides benefits to those who primarily use 1080p displays, those who have 1440p monitors don't get the same treatment. The Xbox One X is currently able to downsample to 1080p only, meaning 1440p users get a lower resolution than their native displays can handle. Microsoft did promise that 1440p support is coming, though it didn't give a specific release date.
But 1440p support is finally coming soon, as confirmed by Kevin Gammill, Microsoft's Xbox Platform Partner Group's program manager. He has taken to Twitter to say that those part of the Xbox Insider Program should expect to be "pleasantly surprised" by what's coming.
"Many questions recently around the timing of our 1440p support. Those of you in our early preview ring should be pleasantly surprised very soon if you have an Xbox One S or Xbox One X," he tweeted.
Per his tweet, 1440p support will not only come to the Xbox One X, but also the Xbox One S variant as well. However, since only the Xbox One X offers true 4K gaming, it's likely that 1440p on the less powerful console only refers to video playback.
Xbox Insider Program
Again, those enrolled in Microsoft's Insider Program for the Xbox will most certainly be eligible to try out 1440p. The Xbox Insider Program provides an opportunity for gamers to test certain features before they're rolled to the wider Xbox user base. Of course, the downside is that they have to contend with bugs and unstable implementations, but who doesn't want to try out new feature before anyone else? Make sure to visit Microsoft's website for information on how to join the program.
The news follows a tweet from the program's head Brad Rossetti, who hinted that new pre-release builds might be rolled out sometime this week. Of course, that remains to be determined.
Thoughts about 1440p support on Xbox One X and Xbox One S? As always, feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
