Fixing Ultrawide Cutscene Problems in Death Stranding 2 on PC

“Death Stranding 2: On the Beach” has made a significant impression as a PC port, generally performing well with a few minor issues that are expected to be resolved through upcoming patches. One notable feature is its support for ultrawide monitors; however, this capability is somewhat limited, as it currently results in black bars during cutscenes.

Fortunately, the PC modding community has stepped in to enhance the experience. A modder known as Lyall has released an effective patch that tackles the ultrawide display constraints.

Addressing Ultrawide Cutscenes in Death Stranding 2

The patch created by Lyall enhances aspect ratio support, effectively eliminating the cutscene pillarboxing for ultrawide users.

If you want to install this patch, follow these simple steps:

Ensure that “Death Stranding 2” is not running on Steam.
Visit the Codeberg link to download the latest version of the patch, specifically the file named DeathStranding2Fix_0.0.2.zip under the Downloads section.
Locate your game installation folder and extract the zip file (use WinRAR or 7zip).The default installation path for Steam is:

steamapps\common\DEATH STRANDING 2 - ON THE BEACH

After installation, launching “Death Stranding 2” will automatically remove the distracting black bars during cutscenes, enhancing your ultrawide gaming experience. Below is an illustration showcasing the patch’s effectiveness during a cutscene at a 32:9 aspect ratio.

Death Stranding 2 with Lyall's Patch — Image courtesy of Lyall

As demonstrated, the patch completely eradicates pillarboxing, delivering a seamless ultrawide presentation.

Here are the key features available in this patch, as of version 0.2:

Adjust gameplay Field of View (FOV).
Support for any aspect ratio.
Disable cutscene pillarboxing.
Limit gameplay HUD to a 16:9 aspect ratio.

Users can enable or disable any of these features by editing the DeathStranding2Fix.ini configuration file using a text editor like Notepad or Notepad++.

If you find that you need to revert any changes or disable the entire patch, simply remove the patch files or set feature values to false within the configuration file.

All gratitude goes to Lyall for his work in creating and refining this patch. Keep an eye on the releases page, as there is potential for further updates that could introduce new features.

It is unlikely that Nixxes or Kojima Productions will issue an official update to eliminate the pillarboxing, as it is likely an intended design choice for cutscenes. Nonetheless, features such as FOV adjustments would be welcome additions. Nixxes has already provided a hotfix for several critical technical issues. Given their experience with bringing PlayStation titles to PC, it is reasonable to anticipate ongoing support and rapid resolution of any outstanding problems.

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