Technology company BenQ may have leaked the upcoming PlayStation 5's ability to play games in 1440p resolution. While game consoles are typically devices one would hook up to a television set, a growing contingent of players hook them up to computer monitors, which support a wider range of resolutions. While the current generation of Xbox does support 1440p natively from the menu, PlayStation 4 will output in 4K, downscale to 1080p, and then upscale to 1440p before it hits the monitor. It can lead to a blurry image that is not ideal, which is why the idea of a native 1440p output would be appealing.

There are many reasons why someone might want to use a computer monitor rather than a traditional TV for their game console of choice. With the advent of HDMI connections, the difference between the two displays has become minimal, so using a spare computer flatscreen rather than buying a new TV might be the best option. Also, many gaming streamers on Twitch and other platforms might be working out of an office next to a computer and utilizing a monitor for their own output rather than installing a large TV where they work.

BenQ seems to have hinted at 1440p support coming to the next generation of PlayStation. In a now-deleted paragraph captured by Wccftech for posterity, BenQ suggested that gamers interested in a higher frame rate over higher resolution might consider grabbing one of their monitors alongside their PlayStation 5 purchase. The key line that's now absent from the page says in no uncertain terms that 1440p will be supported by the PS5 and that 120FPS gaming would be much easier at that resolution. Since the article was discovered, BenQ has deleted the confirmation and told its customers to only "refer to official Sony announcements and publications for PS5 information."


So, was this an error on BenQ's part? Or, was it a hardware partner revealing details about the PlayStation 5 that Sony wanted to keep hidden for whatever reason? With the Xbox Series X continuing on the support for 1440p resolution from its predecessor, perhaps Sony was saving the news for a PR hit in the weeks before both machines make their debut. Another possibility is that Sony may not want to promote the support, preferring instead that customers look to Sony-built TVs for all their console display needs.

Considering the PC-like specs of both next-gen consoles and the tower-sized body of the PlayStation 5, it seems sensible for the consoles to support this half-step resolution between 1080p and 4K. Giving players more options for how they want to utilize their expensive machines should be front and center for both console manufacturers in this race, especially with so many other traditionally competitive aspects turning out to be quite similar. No matter if a household holds a PS5 or an Xbox Series X, it will have access to many of the same games and the same capabilities. These little differentiators could be all it takes to tip things in one console's favor.

The PlayStation 5 will launch on November 12 in North America.