Quake 4

Quake 4 is the fourth major installment in the Quake series. It is a story-based, single-player game. This is in contrast to Quake III, which focused solely on multi-player. Quake 4 is a continuation of the storyline from Quake II.

BCCIncomplete
Support summary
Support
Method
HUD
Widescreen:
Hor+
  • Native
  • Stretched
Ultra/Super-Wide:
Hor+
  • Hack
  • Stretched
Multi-Monitor:
Hor+
  • Hack
  • Stretched
4k UltraHD:
 
Rendered Cut-Scene:
  • Static Aspect
FMV Cut-Scene:
  • N/A
Game information
Game status:
Released
Release Date:
Tuesday, 18 October, 2005

Tested Version: 
Steam

Play styles: 
,
Setting: 
Genre: 


Store Links: 
GOG,
Comparison Screenshots
  • 4:3 Screenshot
    Quake 4
  • 16:10 Screenshot
    Quake 4
  • 16:9 Screenshot
    Quake 4
  • Ultra-Wide (21:9) Screenshot
    Quake 4
  • Super-Wide (32:9) Screenshot
    Quake 4
  • Eyefinity / Surround Screenshot
    Quake 4
Solutions & Issues
Baseline (Widescreen) Solution & Issues

All three files notes below are contained in the one archive - quake4 fov fixes.7z . Fix available from the PC Gaming Wiki Community Files (search there).

This report relates to Version 1.3, be sure to download this patch as widescreen support is native and is Hor+.

1280x800 is not supported natively.
Locate the file Quake4Config.ini (Default Location C:\Program Files\id Software\Quake 4\q4base).
Make a backup of this file, then use a text program such as notepad to edit it.
In the document locate these lines and make the adjustments.

This is where you put your custom resolution. For example 1280x800 looks like this:

seta r_customHeight "800"
seta r_customWidth "1280"

You have to change r_mode to "-1" to get the custom resolutions to work:

seta r_mode "-1"

This is were you select your correct aspect ratio. "0" is 4:3, "1" is 16:9 and "2" is 16:10:

seta r_aspectRatio "2"

Both ways have the same result, but if you can use the ingame options to get your resolution just select it from there.

1280x800 now works.

2560x1600 is not supported natively, not even in 1.4.2 which is the latest version.
The tips in the first post work for forcing the resolution. In other words, set up all your graphics settings ingame and after this, open Quake4Config.cfg and alter lines 126, 127 and 130:

seta r_customHeight "1600"
seta r_customWidth "2560"
seta r_fullscreen "1"
seta r_displayRefresh "0"
seta r_mode "-1"

2560x1600 now works.




Ultra/Super-Wide (21:9/32:9) Specific Solution & Issues

Resolution - Go to -> ...\Steam\steamapps\common\Quake 4\q4base
edit Quake4Config.cfg put in:
seta r_customHeight "1440"
seta r_customWidth "3440"
seta r_mode "-1"
seta r_aspectRatio "1"

Aspect Ratio 21:9 --> Extract and replace Files from Quake 4 - 21_9.7z




Eyefinity / Surround Specific Solution & Issues

Set the game up for TripleHead as normal ... it is the same as for Widescreen but with TripleHead resolutions ...
IMPORTANT ... set the Aspect Ratio to 16:9 in the config file
(check the WS solution above)
No need to change the FOV as it is automatically corrected ...

To get Quake 4 to work with the game patched to v1.3+ ...
Download game000.7z
Rename it ... game000.pk4

Go to your ... q4base ... folder and delete the file ... gamex86.dll
Now ...replace your game000.pk4 in the ... q4base ... folder with my version.
That's it play the game with the correct Aspect Ratio ...

Always make backups before you change anything !!!

Alright, I've been working on DRs, making and tweaking them, and for the past day or two, I have been working on adjusting the Quake 4 HUD for TH, this tweak is by no means finished, but it's usable. In theory, the HUD, and menus, and all 2D elements can be adjusted to be centered in Triplehead, but this is much easier said than done.

The nice thing is, this mod, while specific to Quake 4, can be easily done with any other id Tech 4-based game, such as Doom 3, Prey, and possibly even Brink, in fact, Brink might be an easy fix, but as I do not own it, I can't try.

Anyhow, there is a screen shot in the additional in-game screenshots section, and an initial release in the attachments, it is customized for my resolution, 4320 x 900, unfortunately, I cannot test this for other resolutions, but I see no reason it wouldn't work, I have packaged it as a separate mod, you can install it by unzipping it to your Quake 4 root folder. It includes the Quake 4 TH AR Fix by Paddy, and a configuration file set for 4320 x 900, customize it as necessary using the instructions above.

q4thhud.7z

It's still a huge mess, the HUD isn't perfectly centered, and everything is very stretched still, in theory, everything could be perfect, but I am flying mostly blind here, as there are very few HUD mods for Q4 or D3. Anyone who wants to tweak this is welcome to, I don't care whether you credit me, but if you have any success, please post it for others to enjoy




4k UHD Specific Solution & Issues
Expand all screenshots and resolution details
Expand all screenshots and resolution details

Submitted by Paddy the Wak on 2 February, 2007 - 02:49
Updated by Rose on 22 March, 2022 - 20:46