Gaming News: Why Are Developers Renaming Borderless Fullscreen in Recent Games?

As a seasoned gamer with over 25 years of experience under my belt, I can’t help but feel both nostalgic and perplexed by the recent terminology changes among game developers. Back in the day, when we had to manually adjust our CRT monitors for the perfect angle (and hope it didn’t cause a headache), the difference between borderless and exclusive fullscreen was as clear as night and day.

A post by user Leonbacon on a popular gaming forum has sparked a lively conversation about game developers switching the terms for ‘borderless fullscreen’ and ‘fullscreen’. Now, ‘fullscreen’ is being used for what was previously called ‘borderless fullscreen’, while the traditional ‘fullscreen’ experience is now labeled as ‘exclusive fullscreen’. Gamers are perplexed, debating whether this shift in terminology is part of a secret agreement among developers or just a random change in nomenclature. The comments section is filled with various viewpoints, from technical explanations to confusion, indicating a larger debate about the transformation of gaming interfaces, potential performance impacts, and user experience. Opinions range from accepting this as a user-friendly default to nostalgic yearnings for when exclusive fullscreen was crucial for high performance. So, why is this change happening now? And should we be excited or alarmed by it? Let’s delve into the comments to grasp the gaming community’s response.

Why are devs suddenly calling borderless “fullscreen” in recent games?
byu/Leonbacon ingaming

Summary

Developers are renaming traditional fullscreen options, igniting confusion and discussion among gamers.
Players are split between favoring modern borderless fullscreen for convenience, and nostalgia for exclusive fullscreen.
Technological advancements have diminished performance differences between the modes, influencing developer choices.

Changing Terminology in Gaming

The change in gaming terminology has left some players puzzled. As Leonbacon noted, changing ‘borderless’ fullscreen to just ‘fullscreen’, while calling traditional fullscreen ‘exclusive fullscreen’, seems more like a rebranding tactic than a necessary move. A user called mudcrabwrestler added an intriguing observation: “borderless is also fullscreen,” hinting that developers might be adapting to the advanced capabilities of modern systems that effortlessly support borderless setups. This raises the question: could developers be acknowledging that borderless is no longer just a secondary option to fullscreen but the preferred choice moving forward? While some gamers are slightly uncomfortable with this change and fear that traditional features might disappear, others view it as a natural progression reflecting both hardware advancements and shifting user preferences.

The Battle of Input Lag

The main topic of conversation was about the difference in input delay and performance between borderless and exclusive fullscreen modes. Junior-Shopping-9537 highlighted that with DirectX 12, these differences have become almost insignificant. This suggests a shift where users no longer need to sacrifice their gaming experience due to outdated features. In addition, Prodigle mentioned the growing dislike for exclusive fullscreen because of its inconvenience when switching between applications, indicating that developers are focusing more on what gamers want most: user-friendly experiences. Often, newer game engines come with built-in borderless fullscreen support, making it easier for players to move between their desktop and gaming environments. It seems that improvements in performance have led studios to adopt the more convenient option, leaving exclusive fullscreen behind.

User Preferences: The Great Divide

The responses from gamers reveal a clear divide between those who cherish the flexibility of borderless fullscreen and those who long for the reliable exclusivity of traditional fullscreen. For instance, orvalax passionately shared their experiences, highlighting the lag challenges encountered with exclusive fullscreen when trying to interact with other applications. They exclaimed, “Anything that was exclusive full screen always had either a horrible delay… or would have input lag,” painting a picture of past frustrations. The sentiment is echoed by Thee_Sinner, who simply stated their desire for a mode that allows them to click onto their second monitor without minimizing the game—essentially advocating for the ease that borderless fullscreen offers. As such, it’s clear that improvements in technology have shaped player expectations, pushing a renegotiation of preferences towards a more user-friendly approach to gaming.

Technological Advancement and Legacy Features

An underlying aspect of this discussion revolves around the technological advancements that have left certain features—like exclusive fullscreen—hauntingly outdated. Akazury commented on how this traditional feature is a relic that Microsoft ceased actively supporting, which raises alarms about how many other legacy features no longer serve their purpose in modern gaming. Players are gradually discovering that exclusive fullscreen might not be as beneficial as once thought, opening a gateway for developers to focus their efforts on smoother borderless options. Prodigle brought up possible deprecation and bugs associated with exclusive fullscreen in newer versions of DirectX, adding to the case of eliminating a forgotten practice. It appears that future development will likely continue down the path of favoring flexibility without compromising performance, ensuring that the evolution of game interfaces remains relevant.

This fruitful discussion has painted an interesting picture of how players navigate their gaming setups in this brave new world of renamed options. While confusion certainly reigns in some corners, the overall sentiment seems to embrace the changes as an adaptation to a rapidly evolving gaming landscape. As developers continue to adjust their features based on user feedback and technological advancements, gamers can look forward to more intuitive and enjoyable gaming experiences.

2024-11-01 02:43