MacBook Pro users have reported a persistent issue where games appear blurry when played in full-screen mode. This problem, first identified in 2023, stems from how macOS communicates display resolutions to games, particularly on MacBook models featuring the notch.
Understanding the Issue
Developer Colin Cornaby highlighted that macOS provides games with the display’s full resolution, including the area occupied by the notch. Consequently, games render graphics for pixels that are not visible, leading to a mismatch when the system adjusts the image to fit the actual screen space. This discrepancy results in a compressed vertical image, causing noticeable blurriness during gameplay.
Technical Breakdown
For instance, a MacBook Pro with a native resolution of 3456 x 2234 pixels includes the notch area. However, the usable screen space below the notch is 3456 x 2160 pixels. The 74-pixel difference means that games rendering at the full resolution are effectively squashed vertically to fit the available display area, leading to the observed blurriness.
Affected Users
This issue primarily affects users who play games in full-screen mode on the MacBook’s built-in display. Those using external monitors or playing games in windowed mode are not impacted.
Potential Workarounds
One suggested workaround is to select in-game resolutions with a 16:10 aspect ratio, aligning with the MacBook’s screen dimensions. However, this option may not be available in all games, depending on how they handle display information from macOS.
Apple’s Response
Cornaby reported this bug to Apple in September 2023, but as of August 2025, the issue remains unresolved. The lack of a fix continues to affect the gaming experience for MacBook users, particularly those with models featuring the notch.
Conclusion
The integration of the notch in MacBook Pro models has introduced unforeseen challenges for gamers. While workarounds exist, they are not universally applicable, and the absence of an official fix from Apple means that users must navigate these issues independently.
