Fix Black Bars: Horizon Zero Dawn Ultrawide Tool Guide Horizon Zero Dawn offers a breathtaking post-apocalyptic world, but playing it on an ultrawide monitor can sometimes be frustrating. While the game natively supports 21:9 and 32:9 resolutions during gameplay, players often encounter forced black bars during cinematic cutscenes, dialogues, and certain menu screens.
This guide provides simple, step-by-step solutions to remove these black bars and achieve a truly immersive, full-screen ultrawide experience. Why Do Black Bars Appear?
The developers locked the game’s cutscenes to a standard 16:9 aspect ratio. This ensures that artistic framing, character placements, and pre-rendered elements display exactly as intended without showing off-screen visual glitches. Fortunately, community-made tools can bypass these restrictions. Method 1: Use the HZD Ultrawide Fix Tool (Recommended)
The easiest way to eliminate black bars is by using a dedicated, community-created community patcher. Step 1: Download the Tool
Visit a trusted community modding site like GitHub or Nexus Mods.
Search for the Horizon Zero Dawn Ultrawide Fix or HxD community patcher. Download the latest executable file to your computer. Step 2: Apply the Patch Launch the downloaded ultrawide tool.
Click Browse and navigate to your Horizon Zero Dawn installation folder (e.g., Steam\steamapps\common\Horizon Zero Dawn).
Select the game’s main executable file: HorizonZeroDawn.exe.
Check the boxes for Remove Cutscene Black Bars and Fix FOV (Field of View) if available. Click Patch or Apply. Step 3: Verify Game Settings Launch Horizon Zero Dawn. Open the Display settings menu.
Confirm your resolution matches your monitor’s native ultrawide resolution (e.g., 3440×1440 or 5120×1440).
Set the Aspect Ratio to Auto or your specific ratio (21:9 / 32:9). Method 2: Manual Hex Editing (Alternative)
If you prefer not to download third-party software, you can manually modify the game’s executable file using a free Hex Editor like HxD. Step 1: Backup Your File Open your Horizon Zero Dawn installation directory.
Copy HorizonZeroDawn.exe and paste it into a backup folder. Do not skip this step. Step 2: Edit the Hex Values
Open HxD Hex Editor and drag HorizonZeroDawn.exe into the window. Press Ctrl + R to open the Replace window. Switch the tab to Hex-values.
To fix 21:9 aspect ratio issues, search for the standard 16:9 hex value: 39 8E E3 3F. Replace it with the 21:9 value: 8E E3 18 40. Select Replace All and save the file.
(Note: For 32:9 monitors, replace 39 8E E3 3F with 39 8E 63 40.) Potential Side Effects to Expect
Forcing a 16:9 game into an ultrawide format can occasionally cause minor visual quirks:
Pop-in: Characters or objects might suddenly appear at the far edges of the screen during cutscenes.
T-Posing: Idle animations or unrendered character models might be visible outside the original 16:9 boundary.
UI Stretching: Certain HUD elements or tutorial pop-ups might stretch slightly, though gameplay remains unaffected. To help me tailor this guide, let me know:
What is your specific monitor resolution or aspect ratio (21:9 or 32:9)?
Which platform are you playing on (Steam, Epic Games, or GOG)?
Are you experiencing black bars only in cutscenes or during gameplay too?
I can provide the exact hex values or specific tool links for your setup.
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