Why does my TV make my games look blurry?

Question

We have one of those old, square, boxy TVs. It doesn't even let you use component cables! Only the red, yellow and white cables. Still, it's a bigscreen TV, and regular TV still looks good. However, whenever we play the Wii, the Xbox 360 or the PS4, everything looks a little blurry and the text is difficult or impossible to read. Some examples of games that look blurry are Skyward Sword (Wii), Fallout 4 (PS4), Assassin's Creed 2 (Xbox 360) and Dishonored (Xbox 360. My brother actually quit playing this because he couldn't read anything!)

We've had this TV since we were little kids, and my brother and I have been trying to get our mom to get a new HD TV, but I don't think that's going to happen any time soon. Is there something we can do to get the games to look less blurry? Is this just what the Wii, Xbox 360 and PS4 look like on an old TV? We sometimes break out the PS2 and those games look the same as they always did and don't look blurry at all. Is there a setting we can change to make the other consoles look better, or is this just what we're stuck with?

Starwarsfreek · Answer

Your resolution may not be correct for the game you are trying to play either the resolution is to high or too low or it could be another issue entirely like you don't have the cord plugged in properly or the cord is loose connecting to the T.V. i get the same issue with my computers monitor because the HDMI Cord is loose

shawrov · Answer

Adjust your screen size and resolution.

Jack · Answer

so let me get this straight...you bought a ps4 before buying a hdtv...please ask the the wizard of oz for brains when you see him.

Super · Answer

Last gen (PS3, 360) and current gen (PS4/Pro, X1) are meant to display on high definition televisions. This was one of the big selling points back in 2006, and ect... Now its 4k but thats a different matter. Anyways since your PS4 is displaying then its videosettings have adjusted to the 480p display (assuming that is the resolution). There is nothing much you can really do but to upgrade. The games are built for a 16x9, 1080p display. Sucks to say but they weren't designed for those displays. The Wii however is not an HD console, it runs at 480p so I recommend checking its setting if the image quality is really that bad. Have you been playing on PC or another console on a HD TV? That can also 'ruin' how you perceive the image quality. I remember when I upgraded to PS3 and only played PS3/PC for 3 years straight and then went back to PS2 (this was like 2014) and was shocked San Andreas did not look as amazing as I remember it. Again technology is improving at a high rate and sucks to say you may just have to upgrade. Keep the TV for your PS2 games however, some games are remastered or re released on PS4 but not every game. And trust me running a 480p game on a 50 inch Flatscreen (4k/1080) is not gonna be pretty.

Pavel · Answer

How do you change the screen size on the Wii U?
What to Do:

From the Wii U Menu, select "System Settings."
    Using the Left Stick, scroll to the "TV" icon and press the A Button.
    Scroll to the bottom of the menu and tap "Screen Size."
    Using Left and Right on the +Control Pad, adjust the screen size until the arrows are aligned with the edges of the television screen.

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Why does my TV make my games look blurry?

5 Answers