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Freedom251 › Blog › 120Hz

How to Set Up HDR and 120Hz on PS5 or Xbox for GTA 6 (2026 Guide)

By Freedom251 Team · · 9 min read

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Prepare your display for Grand Theft Auto VI by connecting the console directly to an HDMI 2.1-capable input, using an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, enabling HDR and 120Hz in the console settings, and selecting Game Mode on the television or monitor. On PS5, use Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output, set Resolution to Automatic or 2160p, turn on 120 Hz Output, and choose HDR > On When Supported. On Xbox Series X|S, select the highest supported 4K resolution, enable HDR, confirm the combination in 4K TV details, and select 120Hz only when the display reports that it supports it.

These settings make a compatible 120Hz HDR signal available. They do not prove that GTA VI will render at 120 frames per second. Rockstar has announced the game for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, with a November 19, 2026 release date, but the cited official material does not publish a GTA VI frame-rate mode or 120Hz option.

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What is confirmed about GTA VI display support

Rockstar lists Grand Theft Auto VI for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Its product page labels the PlayStation version “Plays Best On PlayStation 5.” Xbox lists the release date as November 19, 2026. Those platform and date details are confirmed; game-specific HDR formats, resolution targets, VRR behavior, and frame-rate modes are not.

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HDR, 120Hz output, and 120fps are different things

HDR controls the brightness and color range of compatible content. It only works as intended when the console, HDMI connection, display input, display firmware, and game all handle HDR correctly.

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120Hz output tells the console to make a 120Hz video signal available to software that supports that refresh rate. 120fps rendering means the game itself produces 120 frames every second. A 120Hz television can accept a 120Hz signal while a game still renders at 30 or 60fps. Rockstar has not specified GTA VI’s final frame-rate modes in the cited sources.

Prepare the console, display, and HDMI path

  • Use a television or monitor that explicitly supports HDR and 120Hz. For 4K at 120Hz, use an HDMI 2.1-capable input.
  • Connect the PS5 or Xbox directly to that input while setting it up. Receivers, soundbars, HDMI switches, and capture devices can prevent the console and display from negotiating 4K, HDR, or 120Hz.
  • Use the HDMI cable supplied with the PS5 or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120Hz. Xbox Series X|S also needs a suitable Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for this combination.
  • Check the television manual: manufacturers identify HDMI 2.1 inputs with different labels, and some sets have only one or two ports with the required bandwidth.
  • Update the display firmware before troubleshooting. Firmware can change the combinations of resolution, HDR, VRR, and refresh rate that the input accepts.
  • Keep the display’s Game Mode available. It reduces processing that can add latency and is the mode Rockstar recommends for console play.

Set up HDR and 120Hz on PS5

These steps use Sony’s current PS5 video-output labels. The console detects the television’s capabilities and automatically selects the best available resolution, but checking each setting confirms what is actually being negotiated.

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  1. Make the direct connection. Plug the PS5 into the display’s HDMI 2.1 input. Start with the cable supplied with the PS5; replace it with an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable if the supplied cable is unavailable or you need a longer certified cable.
  2. Open the video-output page. From the PS5 home screen, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output.
  3. Choose the resolution. Set Resolution to Automatic so the console selects the highest mode the display reports. On a compatible 4K display, you can select 2160p instead.
  4. Allow 120Hz. Set 120 Hz Output to Automatic or On, depending on the wording shown by your system software. Sony describes this control as enabling 120Hz video output for televisions and games that support a 120Hz frame rate. It does not force every game to render at 120fps.
  5. Enable HDR conditionally. Set HDR to On When Supported. This keeps non-HDR games and applications in SDR instead of sending every image through an HDR conversion.
  6. Calibrate the HDR signal. Select Adjust HDR and follow all on-screen screens. Adjust until the symbols are barely visible as instructed; do not raise the level simply to make the picture brighter.
  7. Turn on VRR if appropriate. If the display supports variable refresh rate, enable the PS5’s VRR option. VRR results depend on the television or monitor and on the game, so treat it as an optional display feature rather than evidence of a GTA VI performance mode.
  8. Check the display’s input mode. Switch that HDMI input to Game Mode and disable processing that conflicts with the console’s calibrated signal.

If the PS5 does not show 4K/120Hz

First update the television firmware and verify that the cable is connected to the correct HDMI 2.1 port. Leave Video Transfer Rate on Automatic while testing. Disconnect an intermediate receiver or switch and connect the PS5 directly to the display. If 120Hz appears after bypassing the equipment, the intermediate device or its firmware is the limiting link.

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Set up HDR and 120Hz on Xbox Series X|S

Xbox menu wording can change with system updates, so use the display and TV options page that your console presents. The important checks are the reported combinations in 4K TV details, not a particular menu’s position.

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  1. Use the correct input and cable. Connect the Xbox directly to the display’s HDMI 2.1-capable input with an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable. Confirm the port designation in the television manual rather than assuming every HDMI socket has the same bandwidth.
  2. Open Xbox display settings. On current software this is generally under Settings > General > TV & display options. If an update uses different wording, open the page that controls resolution and refresh rate.
  3. Select the highest supported 4K mode. Choose the highest 4K resolution that the display reports as supported. Do not select a mode that the television cannot maintain; a lower stable mode is preferable to repeated signal loss.
  4. Enable HDR. Turn on HDR in the Xbox display options. The console’s compatibility page will show whether HDR is available at the selected resolution and refresh rate.
  5. Read 4K TV details. Open 4K TV details and confirm the combinations reported for resolution, HDR, and refresh rate. This screen is the best way to distinguish a console setting problem from a display or cable limitation.
  6. Set 120Hz only after confirmation. Select 120Hz when the display reports 120Hz support. If the screen blanks, flickers, or falls back to a lower resolution, return to 60Hz, verify the cable and HDMI port, update the display firmware, and test with a direct connection.
  7. Use Game Mode. Put the television or monitor in Game Mode. Rockstar recommends disabling AI, Smart, Dynamic, or Adaptive enhancement features and Dynamic Tone Mapping; enable HGIG when the display supports it.

Why Xbox may show fewer combinations than expected

A display can support 4K, HDR, and 120Hz individually but not all three through every input. The Xbox reports the combinations that the current port, cable, firmware, and display mode can negotiate. Change one link at a time: first the HDMI port, then the cable, then the display firmware or Game Mode setting. Avoid changing several variables at once because it makes the cause harder to identify.

Display settings that protect the calibrated image

Use Game Mode before adjusting picture controls

Game Mode is the correct starting point because many televisions apply a separate processing chain to their standard, cinema, and game presets. After selecting it, leave the console’s HDR calibration in place and adjust only controls that the display manufacturer documents for that mode.

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Avoid double tone mapping

Rockstar recommends disabling Dynamic Tone Mapping and AI, Smart, Dynamic, or Adaptive enhancement features for HDR console play. These systems can remap highlights after the console has already supplied a calibrated HDR signal, changing the intended brightness of skies, lights, and reflections. HGIG is the preferred option when the display offers it, because it follows the console-and-game tone-mapping workflow rather than applying an additional automatic curve.

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Understand VRR and automatic low-latency behavior

VRR lets a compatible display vary its refresh timing to follow the console’s output. It can reduce tearing when a game’s frame time changes, but its range and behavior differ by display and game. Automatic low-latency switching, often labeled ALLM, is likewise controlled by the console-display combination. The cited official material does not define GTA VI-specific VRR or ALLM behavior, so use the display’s Game Mode and verify the result with the console’s compatibility information.

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PS5 and Xbox readiness compared

Area PS5 Xbox Series X|S
Supported GTA VI platform PlayStation 5 Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S
Release information Rockstar lists the game for PS5; its product page says “Plays Best On PlayStation 5.” Xbox lists November 19, 2026.
Primary display menu Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output Settings > General > TV & display options on current software; labels can change with updates.
Resolution control Resolution: Automatic or 2160p on a compatible 4K display Select the highest supported 4K resolution shown by the display
HDR control HDR: On When Supported, then Adjust HDR Enable HDR and verify it in 4K TV details
120Hz control 120 Hz Output: On or Automatic Select 120Hz only after 4K TV details reports support
Connection requirement HDMI 2.1-capable input for 4K/120Hz; supplied or Ultra High Speed HDMI cable HDMI 2.1-capable input and suitable Ultra High Speed HDMI cable for 4K/120Hz
VRR and ALLM PS5 exposes a VRR option; results vary by display and game The cited material does not define a GTA VI-specific VRR or ALLM mode; verify the display’s reported capabilities
Confirmed GTA VI frame-rate mode Not stated by Rockstar in the cited material Not stated by Rockstar in the cited material

Troubleshoot the common failures

The PS5 is stuck at 60Hz

  1. Confirm that the television or monitor supports 120Hz at the resolution you selected, not merely 120Hz at a lower resolution.
  2. Move the cable to the display’s HDMI 2.1 input and keep Video Transfer Rate on Automatic.
  3. Use the PS5-supplied cable or a certified Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for 4K/120Hz.
  4. Update the display firmware.
  5. Remove a receiver, switch, soundbar, or capture device and retest with the PS5 connected directly.
  6. After the display reports 120Hz, remember that the setting only makes 120Hz output available; a game may still choose 30fps or 60fps.

The screen goes black after selecting 120Hz on Xbox

Return to 60Hz if the image disappears, then reconnect the Xbox directly to the display. Check the port label and cable rating, update the display firmware, and reopen 4K TV details. Select 120Hz again only when that screen reports support. If 4K is lost at 120Hz, the display may support those modes separately but not together through the current input.

HDR is missing or the picture looks washed out

  • Verify that HDR is enabled on the console and that the game or application is HDR-capable. On PS5, On When Supported prevents SDR content from being forced into HDR.
  • Run Adjust HDR on PS5 again after changing the television’s picture mode.
  • Use Game Mode and disable Dynamic Tone Mapping and automatic enhancement features recommended against by Rockstar.
  • Check that every HDMI link supports the chosen resolution and refresh rate. A cable or receiver that passes 4K at 60Hz may fail when HDR and 120Hz are added.

VRR causes flicker or an unstable image

Turn VRR off temporarily and test the same game at a fixed refresh rate. If the image stabilizes, check the display’s supported VRR range and firmware. Because VRR behavior varies by television and game, a stable fixed-rate HDR signal is a valid fallback while waiting for game-specific information.

What to verify before buying a display or cable

  • Display: HDR support, 120Hz support, and an HDMI 2.1-capable input are all explicitly listed for the model and the port you plan to use.
  • Bandwidth: The cable is labeled Ultra High Speed HDMI and rated for 4K/120Hz.
  • Firmware: The television or monitor can be updated, and its manual explains which inputs support the required combination.
  • Gaming controls: Game Mode, HDR calibration controls, VRR support if wanted, and HGIG if available.
  • Signal path: You can connect the console directly during diagnosis instead of routing it through a receiver or switch.
  • Expectations: You are buying readiness for a 120Hz HDR signal, not a guarantee that GTA VI will render at 120fps.

Launch-day verification for GTA VI

When the game is available, check its own display or graphics options rather than assuming that the console’s 120Hz setting selects a high-frame-rate mode. Confirm whether HDR is enabled in-game, note which resolution and performance choices are offered, and test with Game Mode active. If Rockstar publishes a GTA VI-specific frame-rate, VRR, or HDR recommendation, that information should take precedence over a generic console output setting.

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For now, the reliable preparation is the signal chain: compatible HDR/120Hz display, correct HDMI 2.1 input, Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, direct console connection, calibrated HDR, and Game Mode. Those steps remove the most common hardware and configuration barriers without claiming a performance mode that Rockstar has not announced.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

120HzGaming DisplaysGrand Theft Auto VIGTA 6HDMI 2.1HDRPS5Xbox Series SXbox Series X

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