Can I use integer scaling for games or pixel art?

BetterDisplay’s Integer Scaling option uses nearest-neighbor sampling for a stream or Picture in Picture view. It can preserve hard pixel edges when enlarging a lower-resolution image. It does not change the scaling method of every game or of the Mac’s entire display output.

One approach is to create a virtual screen, run the game on that desktop, then stream it to your physical display or open it in Picture in Picture. Enable Integer Scaling in that stream’s settings. Streaming requires Pro and Screen Recording permission. The game’s compatibility and responsiveness still depend on how it renders and how macOS captures it.

The option does not snap the destination to a whole-number scale. For equal-sized pixel blocks, enlarge the captured image by a whole-number factor in both directions. For example, a 1920 × 1080 image enlarged to 3840 × 2160 is 2× in each direction. A fractional destination size can produce uneven blocks even with nearest-neighbor sampling. Account for any later scaling between the desktop and the physical panel, too.

See integer scaling for the sampling distinction and virtual screens, mirroring and streaming for setup choices. The toggle cannot remove blur already introduced by a game’s own rendering or upscaling.

For a controlled image test before trying a game, follow the pixel-art enlargement tutorial. It checks the source and receiver dimensions, compares the same fixture at two sizes, and restores the temporary setup.