Set Your TV's Game Mode, VRR and ALLM for GTA 6

1. Use the right HDMI port and the right cable

PlayStation recommends the HDMI cable that came with the PS5, or an Ultra High Speed HDMI cable rated for HDMI 2.1, especially if you want ALLM or 4K at 120 Hz. Plug the console directly into the TV if you can. A soundbar or receiver in the middle of that run is a common reason a 4K 120 Hz or VRR signal never shows up.

If the TV has an HDMI 2.1 port, use that one. PlayStation's 4K guide says HDMI 2.1 support on the set may also need a setting turned on in the TV's own menu. Check the TV manual for the port and any "enhanced" or "HDMI 2.1" format switch. Not every HDMI 2.1 TV includes ALLM; PlayStation says to confirm that in the set's manual too.

2. Turn on the TV's game mode

This is the setting that cuts the extra picture processing that makes movies look smooth and games feel late.

Samsung (select models): Samsung's U.S. support page says to go to Settings > Game Mode and choose Off, Auto or On. Auto turns Game Mode on when a connected game console is on and showing on that input. The page also notes that Game Mode is not available unless a game console is connected, and that once it is on, you may see a slight drop in graphics quality in exchange for speed. On many recent Samsung sets, you can open a Game Bar by pressing and holding the Play/Pause button on the Samsung remote while Game Mode is On or Auto, and see things like input lag, HDR and VRR. Features vary by year; if the steps do not match your set, use the manual for that model.

LG (select models): LG's U.S. support page says to connect the console by HDMI, switch to that input, then go to All Settings > General > Game Optimizer. ALLM is turned on or off inside the Game Optimizer menu. If some Game Optimizer options are greyed out, LG says to set the TV's picture and sound to Game Optimizer mode first. LG also notes that when ALLM is set to Auto, some picture-quality sliders cannot be changed, which is intentional. Game Optimizer is only on some models; check the manual if you do not see it.

Other brands, including Sony: Use the TV's game, low-latency or ALLM mode, and confirm the name in the official manual. We could not open Sony's official Game Mode and ALLM articles today, so we are not guessing at Sony menu names.

3. Switch on VRR, ALLM and 120 Hz on the PS5

On a PS5, go to Settings > Screen and Video > Video Output. At the top, Information for the Connected HDMI Device shows what the TV is reporting for resolution, VRR and HDR. If VRR or HDR shows as not supported there, the missing piece is usually the port, the cable, a TV setting, or the set itself, not a hidden console toggle.

From that same screen:

• Resolution: Automatic uses the highest resolution the TV supports. To force 4K, set it to 2160p, which PlayStation says requires a compatible 4K screen.
• VRR: This lets the refresh rate adjust in real time on TVs and games that support variable refresh rate. Results vary by TV. Apply to Unsupported Games can stabilize the frame rate in games that do not officially support VRR; if you see odd visual behavior, turn that option off.
• 120 Hz Output: Turns on 120 Hz for TVs and games that support it. If a monitor or other display has video problems, turn it off.
• ALLM: If the TV supports auto low-latency mode, the PS5 tells it to switch to a low-latency mode while you play. If you set ALLM to Off but leave VRR on, PlayStation says the TV still switches to low-latency mode during VRR output. To turn ALLM off completely, set VRR to Off as well. The latest system software is required. The PS5 does not send an ALLM signal while a media app is running.
• HDR: Use On When Supported or Always On, then Adjust HDR, as in the first-boot guide.

If 4K at 120 Hz will not display, PlayStation's own checklist is the one to walk: confirm the TV actually claims 4K 120 Hz, update the TV's firmware, use the included or Ultra High Speed cable, try a direct HDMI run, use an HDMI 2.1 port, set Resolution to Auto or 2160p, and set Video Transfer Rate to Auto.

4. On Xbox, use the TV and display settings, then confirm the current names

Xbox consoles also have TV, refresh-rate, VRR and HDR controls. We could not open Xbox Support's current display pages today, so this guide will not invent those labels. Open Profile & system > Settings and look for the TV and display section, then follow Microsoft's current 4K, 120 Hz and HDR articles before this page is published.

5. Check the picture once with a game you already have

You do not have to wait for Nov. 19 to see whether Game Mode and VRR are doing their job. Start a game you already own, look at how the stick feels, and glance at the TV's game menu (Samsung's Game Bar, LG's Game Dashboard, or your set's equivalent) if it shows input lag, VRR or HDR. If the picture looks smoother in a movie mode but the controls feel late, you are probably in the wrong TV mode. If something looks broken after you turn VRR on, turn off "apply to unsupported games" on the PS5, or turn VRR off, which is the official advice when the image misbehaves.

When GTA 6 unlocks, you should be starting the game, not the TV manual.