Avengers: Endgame Looks Drastically Worse On Disney+
Disney has already faced backlash for the wonky and disruptive Simpsons aspect ratio upon the launch of Disney+. Now, the House of Mouse is facing a new wave of criticism over image quality, and this time it's coming straight from Avengers: Endgame fans.
Some Disney+ subscribers are claiming that things don't look as good for Earth's Mightiest Heroes on the streaming site compared to the Avengers: Endgame Blu-ray release. As evidence of the discrepancy in viewing quality, one fan threw together a collage of side-by-side images featuring the same single shots from the film, posting the photos on Imgur and then Reddit. The four different frames succinctly capture the differences in watching the Disney+ version of Endgame versus the 4K Ultra HD disc version: there's a noticeable increase in brightness, a dip in contrast, and, as a result, a degraded sharpness and increased pixelation to the streaming version of the final Avengers film.
Disney+ reportedly offers 4K Ultra HD with Dolby Vision, granting its subscribers the chance to see a selection of the streamer's best Mouse House, Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar content in extremely high quality. But looking at those images, the differences in the streaming version of Avengers: Endgame and its Blu-ray counterpart are painfully undeniable. The Disney+ version looks softer and the shots seem unnecessarily brighter. There just isn't the same degree of realistic yet subtle detail or dynamic coloring, either. It's all raising questions about whether both formats of Endgame are actually in ultra-high definition — or if it's just the disc that's delivering cleaner, more detailed image quality.
Some bloggers have noted a similar difference in viewing quality while watching older films that Disney+ enhanced for its subscribers, and the Endgame criticism somewhat resembles complaints about the brightness and contrast of the classic Star Wars trilogy films. But the reality is that Disney+ both is and isn't offering its users 4K UHD quality as they watch content through the online platform. While the phrase "4K high-definition resolution" can be a nice hook during sign-up, Disney+ only supports that image definition — it doesn't guarantee that everything you watch will be that crystal clear. Much of a user's viewing experience is dependent on the capabilities of their systems, and some televisions, consoles, and even browsers aren't equipped to deliver 4K. There's also the issue of internet speeds — with users needing download speeds of at least 25Mbps (megabits per second) to view content in 4K UHD, and just 5Mbps for 1080p HD streaming.
Even if you have all the right device standards, you should still double-check to make sure both Disney+ and your streaming device are configured to play content at the best possible quality. Some platforms and devices have automatic settings, and if you don't adjust them to your higher quality desires, you're not going to get the crisp picture you want. On this note, the Avengers: Endgame quality difference isn't just between the streaming version and the ultra-high-definition Blu-ray disc. There are also discrepancies between Endgame on the standard HD Blu-ray and on DVD. It's a difference in image quality that some reviewers had already pointed out, with some going so far as to claim even the 4K UHD Avengers: Endgame Blu-ray doesn't live up to the same image potential some fans are blasting Disney+ for failing to deliver.
Not everyone dislikes what Disney+ has to offer
Since its mid-November debut, Disney+ has secured a whopping 10 million in sign-ups – but if more eyes mean more money, it also means there are more people to notice all the problems. Among a growing laundry list of issues around the streaming platform include Disney+'s repeated crashing on launch day, a lack of basic features, and a somewhat smaller content library than initially expected. While avoiding some of these issues should have been a given considering the many examples of successful and unsuccessful streaming platforms Disney had at its disposal when creating Disney+, the Mouse House has been pretty open about plans to address user complaints. That's a good sign for subscribers who are looking to give Disney+ a second chance at making all their content and viewing dreams come true.
Even in the face of all this criticism, there are still people who love what Disney+ is doing and offering. For as many who have complained about Disney+, just as many have lauded the platform's library, features, and even viewing quality. Disney+ offers bonus content features like never-before-seen Endgame footage and includes a ton of underappreciated movies – and in comparison to Hulu, another streaming platform owned by Disney, it's delivering a significant upgrade in viewing quality, according to some fans.
Additionally, through Disney+, the Mouse House has finally found a way to bridge to its Marvel television and cinematic universes. Its upcoming slate of shows feature many of the MCU's established, big-screen favorites on their own shows — including Loki, The Falcon and Winter Soldier, and Hawkeye – and a number of new Marvel stars as well. Ms. Marvel and She-Hulk are among a more diverse slate of live-action heroes that will soon have a home on the platform — possibly before one day making the jump to the big screen.
While Disney+ can't guarantee subscribers' viewing quality is going to be the best, it is offering one of the best entertainment deals anyone can buy.