How to Avoid Compression & Quality Loss When Exporting Game Trailers

Nothing kills a stunning game trailer faster than compression artifacts and quality loss. Whether it's YouTube, Twitter, or Steam, each platform has its quirks when it comes to video compression. If you want your trailer to look as sharp and polished as possible, here’s how to optimize your export settings and maintain high visual fidelity.

1. Choose the Right Codec and Format

The best balance of quality and compatibility comes from using H.264 or H.265 (HEVC) with an MP4 container. H.265 offers better compression with smaller file sizes but isn’t universally supported. For lossless quality, ProRes (MOV) or DNxHD are ideal but often too large for web use.

2. Optimize Bitrate for Each Platform

Higher bitrates mean better quality, but every platform has different recommendations:

• YouTube: 15–30 Mbps (1080p), 45–80 Mbps (4K)
• Twitter/X: 5–10 Mbps (1080p)
• Steam: 15–20 Mbps (1080p), 35–50 Mbps (4K)

For crisp visuals, always export at a higher bitrate than the platform’s compression threshold to minimize quality loss.

3. Use the Right Resolution & Frame Rate

• Export at native resolution (e.g., 1920x1080 or 3840x2160) to avoid scaling artifacts.
• If your game runs at 60 FPS, keep it at 60 FPS for smooth playback. If it’s 30 FPS, avoid unnecessary frame interpolation.

4. Reduce Color Banding & Artifacts

• Enable 10-bit color depth if possible. 8-bit exports can suffer from color banding, especially in dark scenes.
• Use higher-quality export settings (e.g., “Maximum Render Quality” in Adobe Premiere) to avoid compression artifacts.
• Apply a light noise/grain layer to prevent banding from becoming too obvious.

5. Master YouTube’s Compression Algorithm

• Export in 4K, even if your game is 1080p. YouTube gives 4K videos better compression treatment.
• Use VP9 or AV1 encoding when possible, as YouTube prioritizes these formats for high quality.
• Avoid fast-moving, complex visuals during the first few seconds—this reduces initial compression loss.

6. Steam, Play Store & App Store Requirements

• Steam trailers should be 1920x1080, H.264, 30 Mbps+ bitrate for best results.
• App Store & Google Play trailers work best at 30 FPS, 1080p, and under 500 MB in size to meet mobile-friendly restrictions.

Final Tip: Test Before Uploading

Export multiple versions and test uploads privately before going live. Some platforms over-compress more than others, and small tweaks in bitrate or resolution can make a big difference.

At Quadral.io, we ensure every trailer we create is optimized for maximum impact across all platforms. Want a trailer that looks incredible everywhere? Let’s make it happen—visit Quadral.io today!

‍