What is the best way to implement a feature in my Unity game that allows players to switch the fullscreen display to another monitor during gameplay?

Implementing Monitor Switching in Unity

Understanding the Setup

Before implementing a monitor switch feature, ensure multiple displays are correctly configured in your operating system. Unity relies on the system’s ability to detect and manage these displays.

Using Unity’s Display Class

Unity provides a Display class which can be used to manage multiple monitors. You can access different monitors using Display.displays array. To activate and show content on a specific display, you need to activate it:

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Display.displays[1].Activate();

Implementing Display Switching

• Detect Current Display: Utilize Screen.currentResolution and Display.main to get information about the current display being used.
• User Interface (UI) for Switching: Create a UI toggle option that allows the player to choose a different display.
• Swapping Displays: On user input, deactivate the current display and activate the chosen display:

int targetDisplay = 1; // Assuming switching to the second display.
Display.displays[targetDisplay].Activate();

Fullscreen Mode Configuration

Ensure the game seamlessly transitions by setting the correct fullscreen mode:

Screen.SetResolution(1920, 1080, true); // Or devices' specific resolution

Handling Aspect Ratios and Scaling

• Utilize Unity’s canvas scaler to ensure UI elements adapt according to different resolutions or aspect ratios.
• Test across different resolutions to ensure uniformity in play experience and that no UI elements are out of place.

Real-time Performance Considerations

Switching displays during gameplay can be demanding, depending on the hardware and the game’s graphical demands. To maintain performance:

• Ensure assets for the secondary display settings are pre-loaded.
• Test the performance on different hardware configurations to adjust graphical settings dynamically if necessary.