When MSI announced its 27in and 32in MAG QD-OLED gaming monitors wouldn’t receive firmware updates, fans weren’t best pleased. Thankfully, the company has heard the community’s strong feedback and decided to enable future patches.
The original reason was innocent enough in that MPG and MEG models were simply more of a priority. However, we live in a world where bug and performance fixes often come way after screens land on shelves. The idea of what you see is what you get, warts and all, just doesn’t sit right in 2024.
While there’s an outpouring of love for MSI’s decision on Reddit, it’s not as simple as a regular firmware update. Since MSI has already released MAG 271QPX QD-OLED and MAG 321UPX QD-OLED in the Americas and Asia, those with older firmware will first need to visit their closest MSI service centre to enable future patches. Once this is done and dusted, you can go back to plugging it into your PC to download new releases.
To check your firmware, head into the OSD (on-screen display) and look in the bottom right-hand corner. FW.011 or earlier on MAG 271QPX and FW.014 or earlier on MAG 321UPX means you must seek MSI’s help. If you’re running FW.012 and FW.015, respectively, you’re already on the latest. Those purchasing in Europe will likely be up to date right off the bat, but it doesn’t hurt to check.
According to MSI’s technical marketing department, the latest patch puts MAG in line with MPG. The company doesn’t say whether the plan is to update all models simultaneously, but it is currently working on a patch that we can “expect to release before August.” TFT Central says it’ll be mid-July, more accurately. Exciting times for all.
Honestly, I don’t know why MSI ever decided to cap updates. Surely, it would’ve been better to support remote patches and just lessen the frequency of them. Either way, we’re back on track now. MSI is at the top of our best gaming monitor list for a reason, and it looks like it’ll stay that way for a while longer.