Google DeepMind’s impressive video generation tool Veo just picked up an update, bringing a long-awaited feature to users. The tool now supports native vertical video output, making it ideal for creating content for Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and TikTok.
In its announcement, Google notes that Veo now lets users generate videos in a 9:16 aspect ratio, eliminating the need to crop or reframe clips for vertical-first platforms. To create portrait videos, users only need to upload a vertical image and Veo will maintain the aspect ratio and orientation. The update also brings improvements to the tool’s Ingredients to Video capabilities, allowing it to make videos “more expressive and creative, even with simple prompts.”
Identity consistency has also been upgraded in the latest Veo 3.1 release, with generated characters now looking the same even when the setting changes. Google says this makes it easier for creators to tell a full narrative “by having the same character appear across multiple scenes.” Additionally, the tool now maintains the integrity of the setting and objects within it, and lets users reuse objects, backgrounds, or textures across different scenes.
Creators can now upscale videos to 1080p and 4K
Google adds that Veo now also has the capability to combine different elements, such as characters, objects, textures, and stylized backgrounds, to create more cohesive videos. For creators who require high-resolution clips for their projects, the tool has also picked up support for upscaling to 1080p and 4K.
The update is already rolling out, and users can try the portrait mode and Ingredients to Video enhancements in the Gemini app. These features are also coming to Flow, the Gemini API, Vertex AI, and Google Vids. However, the 1080p and 4K resolution upscaling options are currently limited to Flow, the Gemini API, and Vertex AI.