Veo 3.1 adds native vertical generation from reference images

Google updated Veo 3.1 Ingredients to Video on 13 January with native portrait output, reducing the need to crop a landscape generation into a mobile frame. The feature builds video from reference images, with Google claiming better consistency for characters and visual elements. It also introduced upscaling to 1080p and 4K.

The announced rollout covered Gemini, YouTube, Flow, Google Vids, the Gemini API and Vertex AI. Native aspect ratio and output resolution are separate decisions: a vertical clip can fit a phone without necessarily containing native 4K detail. For creators planning Shorts or social posts, the concrete change was format control at generation time. Google’s examples illustrate intended behaviour rather than independent proof that every scene remains consistent.