diff --git a/src/d_main.cpp b/src/d_main.cpp
index b886d177e..4a28b40f6 100644
--- a/src/d_main.cpp
+++ b/src/d_main.cpp
@@ -227,6 +227,7 @@ CUSTOM_CVAR (String, vid_cursor, "None", CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_NOINITCALL)
 CVAR (Bool, disableautoload, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_NOINITCALL | CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
 CVAR (Bool, autoloadbrightmaps, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_NOINITCALL | CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
 CVAR (Bool, autoloadlights, false, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_NOINITCALL | CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
+CVAR (Bool, autoloadwidescreen, true, CVAR_ARCHIVE | CVAR_NOINITCALL | CVAR_GLOBALCONFIG)
 CVAR (Bool, r_debug_disable_vis_filter, false, 0)
 
 bool wantToRestart;
@@ -2000,6 +2001,11 @@ static FString ParseGameInfo(TArray<FString> &pwads, const char *fn, const char
 			sc.MustGetNumber();
 			DoomStartupInfo.LoadBrightmaps = !!sc.Number;
 		}
+		else if (!nextKey.CompareNoCase("LOADWIDESCREEN"))
+		{
+			sc.MustGetNumber();
+			DoomStartupInfo.LoadWidescreen = !!sc.Number;
+		}
 		else
 		{
 			// Silently ignore unknown properties
@@ -2161,6 +2167,12 @@ static void AddAutoloadFiles(const char *autoname)
 			if (bmwad)
 				D_AddFile (allwads, bmwad);
 		}
+		if (DoomStartupInfo.LoadWidescreen == 1 || (DoomStartupInfo.LoadWidescreen != 0 && autoloadwidescreen))
+		{
+			const char *wswad = BaseFileSearch ("game_widescreen_gfx.pk3", NULL);
+			if (wswad)
+				D_AddFile (allwads, wswad);
+		}
 	}
 
 	if (!(gameinfo.flags & GI_SHAREWARE) && !Args->CheckParm("-noautoload") && !disableautoload)
@@ -3008,7 +3020,7 @@ void D_Cleanup()
 	// delete DoomStartupInfo data
 	DoomStartupInfo.Name = "";
 	DoomStartupInfo.BkColor = DoomStartupInfo.FgColor = DoomStartupInfo.Type = 0;
-	DoomStartupInfo.LoadLights = DoomStartupInfo.LoadBrightmaps = -1;
+	DoomStartupInfo.LoadWidescreen = DoomStartupInfo.LoadLights = DoomStartupInfo.LoadBrightmaps = -1;
 
 	GC::FullGC();					// clean up before taking down the object list.
 
diff --git a/src/d_main.h b/src/d_main.h
index e929a97d6..5f4fc1180 100644
--- a/src/d_main.h
+++ b/src/d_main.h
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@ struct FStartupInfo
 	int Type;
 	int LoadLights = -1;
 	int LoadBrightmaps = -1;
+	int LoadWidescreen = -1;
 	enum
 	{
 		DefaultStartup,