Why is this game so dark?

[Nihil]

So i get it.
Cyberpunk theme is always about neon lights and 80's-90's imagination of future. Dark future.
But aside the bugs this game has a freeeeaking huge immersion breaking issue.
That you have to choose between:
- Do you want to play a game with graphics and visuals you can see around the internet, as advertised? With shiny lights and goergous sunsets and bright colors?
- Or do you want to actually see anything to be able to play?

You could argue with "just always skip time till it's daytime". But you know, it is called Night City for a reason. Even at daytime many parts of the map are covered under shadow and you can't see anything. Many main missions do take place in basements without a single light bulb shining.

My issue is that if you want to play the game and see where you are going, you need to tune down that pesky brightness slider. But if you do soo till the point you can see anything, the colors are not so bright, not so beautiful, and the whole screen gets this well known white coating.

So independently from my rig capabilities, i have to decide between looks and playability?

[TSE Imperator]

I think it's your monitor, mate. My game looks good, contrast and gamma are well balanced, nothing has been too dark. In fact I prefer the world at night.

[BasePillage]

Ask Mike Pondsmith.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-55247702

On a serious note, if you are finding it dark, turn gamma up and turn off shadows. Only one point in this game I have found it too dark and thats when I had to find a electrical box to turn the lighting on.

[Taryl80]

With RTX on I see enough in this game and it looks great. It's not too dark imo. It's fitting.

[AMATERASU]

i have the same problem, in the badlans on the night, cant see ♥♥♥♥.

[Disgruntled Democracy Officer]

Sounds like an individual case by case problem - no darkness here to that extent at all

[H.Honor]

I hate it when you crouch and ♥♥♥♥ gets dark for no reason

[katzenkrimis]

Originally posted by Nihilus:

Or do you want to actually see anything to be able to play?

When I first started playing this game it did feel dark and suffocating in some areas, but the game will open up and you will get used to the day and night cycles. Some areas are meant to be that way. That's why you'll see those spotlights everywhere, which I have a habit of turning on everywhere I go. For some reason I enjoy sneaking into gang infested areas and turning on all the lights after I kill them all.

I think the lighting is quite good in this game. It really sets the mood. On the street and indoors.

[Nihil]

Originally posted by The Joker:

With RTX on I see enough in this game and it looks great. It's not too dark imo. It's fitting.

I see literally no difference with RTX on and off. Except that 60 frames i loose.

Originally posted by Spirit:

I think it's your monitor, mate. My game looks good, contrast and gamma are well balanced, nothing has been too dark. In fact I prefer the world at night.

Nah,thx, my monitor is fine. black filter and white filter is well ballanced and i used to play a ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ of horror games which are notorious for having dark places. But this is jut extraordinary.

Originally posted by Sykout:

Sounds like an individual case by case problem - no darkness here to that extent at all

Or just people have more annoying bugs to complain about :D

Originally posted by H.honor:

I hate it when you crouch and ♥♥♥♥ gets dark for no reason

Ah yes, it is throwing an extra layer of dark borders on the screen. :D

[Nihil]

Originally posted by katzenkrimis:

Originally posted by Nihilus:

Or do you want to actually see anything to be able to play?

When I first started playing this game it did feel dark and suffocating in some areas, but the game will open up and you will get used to the day and night cycles. Some areas are meant to be that way. That's why you'll see those spotlights everywhere, which I have a habit of turning on everywhere I go. For some reason I enjoy sneaking into gang infested areas and turning on all the lights after I kill them all.

I think the lighting is quite good in this game. It really sets the mood. On the street and indoors.

as I said....it is independent of day and night cycle. If you stay in the inner city, it has many many places which are underground and/or not touched by sunlight. Maybe your eyes got used to it. Just as mine. But in the end, whenever i see a screenshot on the internet about people bragging how beautiful this game looks, i instantly see the trick in the picture.

[TSE Imperator]

Originally posted by Nihilus:

Originally posted by katzenkrimis:

When I first started playing this game it did feel dark and suffocating in some areas, but the game will open up and you will get used to the day and night cycles. Some areas are meant to be that way. That's why you'll see those spotlights everywhere, which I have a habit of turning on everywhere I go. For some reason I enjoy sneaking into gang infested areas and turning on all the lights after I kill them all.

I think the lighting is quite good in this game. It really sets the mood. On the street and indoors.

as I said....it is independent of day and night cycle. If you stay in the inner city, it has many many places which are underground and/or not touched by sunlight. Maybe your eyes got used to it. Just as mine. But in the end, whenever i see a screenshot on the internet about people bragging how beautiful this game looks, i instantly see the trick in the picture.

Maybe screenshot some of the areas youre referring to? There are definitely some black areas with little to no lightning and you have to use your scanner to find a light source - but its nowhere near as pervasive as you've described. Seems pretty subjective.

[Nihil]

This is with 1.09 gamma.
Currently playing with 0,75. Will make a screenshot when i'm in a simil dark basement.
https://imgur.com/AOqlQ17

[Swordgun]

It is darker than the average game, especially where there's a few light sources. Some interiors are really dark. But I wouldn't say it's too dark overall, personally I like it. It's in the middle between realistic and playable.

Edit: I just remembered that there were actually some instances where I really needed a flashlight, this game should have that. Like what kind of an RPG is this, for real? You can't equip a flashlight, or a torch or whatever.

[Kurnn]

I love the dark

[Dr.Abscondus]

Originally posted by H.honor:

I hate it when you crouch and ♥♥♥♥ gets dark for no reason

It does that because the game is indicating that you're in stealth mode and can't be seen.

[Machin Shin]

its just a little stupid that you have the most expenise eye impant and can not tune it brighter.. :)