Game looks Dim AND Washed Out at the same time?

[Maxlor17]

Brightness maxxed, HDR on, HDR mode on for my monitor and yet the game somehow is VERY dim (like I'm wearing tinted sunglasses) and also like all of the color has been washed out. Everything just seems like it's a dim gray. Compared to any of my other games. Anybody else getting this or am I alone here?

[Aaron123]

Check your Nvidia driver. My HDR was washed out until I installed the latest, which was released a few days ago.

After that, HDR worked like you would expect, no issues.

Good luck!

[Maxlor17]

Originally posted by Aaron123:

Check your Nvidia driver. My HDR was washed out until I installed the latest, which was released a few days ago.

After that, HDR worked like you would expect, no issues.

Good luck!

Unfortunately I already am updated to the latest driver. Thanks for the tip tho! Shame too, biggest complaint so far (also, sending friend invite cuz you're a Steam OG and have one of the most impressive profiles I think I've ever seen that's legit lol)

[avengedfiend]

I have the same issue. I see mods for reshade that may fix it. If I go through the process I'll update if it's worth it. I have played every final fantasy and am now playing 16 for the first time ever on pc. After playing for 20 minutes I have to turn it off because I feel like I'm missing out on details I want to see. Same as you I have everything turned all the way up and I feel like I can't make out anything on the screen. Like I need more contrast but I have already tuned it to the best it's going to get. Wish I could just enjoy this game I am loving so far.

[REBirthTheEdge]

Pro-tip: turn off HDR.

HDR destroys colors.

[MancSoulja]

Originally posted by REBirthTheEdge:

Pro-tip: turn off HDR.

HDR destroys colors.

You need to check out real HDR on a real HDR display, not HDR on a $300 500 nit 6bit colour LCD display.

[REBirthTheEdge]

Originally posted by MancSoulja:

Originally posted by REBirthTheEdge:

Pro-tip: turn off HDR.

HDR destroys colors.

You need to check out real HDR on a real HDR display, not HDR on a $300 500 nit 6bit colour LCD display.

I game on a 55' Sony OLED and use it as a monitor as well.

[Cytecor]

I had this issue, and what fixed it for me was creating a profile for the game in the nvidia app and setting RTX HDR to off. For some reason after the game started, it would enable the rtx hdr filter.

[Dev]

Sometimes Windows OS HDR can be bugged and stay locked in a dim brightness that varies per app open/closed.

E.g. a game experiences some sort of corruption you exit and go back to steam desktop but everything remains dimmer until you launch another HDR compatible game that somehow brings brightness back to normal…

This issue for me is more easily triggered on my gsync HDR 10 LG QLED monitor vs my 240Hz Dolby Vision QHD display…

If you’re only getting dimmer output for this game and exiting the game returns back to normal than try disabling HDR option in-game, disable HDR under NVIDIA app for global and windows display settings. Re-launch the game, is everything normal? Then try turning HDR back on one place at a time starting with windows OS.

[level3]

Had the same problem as OP. While HDR does work, its not well executed. Use special K instead. Much better colors and the picture pops