How to Enable VRR/G-Sync with Borderless Fullscreen

[Othoric]

So I was struggling to figure out why G-Sync wasn't working in Borderless like it does on all my other DX11 games on Windows 11. After some trial and error I discovered that you need to go to Windows Settings -> System -> Display -> Graphics and add the METAPHOR.exe manually under "Custom Settings for Applications". Once there you'll will see that the game has "Optimizations for windowed games" disabled by default. After force enabling the setting VRR now works correctly in Borderless. This may also help those wanting to enable AutoHDR in Borderless as well, since it is required for that setting to be on for it to work.

NOTE: If after enabling VRR does not work for some reason. Go to the configuration file at %APPDATA%\SEGA\METAPHOR\Steam\<user-id>\pcconfig.dat and change one of the settings there. It should cause the game to reset all settings back to default and VRR should now work properly in Borderless Fullscreen.

LATEST PATCH: If anyone is having issues following the steps above and still not getting G-Sync to activate, while the game is active press Win key + G to open Xbox Game Bar. Go to the Game Bar settings and look for the checkbox that says "Remember this is a Game". After that close the game and relaunch again.

[Dorin]

Thanks! This was driving me nuts.

[system2]

Yep this is also how you fix autohdr. Didn't realize it may or may not have also been affecting VRR though.

[max e]

Hey man, I've done the steps above after pulling my hair out trying to fix it with Nvidia control panel, even resetting the config file and G-sync still will not latch on! any updated advice? Thanks!

[Kaldaien]

Yeah, I recently discovered this setting is disabled by default.

Not to toot my own horn, but I'm part of the reason the option was added to Windows 11 (and sad to see it's not enabled by default).

Windows 10 users can use Special K to do the same thing as Windowed Mode Optimization. This has been a feature in Special K since before Windows 10 even shipped.

[Fartzilla69]

Weird stuff is happening with VRR on Atlus games.
For example, VRR works for Refantazio in Borderless mode on my system without any tweaks (W11, 4070Ti, i9).
But it won't work in Fullscreen mode... There's a very noticeable screen tearing in Fullscreen, and Vsync CAN be effectively turned on in the game settings (it eliminates tearing, but increases input latency), which is nuts since my VRR is enabled both in monitor firmware and Nvidia control panel (both window+fullscreen modes).
The problem is that Borderless mode introduces a very apparent microstutter (which is represented in the Frametime graph of my MSI Afterburner). In Fullscreen things are smooth.
So for me it really is a "pick your poison" kind of a situation: either have low latency with bad frametimes in borderless or play fullscreen without VRR advantages.

What's even weirder is that P5R works flawlessly in both Fullscreen and Borderless modes: no frametime shenanigans, no tearing, VRR totally works.
But on my GF's PC (W11, 2070S, i5) P5R behaves almost exactly like Refantazio on mine (no VRR in fullsreen)

[max e]

Originally posted by Fartzilla69:

Weird stuff is happening with VRR on Atlus games.
For example, VRR works for Refantazio in Borderless mode on my system without any tweaks (W11, 4070Ti, i9).
But it won't work in Fullscreen mode... There's a very noticeable screen tearing in Fullscreen, and Vsync CAN be effectively turned on in the game settings (it eliminates tearing, but increases input latency), which is nuts since my VRR is enabled both in monitor firmware and Nvidia control panel (both window+fullscreen modes).
The problem is that Borderless mode introduces a very apparent microstutter (which is represented in the Frametime graph of my MSI Afterburner). In Fullscreen things are smooth.
So for me it really is a "pick your poison" kind of a situation: either have low latency with bad frametimes in borderless or play fullscreen without VRR advantages.

What's even weirder is that P5R works flawlessly in both Fullscreen and Borderless modes: no frametime shenanigans, no tearing, VRR totally works.
But on my GF's PC (W11, 2070S, i5) P5R behaves almost exactly like Refantazio on mine (no VRR in fullsreen)

Im just having an issue where it wont activate in fullscreen. And I hate the fullscreen mode in this game because 75% of the time if i alt tab, the game crashes so I'd really like VRR in borderless. I haven't had many issues with other games in borderless besides this one. I am just not sure what to do at this point. I dont own P5 on PC so not sure about that situation but Atlus PC versions are terrible and they really need to put in more effort, especially for $70.

[Kaldaien]

Originally posted by Fartzilla69:

The problem is that Borderless mode introduces a very apparent microstutter (which is represented in the Frametime graph of my MSI Afterburner). In Fullscreen things are smooth.
So for me it really is a "pick your poison" kind of a situation: either have low latency with bad frametimes in borderless or play fullscreen without VRR advantages.

You can have it all with Special K. Perfect frame pacing in windowed mode, and it fixes the game to support VRR in windowed mode. It also has Reflex integrated, and will automatically apply the correct framerate limit to keep VRR active at all times.

No reason to ever use Fullscren Exclusive in the game, and in fact, Special K will disable that and turn it into Borderless Fullscreen.

[Othoric]

If anyone is having issues following the steps above and still not getting G-Sync to activate, while the game is active press Win key + G to open Xbox Game Bar. Go to the Game Bar settings and look for the checkbox that says "Remember this is a Game". After that close the game and relaunch again.

[J8SUPRME]

Originally posted by Othoric:

So I was struggling to figure out why G-Sync wasn't working in Borderless like it does on all my other DX11 games on Windows 11. After some trial and error I discovered that you need to go to Windows Settings -> System -> Display -> Graphics and add the METAPHOR.exe manually under "Custom Settings for Applications". Once there you'll will see that the game has "Optimizations for windowed games" disabled by default. After force enabling the setting VRR now works correctly in Borderless. This may also help those wanting to enable AutoHDR in Borderless as well, since it is required for that setting to be on for it to work.

NOTE: If after enabling VRR does not work for some reason. Go to the configuration file at %APPDATA%\SEGA\METAPHOR\Steam\<user-id>\pcconfig.dat and change one of the settings there. It should cause the game to reset all settings back to default and VRR should now work properly in Borderless Fullscreen.

LATEST PATCH: If anyone is having issues following the steps above and still not getting G-Sync to activate, while the game is active press Win key + G to open Xbox Game Bar. Go to the Game Bar settings and look for the checkbox that says "Remember this is a Game". After that close the game and relaunch again.

With VRR Windowed mode enabled in the Windows Settings - what do you have enabled in the NVCP under G-Sync? Fullscreen or Fullscreen with windowed mode?

[Kaldaien]

Originally posted by J8SUPRME:

With VRR Windowed mode enabled in the Windows Settings - what do you have enabled in the NVCP under G-Sync? Fullscreen or Fullscreen with windowed mode?

Absolutely, under no circumstances, ever enable G-Sync for Windowed Mode.

That doesn't give you VRR, it just causes the Windows desktop to change its resolution to match the foreground window.

If you need VRR in this game in Borderless Fullscreen, you can use Special K.

[J8SUPRME]

Originally posted by Kaldaien:

Originally posted by J8SUPRME:

With VRR Windowed mode enabled in the Windows Settings - what do you have enabled in the NVCP under G-Sync? Fullscreen or Fullscreen with windowed mode?

Absolutely, under no circumstances, ever enable G-Sync for Windowed Mode.

That doesn't give you VRR, it just causes the Windows desktop to change its resolution to match the foreground window.

If you need VRR in this game in Borderless Fullscreen, you can use Special K.

In Windows 11? Isn’t Special K for Windows 10?

[Kaldaien]

Originally posted by J8SUPRME:

Originally posted by Kaldaien:

Absolutely, under no circumstances, ever enable G-Sync for Windowed Mode.

That doesn't give you VRR, it just causes the Windows desktop to change its resolution to match the foreground window.

If you need VRR in this game in Borderless Fullscreen, you can use Special K.

In Windows 11? Isn’t Special K for Windows 10?

Yes, in Windows 11 you either need to enable Windowed Mode Optimization or use Special K. What you DO NOT want to do, ever, is enable that Windowed G-Sync setting.

And for what it's worth, SK works with Windows 8.1 and newer.