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[Roberts]

Hi there, Auto-HDR aficionados!

I hope you forgive me for starting a new discussion instead of dropping it into Xbox OT, but I think for the sole purpose of focused discussion there is a reason for that.

First of all, here is an article on this XSX feature for those of you who don't know what it is.

For a few months I have been testing games that don’t have HDR built in to see how Auto HDR works on them. Even though there are a few cases where it doesn’t, most of the time I does wonders and transforms the game to the point where it looks and feels so much better than before. Now, because of HDR itself, you can’t really show the difference with screenshots, so we have to take each other’s word for granted. Also, I can totally understand that on some TV’s it doesn’t look too good and, frankly, I recalibrated the settings three or four times until I was completely happy. But I think it is an amazing feature that every console should eventually have.

I hope we can share our experiences with Auto-HDR here. Tell which games look awesome, which don’t (I can't remember which game it was, but one old xbox 360 game had distractingly overblown highlights). Here are a few recent examples, but I will definitely add more impressions along the way.

Lately, I have returned to Yakuza 0 which I kind of despised for certain reasons when it dropped on GP some time ago. It’s not like Auto-HDR was the reason why I like it now, but it definitely improved the visuals. It really feels like you are in Japan now - the neon signs and the overall mood of the game improved so much that XSX is definitely the best to play that game on.

I loaded up Ninja Gaiden II yesterday and together with X enhancements it makes it look like a game that was made maybe 5 years ago.

The way sparse light sources shine now in Little Nightmares, makes the game even more creepy.

What about you? Any memorable experiences when it comes to Auto-HDR?

 

[Rikkori]

The big ones for me would be GoW trilogy from what I've seen, the auto-hdr seems to work really well there. Will get a console specifically for those eventually, but gotta ride out the shortages first.

 

[Roberts]

The big ones for me would be GoW trilogy from what I've seen, the auto-hdr seems to work really well there. Will get a console specifically for those eventually, but gotta ride out the shortages first.

That is actually an awesome idea to post HDR videos that can be viewed on HDR supported TVs or monitors.

 

[Rikkori]

That is actually an awesome idea to post HDR videos that can be viewed on HDR supported TVs or monitors.

Check out the channel, he has a lot more of these autohdr videos.

 

[Spukc]

nintendo needs to do this shit

 

[Kagey K]

FF13 looks amazing with the auto HDR on top of the 4K upgrade. Lots of the background stuff really pops in the beginning area.

 

[Self]

Hmm, I'm the only dissapointed by auto HDR? Often things are way too bright and almost burn my eyes. Often it looks just off.

 

[Roberts]

Hmm, I'm the only dissapointed by auto HDR? Often things are way too bright and almost burn my eyes. Often it looks just off.

Try to fiddle around with AHDR settings in Xbox system settings menu. It really helped me. Also, I have LG C7 and I lower OLED LIGHT setting a bit until it stops being way too bright.

 

[Wizz-Art]

Try to fiddle around with AHDR settings in Xbox system settings menu. It really helped me. Also, I have LG C7 and I lower OLED LIGHT setting a bit until it stops being way too bright.

I also have a C7, great screen by the way, but with HDR content you aren't supposed to lower your OLED LIGHT. Thing is, to realize that great contrast an OLED gives you, keep it as is. For non HDR content my OLED LIGHT is at 27 since I set the thing up, but I have to say I don't have a very bright living room.

I'm very curious how these older games are going to look once I'm lucky enough to get an XSX. By the way, I suppose it's possible to turn the auto-HDR off but is it in the settings of the system or can you change it on the fly?

 

[Roberts]

I also have a C7, great screen by the way, but with HDR content you aren't supposed to lower your OLED LIGHT. Thing is, to realize that great contrast an OLED gives you, keep it as is. For non HDR content my OLED LIGHT is at 27 since I set the thing up, but I have to say I don't have a very bright living room.

I'm very curious how these older games are going to look once I'm lucky enough to get an XSX. By the way, I suppose it's possible to turn the auto-HDR off but is it in the settings of the system or can you change it on the fly?

No, unfortunately you can't turn it off on the fly, but I can imagine they will probably add such a feature later.

Anyway, I think the reason why AHDR didn't make a bigger splash is because it is kind of hard to get it right depending on TV and person's individual preference. Even then I am a bit surprised by relatively quiet reception, because it's pretty fckn amazing when it works.

 

[Pantz]

FF7 - It breaths fresh air into the graphics of this old game. Seeing stuff light up in the reactors is cool and it doesn't mess up the backgrounds. There's always some trade-offs with it like chocobos glow a bit too much.

I feel like it's best if you've already played through the games before normally, or if you're not that invested into them that you don't mind some trade-offs if it looks cool enough.

 

[Roberts]

Played a few indies and kiddie games with my daughter and it is nice to see how AHDR improves games that are not exactly technical marvels.

Costume Party 2 makes that Halloween mood even more pronounced. Rayman Legends, on the other hand, doesn't really change all that much or at least how I remember it before Auto-HDR. The colours in Adventure Time: Pirates of the Enchiridion really pop now.

I also played Guns, Gore & Cannoli 2 and the night levels looks so much better than before. The only time AHDR acts weird is when you go into game menu with overbaked highlights.