S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2 - HDR Optimized Settings

The game is NOT using/applying Xbox or PC HDR Calibration app settings.

The game has a fairly good but confusing HDR implementation as it can actually reach 4.000 nits (in a cumbersome way) with many different in-game HDR settings...which can be improved from default.

CALIBRATION RE-DONE AND SETTINGS UPDATED!

• First of all in order to activate HDR you should use Exclusive Fullscreen Mode (and not Borderless) on PC otherwise you can't enabled it. On Console should be activated automatically

• Once HDR is activated, leave Contrast to 75% . This alone will have crushed black but it's the only value which preserve the High Dynamic Range of HDR

Then:

If you have an LG OLED and:

> you're using Dynamic Tone Mapping or Dynamic Contrast:

• Set Brightness to: 50 (and not higher or the image will be washed out)

> you're using HGIG:

• Set Brightness to: 40 (for 800 nits) or 46 (for G2/C4) or 55 (for G3/G4)

If you don't have an LG OLED and:

> you don't have an HGIG option:

• Set Brightness to: 46 (for around 1.000 nits)

> you're using HGIG:

• Set Brightness to the corresponding real Peak HDR Luminance of your TV in "nits" (40 = 800 nits; 46 = 1.000 nits ; 55 = 1.500 nits ; 60 = 2.000 nits)

In all cases:

•  Leave Gamma to 44% (Default on PC; but try it also on Consoles)

• Leave HDR Black point to -4 (Default)

• Leave HDR White point to 1.000 (Default)

• Set HDR Brightness to 40  in order to fix the aforementioned black crush

• Set HDR UI Brightness to 0% in order to minimize the risk of OLED burn-in

BONUS:

• Use Performance/60fps mode on Xbox Series X

• Go to Interface section and set UI Opacity to 50% to further minimize the risk of OLED burn in

• PC Only: if you have massive framerate drops when talking closer to NPCs, set the "Hair Quality" option to Medium instead of High/Epic

• PC Only: to improve visual quality but at the same time improve/remove stutters, increase performance and lower input latency have a look at my Ultimate Engine Tweaks Mod here :)

Enjoy :)

-P