Hellblade 2: Senua's Saga - HDR Optimized Settings
Added 2024-05-21 13:12:30 +0000 UTC
The game is NOT using/applying Xbox or PC HDR Calibration app settings.
The game has a good HDR implementation as, even if it doesn't offer a precise in-game HDR slider in nits value, actual peak HDR luminance seems around 2.000 nits.
For this reason Dynamic Tone Mapping is recommended.
What the game lets you adjust is the HDR Brightness with 3 options:
- Dark: Which is way too muted
- Default: Which can be on the dim side except if you use DTM on pre-2023 LG OLEDs where it looks OK
- Bright: Which is the one I recommend for most users as it's more impactful without ruining highlights accuracy and creators intent
There is also a setting to adjust UI HDR Brightness separately with the same 3 options above but I recommend Default in this case
You will also find an HDR Gamma slider which I recommend leaving to Default 50 as it already represent a balanced exposure.
BONUS:
- Set Subtitles size to 7 (instead of default 5, which is way too small)
- Play with Headphones! The game uses binaural audio for everything to be the most immersive experience possible, so using headphones (and playing in a dark room) is a must! [Set the in-game audio to Headphones as well]
- The Enhanced Edition now offers a 60fps Performance Mode which I only recommend on PS5 Pro as on base PS5 and XSX it may look too soft (but you can still try it)
PC ONLY:
- The Enhanced Edition offers an higher "Very High" graphic preset which at the moment has no noticeable visual differences compared to the previous highest preset while still noticeably decreasing performance so I DON'T RECOMMEND IT
- Use my UET Mod to remove black bars, improve performance, reduce stuttering, lower latency, all with better picture clarity instead ;)
Enjoy! :)
-P
Comments
Nope except I do NOT recommend the new "Very High" graphics preset on PC. You'll just lose fps with basically no noticeable visual difference :/
P40L0
2025-08-13 06:15:27 +0000 UTCAny changes since the enhanced edition came out, brother? Just curious
Victor Luong
2025-08-13 00:08:29 +0000 UTChttps://www.patreon.com/posts/xdefiant-hdr-104854033
P40L0
2024-05-24 15:06:41 +0000 UTCGotcha , appreciate the explanation
Dylans Chillin
2024-05-23 19:54:32 +0000 UTCCan you post xdefiant HDR next?
therealzome
2024-05-23 19:50:32 +0000 UTCBecause RTX HDR is still an SDR upscale/conversion to HDR, where missing informations are only guessed. HDR10 native will always be better when it's done right like this one, even if it's fixed to 2.000 nits
P40L0
2024-05-23 19:44:44 +0000 UTCWouldn't it be better to disable in game hdr and use rtx hdr because you can set the specific peak brightness . I'm curious as to why using in game hdr is better.
Dylans Chillin
2024-05-23 19:38:25 +0000 UTCDon't use RTXH HDR with it, the game is native HDR10 (just enable it in-game and set it as suggested here)
P40L0
2024-05-23 19:06:41 +0000 UTCIm using rtx hdr, hgig on my lg C1, looks amazing
Dylans Chillin
2024-05-23 19:05:59 +0000 UTCThat's how it actually works to process multichannel sources, but if you feed it with Stereo (like binaural audio is) it won't touch it and pass it as is in order to avoid switching Atmos for Headphones setting on/off in this case (or while listening music as well)
P40L0
2024-05-23 10:45:09 +0000 UTCReally? I always thought Atmos Headphone needed a 5.1 or more source to calculate 3D audio. Since binaural audio already contains 3D sound, I thought it would ruin the sound if the console wasn't set to stereo. Very confusing, but thanks
Fizz
2024-05-23 09:56:56 +0000 UTCNo, you can leave Atmos enabled on Xbox. Just set Headphones in-game ;)
P40L0
2024-05-23 06:45:47 +0000 UTCThanks for all Pablo :) just one question: for binaural audio, do we have to set the xbox to stereo or can dolby atmos stay enabled? thanks
Fizz
2024-05-23 06:27:24 +0000 UTCI already recommend Fine Tune Dark Areas to -4 for all games. Only this way you compensate the inevitable gamma raise when enabling VRR compared to VRR: Disabled
P40L0
2024-05-22 09:58:09 +0000 UTCOne more thing I’d recommend (in addition to what you’ve already recommended) is to change “Fine Tune Dark Areas” to -3. This game has nearly perfect blacks, but not quite. It’s noticeable when looking at the black bars on the top and bottom of the screen, as well as when looking at cave entrances, etc. I’ve found that -3 provides true OLED blacks without sacrificing any shadow detail.
PureGonzo
2024-05-22 09:56:46 +0000 UTCThx P40L0. This game is visually wild, holy moly.
KyberCrow
2024-05-21 21:03:55 +0000 UTCFor CX (so pre-2023 model) with DTM: On the Default HDR Brightness should look OK but if it's still too dim for you, use Bright also there.
P40L0
2024-05-21 18:12:46 +0000 UTCAnd just to be clear, do you still recommend the “Bright” setting as opposed to “Default” for HDR brightness for a LG CX with DTM on?
PureGonzo
2024-05-21 15:23:26 +0000 UTCThanks for the recommendations as always! I’m surprised to hear it’s not using system-level calibration, as the in-game menu seems to imply that it is, and even directs you straight to the Xbox HDR app. Although it makes sense that it’s not using it, because I was thinking it looked unusually dim (even the highlights).
PureGonzo
2024-05-21 15:19:29 +0000 UTCThanks boss!! I've been looking forward to this game too!
Victor Luong
2024-05-21 14:11:37 +0000 UTCIf you liked the first one, you will love this sequel. It's one of the most "gaming" immersive experience I've ever had so far.
P40L0
2024-05-21 13:53:11 +0000 UTCThanks a lot! I was planning to play this sequel as the first is amazing and this guide is gold for me, as this game relies a lot in the bright and dark scenes in order to represent and narrate the story 👏
Pablo Coronas González
2024-05-21 13:49:33 +0000 UTC
