I love how transformative HDR (High Dynamic Range) gaming is, to the point that I almost always use Nvidia RTX HDR to inject it into games that don’t carry native support. However, getting the technology to look right comes with plenty of pitfalls and can be frustratingly difficult. Sadly, Nintendo Switch 2 is yet another casualty of tricky HDR but the console thankfully isn’t beyond fixing.
While Switch 2 HDR performance is fine in handheld mode, the experience isn’t always so smooth while docked. If you’ve found image quality lacking on your TV, you’re not alone. In the words of YouTuber HDTVTest, “it’s surprisingly easy to get a washed out HDR picture with desaturated colours and blown out highlights on the Nintendo Switch 2.”
The problem, as HDTVTest explains, comes down to the ‘Adjust HDR’ menu on Switch 2. The way Nintendo has configured this tool makes setting appropriate values for peak brightness and other variables “almost impossible”. Emphasis on almost.
To salvage an enjoyable HDR experience on Switch 2, you’ll want to check whether your screen supports ‘HGiG’ (HDR Gaming Interest Group) tone mapping. In short, this serves as a translation layer between HDR content and your display, analysing the native black levels, brightness, and colours of the input signal and accommodating them accordingly to the capabilities of your screen. If your panel does, go ahead and enable it.
With HGiG enabled, follow Nintendo’s instructions of adjusting the two suns until the right one disappears from view. Setting reference (paper) white levels is trickier, but those with calibration tools should aim for about 200nits. If you’re understandably short of such equipment, you’ll unfortunately need to adjust, evaluate, and repeat until you’re happy with the final image.
HDTVTest provides guidance for those without HGiG displays but you’ll need calibration equipment to action it. In the long term, Nintendo simply needs to make its Adjust HDR more accommodating. I’d suggest the company take a leaf out of Sony’s PlayStation 5 configurator, which is far less prone to user error.
Outside of the Adjust HDR menu, there are a handful of other tweaks you can make to improve Switch 2 HDR image quality. The most important, in my view, is setting ‘HDR Output’ to ‘Compatible Software Only’ as native SDR content often looks washed out running in an HDR container. Setting the console’s system theme to basic dark will help mitigate the risk of ABL (Auto Brightness Limiter) interference, allowing your screen to maintain better overall brightness.
It pains me that HDR is still such a headache to setup, despite the technology existing in the display market for many years at this point. I’m sure a world where it seamlessly integrates into devices and screens alike is coming but it feels like we’re far off from that future right now. If you’re reasonably feeling frustrated at having to make tweaks like this, I beg you to exercise patience as the end result is well worth striving for.
