Streaming and Video Games have different HDR brightness values on Xbox Series X

Mr Rotch · Oct 19, 2022

Please note, what I'm referring to is not physical brightness measured in nits, but how dark the image can get.

For context, I got a Calibrite ColorChecker Display Plus in order to calibrate my computer monitor, so it can have the best brightness/contrast/colors it can. But seeing as how I can't calibrate my tv with it (as far as I know, it only creates ICC profiles for Windows to utilize), I tried changing my tv settings by just eyeballing it. I managed to nail the SDR calibration, but I'm running into problems trying to calibrate the TV in HDR mode.

In order to make movies in the Movies & TV app, 4K Blu-rays, and Netflix in HDR look right, I have to set the Brightness to 55. The problem with this though, is that it makes all my video games that utilize HDR/Auto-HDR look extremely washed out by comparison.

So I booted up Halo: MCC on my Xbox and then my PC (which was in SDR). I went to the same locations in a level, and I calibrated the brightness so the games looked the same. This took my brightness all the way down from 55 to 46. Now my games look fantastic. Halo: MCC, Borderlands 3, Gears 5, Auto-HDR titles, they all look like how they should look. HOWEVER, now streaming/media content look really dark, with crushed blacks.

I tried doing the HDR Game calibration tool exactly how it wanted me to, but this doesn't seem to affect anything. I also tried disabling 'Allow HDR10' and 'Allow auto low-latency mode' in the General Video Modes menu, as well as disabling Dolby Vision, but nothing seems to work.

I don't get it. It's almost like media has a completely separate HDR profile compared to games, and that each of them have different brightness values. I can't calibrate them both too look ideal. I seen other threads where people are having the same issue, so I know I'm not crazy. I genuinely think that something is messed up on Xbox's end, where it's making games have higher brightness values for some reason.

:)

Kathy A.

Hi Mr Rotch,

We hope you have a great day!

May I ask if you have submitted a bug report to the team yet?

We will be submitting the title of the bug and submitted date to the Internal Support Team for investigation.

Please check the steps below on how to submit a bug:

Install Report a Problem app from Microsoft Store in Xbox Console.
Press and hold the Xbox button, select Report a problem and select Report new problem.
Please provide additional info and diagnostics to your problem report by selecting Reproduce with advanced diagnostics. Otherwise select Continue with standard diagnostics.
Note If you select Reproduce with advanced diagnostics, continue with the instructions that are found in the section “Report a problem with media tracing.”
Choose the most appropriate category and subcategory from each dropdown. If you’re not sure what to choose, make your best guess.
If you have a screenshot or game clip with your issue, ensure that Include screenshot or Include game clip is selected.
Enter a short title for your issue that will include [Xbox Forums]
Enter a description of your issue. Consider the following questions when deciding what details to include:
What is the problem or unexpected behavior?
1. What steps did you take to encounter the problem?
2. What additional software, hardware, or accessories were you using when you encountered the problem?
3. Were there any specific error codes or messages you saw when you encountered the problem or behavior? If so, what did it say?
Select Submit. It can take several seconds for your problem report to send.
Once complete, post the title of the bug report along with the submission date in this thread.

The steps can be found on this support article: Provide feedback to Team Xbox | Xbox Support

We hope to hear from you soon.

Regards,

SwordofWhedon

Streaming providers have their own mastering specs, and film is not video games. They have different requirements. They all have their own internal templates and requirements

I recommend using an external device like a Roku or your TV apps, and calibrate it desperately

Obsessive Power

Hi,

Have you checked out the Rtings website for optimal calibration settings of your LG CX OLED?

https://www.rtings.com/tv/reviews/lg/cx-oled/settings

I used that site to calibrate my LG C2 OLED to rather excellent results.

If you watch Streaming services it would best to use those apps downloaded directly to your TV as their display settings can then be calibrated independently from your console. If you use game mode for both it just won't look right.

Mr Rotch

I have a 55" LG CX OLED TV. I'm posting links to each image, since they're too large to post on here. I'm using the Game (User) Mode for both the video game (Borderlands 3) and the streaming series (The Sandman, Netflix), both in HDR mode. I used the same TV settings for both, except for the described changes to Brightness (also please keep in mind that I did my best to capture the images as best I can, but the differences are exaggerated even more in real life).

Borderlands 3 (Brightness set to 46, perfect for video games)

nnCp2Rp.jpg (6000×4000) (imgur.com)

The Sandman (Brightness set to 46, perfect for video games, but makes streaming content look way too dark)

LrF2SXt.jpg (6000×4000) (imgur.com)

Borderlands 3 (Brightness set to 55, perfect for Streaming content, but results in video games looking more washed out)

ifUMjRM.jpg (6000×4000) (imgur.com)

The Sandman (Brightness set to 55, perfect for Streaming content/movies)
tOUDZwR.jpg (6000×4000) (imgur.com)

Kathy A.

Hello Mr Rotch,

Good day!

We haven't heard from you in 72 hours, so we assume that your issue has already been resolved. We will not be monitoring this thread moving forward so, if you need further assistance, please create a new thread to discuss these concerns by clicking this link: Create a new question or start a discussion (microsoft.com)

Thank you for your understanding.

Respectfully,

Microsoft Moderator

Streaming and Video Games have different HDR brightness values on Xbox Series X