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Assassin's Creed Shadows - HDR Optimized Settings
🕑 Added 2025-03-19 09:01:38 +0000 UTC
The game is NOT using/applying Xbox, Playstation or PC HDR Calibration app settings.
The game has a mixed HDR implementation as even if doesn't support system-level HDR calibration it does provide different in-game HDR controls including Peak Luminance (in nits) which can precisely go up to 4.000 nits...but like recent AC entries like Valhalla, it suffers from black level raise with default settings.
Let's see how improve it as much as possible!
If you have an LG OLED and:
> you're using Dynamic Tone Mapping or Dynamic Contrast:
Set Maximum Luminance slider to: 4.000 (nits)
> you're using HGIG:
Set Maximum Luminance slider to: 800 (nits) or 1.000 (for G2/C4) or 1.500 (for G3/G4).
If you don't have an LG OLED and:
> you don't have an HGIG option:
Set Maximum Luminance slider to: 1.000 (nits)
> you're using HGIG:
Set Maximum Luminance slider to the corresponding real Peak HDR Luminance of your TV in "nits"
In all cases decrease the Exposure slider to -0.3 in order to mitigate (but still not totally fix) the black level raise without losing Peak Luminance or average picture brightness.
BONUS:
On Consoles: use the "Balanced" (locked 40fps) performance mode if you have a 120hz TV for the best, well, balance between graphics/picture quality and performance. If you have a 60hz-only TV, use the "Quality" (30fps) mode instead as the "Performance" (60fps) mode has too much graphics downgrades in my opinion
Disable Chromatic Aberration: to improve picture clarity on all platforms
Comments
P40L0
PC Gaming = Always HGIG for me.
Amar Karamali
Quick question - for an LG G5, running off PC, do you prefer HGiG or DTM for this game? it seems like the answer is HGiG but thought I'd double check.
Sean Dunbar Smyth
So 0.3 to help reduce black level rise right? And that does not affect the overall average picture brightness right?
P40L0
There is still some added color banding when using PSSR on PS5 Pro but now it's very minor after the patch (it was really bad before) In-game settings don't need to be changed.
Mark
They said HDR is fixed but is it? And just wondering if the exposure setting is still correct
P40L0
Yeah, I think Sony and/or Ubi messed it up with the new PSSR version. Only them can fix it...
Elmicha
HDR is broken with pssr on PS5 pro :(
Michael
Just wanted to say THANK YOU for all your work. My LG is 2017 and i was following you ever since. Gracie!
P40L0
HGIG on 2023+ LG OLEDs, DTM on pre-2023 ones
Joe Bambridge
I’m finding that HGIG is just too dark in this game it’s very distracting. What is your preference HGIG or DTM?
P40L0
Yes I will (but I highly doubt they will patch it) It's like this in all versions
Mark
Will you update this if the black level raise gets fixed? Is it also an issue on ps5 or just PC?
Darren Firman
There appears to be a HDR fix on nexus mods - thoughts?
P40L0
Same thing: when the framerate changes too much too often and you're under 40fps when this happens you'll get the VRR flicker. You can't do anything about it if not finding in-game settings that stabilize it there or wait for mods or Ubi patches that will do it
Annoyinmous
I forgot to mention im on a 5800x3d and 4090, the thing is the framerate is all over the place during cutscenes but never under 30 I'm also using all your pc optimization settings so no framerate lock
P40L0
VRR flickering may happen stuttering or when framerate drops suddenly below 40fps. AC: Shadows cutscenes are locked to 30fps but if you still have drops there you will immediately notice the flickering, so maybe wait for a fps unlocked mod for cutscenes or tweak some settings to have stable 30fps during cutscenes
Annoyinmous
Hi P40L0 thank you for all the great info! There seems to be massive massive flickering during cutscenes for me on the PC ver, is this VRR flicker because of the 30 fps cap or is it something else? If it is then if I turn off VRR on my G4 what are the cons? Is it just screen tearing?
P40L0
I would still go Balanced so to have really fixed 40fps at 120hz (while on base PS5 sometime you would still drop them to 30s with it) if you have a 120hz TV. Performance Mode is also viable on the Pro, but Balanced will still look better
Thiago Sampaio
what graphics mode do you recommend for ps5 pro?
P40L0
I already did it
Taylor McDaniel
Really wish Ubi would provide an accurate HDR implementation for once 😭
CrashCooper
Can you do Monster Hunter Wilds?
P40L0
No, not here
Victor Luong
Thanks for all the info brother! Does adjusting brightness/contrast when playing in SDR affect the HDR settings like previous ACs? (maybe it was Valhalla?)
P40L0
Yes, Performance Mode on PS5 Pro is viable as well ;)
MossyHermit
Thanks for the recommendation! I hadn't expected that the Exposure would have to be reduced so much. In the earlier Assassin's Creed titles it was always +0.5, if I remember correctly. Very exciting! I'm already looking forward to trying it out. I fully agree with your opinion of the Performance Mode on base consoles. RTGI just enhances the game so much visually. However, RTGI also seems to run in Performance Mode on the PS5 Pro, which I very much appreciate!
