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IndiaCharlieEch's avatar
5 years ago

Color banding / color distortion / washed out image when enabling HDR

Product: Star Wars: Squadrons
Platform:Sony Playstation 4
Please specify your platform model. Sony PlayStation 4 Pro
What is your gamertag/PSN ID/EA Account name? IndiaCharlieEcho
Are you playing in VR? No
Which part of the game is the issue happening in? Other
Please explain 'Other' complete game but especially video scenes
What were you doing when the bug occurred? Step by Step detail is helpful. Enable HDR on PS4. Start the game.
Where did this issue occur? Please include menu name or in game location. When video scenes are shown heavy color banding and compression artifact like looking issues can be ovserved. When actually playing (flying) the image is way too bright.
When did this happen? (dd.mm.yy hh:mm) all the time
How often does the bug occur? Every time (100%)
How severe is your issue? Can play with mild frustration
What happens when the bug occurs? Screen is way to bright / washed out. (brightness setting is default, HDR max brightness is calibrated; reducing the brightness level does not help because then darker areas like e.g. faces in the menu loose detail) Worst case is the playback of videos or loading screens. See screenshots.
What do you expect to see? High image quality, no color banding, no color distortion.
Which ship were you playing? If not applicable, just answer "no" or "none." n.a.
What components were you using? Dell S3221QS as monitor, high speed HDMI 2.0 cable (tried multiple)
Which customizations (if any) were you using? none

If I enable HDR on the PS4 Pro, the picture quality gets worse instead of better.

Here is an example from the loading screen of Star Wars Squadrons with HDR enabled. The colors are oversaturated and distorted, guess this kind of issue is also called color banding.



HDR enabled

That is how it looks like with HDR disabled. I would consider this as "normal".

HDR disabled

When playing/flying with HDR enabled no artifacts occur, but still the image is oversaturated / too bright / washed out. 

8 Replies

  • This happens to me as well. Let me guess, EA is going to ignore it.

  • Product: Star Wars: Squadrons
    Platform:Sony Playstation 4
    Please specify your platform model. Sony PlayStation 4 Pro
    What is your gamertag/PSN ID/EA Account name? dredd302
    Are you playing in VR? No
    Which part of the game is the issue happening in? Other
    Please explain 'Other' entire game
    What were you doing when the bug occurred? Step by Step detail is helpful. Issue happens upon starting the game each and every time.
    Where did this issue occur? Please include menu name or in game location. the entire game
    When did this happen? (dd.mm.yy hh:mm) 11/30/20
    How often does the bug occur? Every time (100%)
    How severe is your issue? Can play, but it's highly frustrating
    What happens when the bug occurs? The entire game is washed out, faded and distorted when HDR is set to auto via the ps4 pro system/video output settings. HDR does not work properly in the game and there is no way to turn off HDR in game so it has to be disabled at the system level.
    What do you expect to see? I expect HDR to be fixed. At the very least, there needs to be an option in game to disable HDR.
    Which ship were you playing? If not applicable, just answer "no" or "none." none
    What components were you using? A PS4 Pro on a VIZIO TV?
    Which customizations (if any) were you using? none

    Product: Star Wars: Squadrons
    Platform:Sony Playstation 4
    Please specify your platform model. Sony PlayStation 4 Pro
    What is your gamertag/PSN ID/EA Account name? dredd302
    Are you playing in VR? No
    Which part of the game is the issue happening in? Other
    Please explain 'Other' The entire game
    What were you doing when the bug occurred? Step by Step detail is helpful. Issue happens upon starting the game each and every time.
    Where did this issue occur? Please include menu name or in game location. the entire game
    When did this happen? (dd.mm.yy hh:mm) 11/30/20
    How often does the bug occur? Every time (100%)
    How severe is your issue? Can play, but it's highly frustrating
    What happens when the bug occurs? The entire game is washed out, faded and distorted when HDR is set to auto via the ps4 pro system/video output settings. HDR does not work properly in the game and there is no way to turn off HDR in game so it has to be disabled at the system level.
    What do you expect to see? I expect HDR to be fixed. At the very least, there needs to be an option in game to disable HDR.
    Which ship were you playing? If not applicable, just answer "no" or "none." none
    What components were you using? A PS4 Pro on a VIZIO TV?
    Which customizations (if any) were you using? none

    The entire game is washed out, faded and distorted when HDR is set to auto via the ps4 pro system/video output settings. HDR does not work properly in the game and there is no way to turn off HDR in game so it has to be disabled at the system level.

  • Nope, try again. If I'm complaining about HDR performance, I most likely use it in other games and I do. HDR is set to auto on PS4. HDR is enabled on the HDMI port on the TV. The game starts in HDR but looks horrible. 

    I just got a notification that I earned the exterminator badge so maybe it's fixed? Will check when I get home. 

  • Same thing on PC, HDR works but gamma is way off and it's especially visible in cutscenes (which look incredibly awful with their compression artifacts).

  • I’m having this same issue as well. I turned the in game brightness all the way down to 0, however it makes the shaded areas of the game way to dark. I tried fiddling with my Tv’s color settings and nothing helped.. Just got this game to feel what 4k gaming has to offer and this disappoints me. Hopefully EA presents a solution soon.

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