HDR is the absolute bane of my existence. I understand why it exists and I know that when it’s calibrated correctly that it makes everything look fantastic, but the issue is that every console calibrates it differently, some games have their own calibration tool and every TV (down to each specific model can be different in how its setup).
The Nintendo Switch 2 is no exception to this, but it’s a classic Nintendo menu design that I’d almost bet nearly every single person reading this post has missed that is almost definitely the reason why HDR probably looks washed out on your Switch 2.
As discovered (or at least the one that brought it to my attention), by HDTVTest’s Vincent, there is a secondary HDR menu after the first calibration containing the sun, that requires you to calibrate the paper white setting.
This is activated by pressing the Y button to Adjust Brightness (which I assumed was to go back and make the same adjustment), and I’d almost bet that 99.9% people haven’t done this.
Vincent as he so often does has created a guide, and basically, you need to ensure HGIG is on with your TV/Monitor and that no type of dynamic tone mapping is on. You then need to count the clicks until the sun disappears on the first screen, and use that to dictate how many clicks forward on the second screen for brightness.
The guide created by Vincent is below and just to re-iterate, here’s the steps to give your display the best chance of showing your Switch 2 content in its best possible light
HOW TO FIX NINTENDO SWITCH 2 HDR
- Turn HGIG on through Game Mode (this video by Vincent shows how to do to that for most TV brands
- Count how many clicks it takes for the sun to disappear on the first HGIG screen
- Hit Y to adjust brightness
- Use the above chart to know how many clicks you need to use forward to hopefully provide a vibrant and less washed out image
