High dynamic range (HDR) technology has long been heralded as a game-changer in the realm of PC gaming, promising a richer, more immersive visual experience. However, accessing this enhanced display quality has often been contingent upon both hardware and software compatibility. While the prevalence of HDR-capable monitors and graphics cards has increased, many older or indie games still lack native support for HDR. Enter Nvidia’s latest GPU drivers, which unveil a potential solution.
One standout feature within these drivers is “RTX Video HDR,” showcased at CES and lauded by tech enthusiasts like Brad Chacos for its transformative capabilities. With the recent driver release (551.23) for Windows 11, users gain access to experimenting with HDR settings. Yet, the real surprise comes from a discovery by modder “eMoose” – the ability to apply similar HDR enhancements to PC game visuals through a mode known as TrueHDR, albeit currently inactive. Thanks to a simple tweak shared on NexusMods, users can activate this functionality.
According to eMoose, TrueHDR settings can be implemented across a broad spectrum of 3D games, spanning back to DirectX9, and potentially extending compatibility to OpenGL and Vulkan titles. While specifics on supported cards remain unspecified, it’s likely that Nvidia’s RTX 2000 series and newer are required. The accompanying 27KB tool operates discreetly, allowing users to adjust settings (with varying performance impacts) and providing an HUD indicator for activation status.
Though some users have reported challenges in displaying the HDR HUD element, the prospect of Nvidia officially enabling this feature for gaming seems promising. Given the rapid progress of modders, it’s plausible that Nvidia could integrate TrueHDR support as a viable alternative to Windows AutoHDR in the near future. Yet, the absence of prior mention of gaming capabilities at CES raises questions about potential hurdles in implementation. Nonetheless, the prospect of unlocking HDR for a broader range of gaming experiences is undoubtedly tantalizing.
