EDIT 2: For anyone else who stumbles across this post and has the same problem on their LG OLED:
Set your input to PC mode! Game Optimizer has significantly less input lag than other modes, so you want to use it for gaming. However, for whatever reason, in this mode, black appears gray and washed out when the input your Switch is on is set to Game Console (it rename the input automatically to Nintendo Switch, but either way it will be accompanied by a controller icon). To be able to use Game Optimizer mode AND get OLED black levels, you need to change the input mode to PC.
To do this, hit the input button on your remote, then go to the Home Dashboard on the bottom left. Select the three dots at the top right. Select Edit > Edit inputs. Select the HDMI or controller icon next to the input you’re using for your Switch. Change it to PC. Voila, you now have OLED blacks in your Switch games while still using Game Optimizer mode! (Credit to this video for showing the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4ff2uv0DGY)
EDIT: Update…I was playing around with the color settings, managed to improve it a small amount by setting Color Gamut to Native and RGB to Full on TV and Switch. However, while messing around I found the main issue:
Game Optimizer Mode.
Like most TVs, my LG OLED has a game mode, which I had been using this whole time. Why wouldn’t I? Less processing, less input lag. Well, it also apparently prevents true blacks from displaying when using the Switch. I tried setting all other settings to be the same as they were on game mode, and nothing changed, so I’m pretty confident that’s the problem. So now I’m torn on using game mode and getting worse picture, or using a non-game mode and getting worse input lag. Well, theoretically worse input lag – I’ll have to test and research this and see if it’s a big deal.
Original Post:
When I bought my OLED TV a while back, I wasn’t expecting it to make the Switch to look significantly better, apart from the colors. Still, I was somewhat surprised that, at least in the games I played, the Switch almost never took advantage of the black levels that OLED can produce. Even black loading screens are just dark grey, not actually black.
What’s weird is I know the Switch is capable of it. Xenoblade Chronicles 2, a game from early in the Switch’s life, has ONE scene near the end of the game where the background turns truly black, making the brightly lit characters really pop. It’s the only part of any game that I can think of that does anything like that.
Now, years later, with an OLED Switch out for a while, you’d think games would be made to take full advantage of OLED, but it seems like they still aren’t.
Anyone know what’s up with that?
by Orpheon2089
12 Comments
Check your RGB settings and change it from limited to full.
The great thing about OLED is that you’re seeing an almost exact recreation of what the creator wanted you to see. If something is gray, it’s meant to be gray.
Part of the issue is the lack of HDR on switch.
The black in Dying Light is incredible
In picture settings you’ll see an option to set Black Level to Auto/Low/High. You want to ensure that this is set to Auto or Low (if auto is working correctly there should be no difference when switching between auto and low).
You will also want to make sure that Gamma is set to 2.2.
Finally, there’s an option called Fine Tune Dark Areas. You’ll want to make sure that this is set to 0.
This is also different per TV! Some TVs may do this while others may not. Rtings.com is a good way to check this stuff.
Blacks look fine to me on the Switch without using PC mode, so maybe it’s a case by case basis? I’m on a LG C2.
This is either a bug with the LG Game Mode or something is set wrong on your TV. I have never heard of this on anybody with an LG OLED, and Game Mode looks fine on my Samsung S95B QD-OLED. Something else is raising the black levels that is not Game Mode.
I know this isnt what youre talking about but why (esp. now with the OLED model) is there still no HDR gaming on switch.
Would be useful if you stated early in your post that this is for a specific tv type
Probably moot, but make sure your LG is connected to your Wi-Fi network, to receive updates. My CX had many many updates pushed through after I got it, and all the new standards for current gen gaming was still being tweaked like VRR.
Which LG oled TV are u using? I have a C1 and black looks perfectly fine for me on game mode. Switch and TV both set to limited range RGB