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Make Far Cry look 𝓷𝓲𝓬𝓮 with HDR rendering

By Mike Stu

Yes, the original Far Cry has actual HDR Rendering. This will teach how to toggle it - and how to make it look good.

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Created by

Mike Stu
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Category: Modding or Configuration

Posted

Updated

3 Feb, 2023 @ 12:04am

12 Dec, 2023 @ 4:53pm

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Guide Index

Overview

INTRO

THINGS TO NOTE

TURNING HDR ON

MAKING HDR LOOK GOOD

SOME SCREENSHOTS

OUTRO

Comments

INTRO

Ever since patch 1.3, Far Cry has supported High Dynamic Range (HDR) rendering - essentially, it increases the game's contrast range and makes the visuals pop out way more.

HDR was all the rage in 2004, but it seems mostly forgotten in the case of Far Cry. In fact, most guides don't even bother to mention it - maybe because it is buried in the console, maybe because the default settings look way off.

This guide will show you how to enable HDR and make it actually look good.

THINGS TO NOTE

Before getting started, here's a coulpe of things you should know:

There is a 64-bit version[community.pcgamingwiki.com] of Far Cry (patch 1.32) and enhanced content[community.pcgamingwiki.com] for that version.
By default, Steam uses the 32-bit executable (patch 1.4). You should probably get the 64-bit patch if you plan on using HDR, since it provides better performance - links are provided above.
While you're at it, you might as well download the FarOut mod. It combines the Silent Patch, the Tent AI bug fix and provides better support for 16:9 resolutions and beyond - including an FOV slider. You want all of these things: Far Cry is janky enough as it is.
If you have the SilentPatch installed, you can use the "-64bit" command line argument on Steam's launch options to run the 64-bit version by default. If you don't, Steam will always revert to the 32-bit exe., even if you have the 64-bit one in the game folder.
HDR is an experimental post-launch feature in Far Cry - meaning the game was not designed around it. It will enhance the visuals about 90% of the time, but it will also lead to visual glitches in specific sections. This will be pretty obvious when it happens, and you can always turn it off for that bit and turn it on again afterwards.
This may seem silly now, but the original version of the Cry Engine was not able to handle HDR alongside anti-aliasing (FSAA), as it is very resource-intensive. Leaving it on will glitch the effect. It's really no big deal, but if the jaggies are bothering you, you can always try forcing AA through the Nvidia control panel[apps.microsoft.com] or similar 3D applications.

TURNING HDR ON

Turning HDR on is pretty straight-forward.

Run the game and access the console by pressing the quotation marks key (' ").
Type the following (you can just copy and paste each command):

\r_fsaa 0 \r_hdrrendering 2

The first command disables the game's anti-aliasing - see the "Things to know" above section as to why we're doing this.

The second command is the actual HDR trigger. It ranges from values 1 to 7.

7 is the default, but it looks extremely 2004. I'd recommend leaving it on 2.
Presto, HDR is now enabled.

Alternatively, you can also do this directly from your system.cfg file - it can be found in the folder where you installed the game, provided you played it at least once. Edit the file with the notepad and look for this line:

r_HDRRendering = "0"

Same deal: just choose a value between 1 and 7.

MAKING HDR LOOK GOOD

Far Cry's default HDR settings are... a bit much.

As it was a new thing at the time, Crytek really wanted to showcase the technology, and it doesn't hold up.

You can apply the following tweaks to your system.cfg file to make the effect look more subtle - see section "Enabling HDR" if you don't know where that file is:

r_RenderMode = "1" r_HDRBrightOffset = "6.000000" r_HDRBrightThreshold = "3.000000" r_HDRLevel = "0.500000" r_HDRRendering = "2"

Please bear in mind that this is ultimately a matter of personal preference though, and results may vary from display to display. If you're still not happy with the results, mess around a bit with the values to your heart's content.

SOME SCREENSHOTS

Of course you want a before and after. Why wouldn't you?

SDR:

HDR:

SDR:

HDR:

SDR:

HDR:

SDR:

HDR:

OUTRO

Hope this has been useful to you!

Shoutout to Skystrider from the GOG forums, who actually came up with the tweak values I shared above - all the way back in 2009 [www.gog.com].

Happy Far Crying, you beautiful devils.

11 Comments

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Mike Stu [author] 12 Nov, 2024 @ 8:45pm

Correct - it's HDR rendering (which was brand new at the time), not HDR display functionality.

Master Of Disaster 20 Oct, 2024 @ 2:57pm

I assume the HDR is just internal

Mike Stu [author] 13 Jul, 2023 @ 5:59am

Oops, sorry about that. Glad you were still able to finish the game tho.

SasakrCZ 11 Jul, 2023 @ 3:30pm

I just finished the game :-) Thank you for your effort though.

SasakrCZ 11 Jul, 2023 @ 2:35pm

Hello, of course I run 64bit exe. Thank you for uploading your config but the access isn't granted.

Mike Stu [author] 9 Jul, 2023 @ 11:48am

Can't upload the game folder itself for legal reasons, sorry about that. I have uploaded the cfg. file here though (the one that goes in Profiles > player): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NQYIsR0woF1VctfCsKxSRR6buyZJPYNk/view?usp=drive_link

Also, two other things I forgot to mention: (1) Steam does not run the 64-bit exe. by default. If you just downloaded it and ran the game, you're not actually playing the 64-bit version. Either select it from the game folder or download the FarOut mod and add the following launch parameter to Steam: "-64bit" (see the 3rd "Thigs to note"); (2) I tested the game with the FarOut mod and the 64-bit exe. You should probably replicate that setup if you're having trouble.

SasakrCZ 8 Jul, 2023 @ 3:36pm

Gave 64bit a try. Unfortunately, even with 64bit it behaves the same. Characters are just grey instead of highlighted. Would you upload a whole game folder for me, please?

Mike Stu [author] 6 Jul, 2023 @ 4:41pm

That's weird, CryVision looks normal to me using the 64-bit exe. Something may have gotten messed up in the settings - try deleting the cfg. file and applying HDR again. Alternatively, try switching from the 32-bit exe. to the 64-bit one if you're using that.

SasakrCZ 4 Jul, 2023 @ 3:34pm

Does Cryvision work for you when HDR enabled? It doesn't highlight the guys, they're grey :-(

Mike Stu [author] 22 Apr, 2023 @ 7:19am

It should always run on startup if you enabled it via console. If it didn't for whatever reason, try editing the ini. file (see last comment on the "Turning HDR on" section).

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