But Starfield Won’t Reach Its Full Potential Until This Crucial Setting Is Finally Added

Bethesda’s Starfield has recently gotten more positive attention after the release of the Shattered Space DLC. Bethesda’s massive space RPG has gotten a lot of players talking since its release. But despite the new DLC, fans think that the game is still missing one crucial feature, the option to disable the visual filter that affects the game’s aesthetic.

This filter is similar to the “piss filter,” from the 2010s and desaturates the game’s visuals, washing out colors and dulling most scenes in the game. With other lackluster areas of the game, fans have found mods that fix this issue. But these are temporary solutions and fans want an official fix.

Starfield Brings Back The Annoying Visual Filters of Old

One of the most controversial aspects of Starfield‘s visual design is the color filter that tints everything in the game, often reducing vibrant environments to murky, lifeless scenes. Players are still calling out how it undermines the immersive quality of the game.

The game looks much better without the filter. Is there a way to remove it besides using mods?
byu/Realabdulrahmen inStarfield

As one user on the Starfield subreddit put it, “I’ve never hated anything more than the gray filter… there is no true shade of black.” This lack of contrast especially affects players on high-end displays like OLED screens, where the filter diminishes the quality of deeper blacks.

The good news is that mods like Luma and Neutral LUTs allow players to tweak these settings, but these solutions are far from ideal, especially for console players who don’t have as much flexibility with modding compared to PC players.

Comment
byu/Realabdulrahmen from discussion
inStarfield

The origins of the “piss filter” can be traced back to earlier video games such as Fallout 3 and Deus Ex: Human Revolution, which used a similar yellow tint. This technique was initially employed to give games a certain cinematic feel, but over time, it has become an aesthetic trope that many players find outdated and unattractive.

Bethesda Has Updated Starfield a Lot, But The Filter Has Remained Untouched

Bethesda has already made big changes to Starfield’s lighting with recent updates. Fans have praised these updates for making the game look more realistic, with better black levels and more dynamic lighting. But the updates haven’t affected the filter, which is the main problem.

Starfield (2023, using Neutral LUTs mod) pic.twitter.com/OKAsmYh9Fc

— FPSthetics (@FPSthetics) September 10, 2023

It’s not just about fixing what’s broken. The game is designed to be expansive and immersive, but it looks off. Allowing players to experience it without the visual dampening caused by the filter would be a step toward enhancing the realism and beauty of its world.

Ya’ll better start putting some respect on Starfield name, The lighting & detail looks incredible 👀 pic.twitter.com/9goktxpSEx

— KMEGA_405 (@Kmega4) October 1, 2024

The bigger question here is why Bethesda hasn’t responded to the growing calls for a fix. Given that mods can address this issue, it’s clear that the developers could, with relative ease, offer players the choice to disable or tweak the filter.

It’s not a matter of technical limitations, fans believe it’s simply a matter of priority. While the Shattered Space DLC shows that Bethesda is committed to expanding the game’s content, many are disappointed that they haven’t addressed this fundamental graphical issue.

Modern gamers, especially those using advanced displays, are more demanding of their visual experiences. They want options to customize their gameplay to suit their preferences, and Starfield could benefit greatly from offering that flexibility.

Have you noticed this filter in your time with the game? Let us know in the comments!