The Xbox Series X and Series S are making console history starting today, as they've become the first systems to incorporate Dolby Vision for gaming. The new feature (previously available for Insiders) will be available for over 100 next-gen titles, along with boosting visual enhancements on thousands of classic HDR10 and Auto HDR games.
Users will see gaming pushed even further on applicable TVs, with "incredible brightness, colour, contrast, and detail". It's also set to be compatible with Xbox Series X|S features, such as "DirectX raytracing, automatic low-latency mode, variable refresh rate, and up to 120FPS".
As per Xbox's Jason Ronald in a message on Twitter, "Xbox and Dolby continue to partner closely with TV manufacturers to update firmware to support Dolby Vision capabilities at 120 Hz where possible."
"Starting today, gamers with compatible Dolby Vision-enabled TVs will be able to enjoy full-spectrum visuals with the rollout of Dolby Vision gaming on Xbox Series X|S. With Dolby Vision, epic worlds – such as lush rainforests or neon futuristic cities – are brought to life in more vivid color. Dolby Vision deepens your immersion into the experience by enabling you to see an enemy hiding in the shadows or spot hidden clues through expanded contrast and better clarity in both bright and dark scenes."
To access Dolby Vision, you'll need to enable your TV's gaming settings, "such as automatic low-latency mode or variable refresh rate". It's also worth ensuring you've checked your TV's firmware updates to ensure it's up to date.
You can easily check if your setup is compatible by doing the following on your Xbox:
- Go to Settings.
- Select General.
- Select TV & Display Options.
- Select 4K TV Details.
Here, you can see if Dolby Vision is ticked or not, and if so, you'll be able to access a wide range of enhancements by enabling the feature.
This is how to do so:
- Go to Settings.
- Select General.
- Select TV & Display Options.
- Select Video Modes
- Check Dolby Vision For Gaming
It's as simple as that! Dolby Vision is something that was introduced for Apple TV and Spotify Video Podcasts earlier this year, along with it being introduced in games for Insider members, so it's exciting to finally see it rolled out for everyone. Judging by the comparison video shared by Xbox, it's going to be a substantial improvement.
Will you be checking out Dolby Vision on your Xbox Series X|S? Drop us a comment and let us know.
[source news.xbox.com]
Comments 63
My TV doesn't ...oh well bet I couldn't tell no difference even if I had it..just like I can't with hdr or 4k haha
The LG C9 supports everything but what games support Dolby Vision for now?
According to the link below, games will support Dolby Vision... automatically? I launched Sea of Thieves and it's still HDR.
https://knowtechie.com/which-xbox-series-xs-games-support-dolby-vision/
I'm glad this feature has come, we just have to wait for TV manufacturers to catch up with their firmware updates now.
I have an LG C9 and it currently supports everything Xbox has to offer, other than 4K, 120fps and Dolby Vision all together, I just have to make do with those settings at 60fps, or switch to HDR10 at 4K 120fps.
Now my model is two years old I bet LG don't offer an update, a shame when you spend big bucks on a premium model. Ah well.
@BlueOcean Microsoft hasn't provided a list of the 100+ compatible games as of yet.
@FraserG Thanks, I launched Sea of Thieves on Series X and it's still HDR.
Psyconauts 2, Ori, Gears 5, Metro Exodus, Immortals Fenxy rising, Borderlands 3 and Flight Sim are some of the supported games I think. Also Halo has been announced as a dolby vision title
@BlueOcean @FraserG So I have been using Dolby Vision for months now and I have noticed that every HDR games I have played enabled Dolby Vision, however only one game I played recently (Forza Horizon 4) actually forced HDR10.
I thought Sea of Thieves enabled Dolby Vision the last time I played, but maybe something has changed.
It's...strange. It's as if the the developer can force to not apply Dolby Vision if it so chooses.
I do recommend giving Dead Space a shot with AutoHDR as Dolby Vision AutoHDR is a lot better than the standard HDR10 AutoHDR - I have looked at both.
I'd be really excited to try this out after work but I broke my Dolby Vision capable TV 2 weeks ago after accidentally hitting it with a MacBook 🤦♂️. So I'll be playing in SDR until its replacement arrives.
I have a question guys. I've never ever in my life used the gaming mode setting on my TV input with consoles. By right, are you supposed to do it? What does it do?
Too bad the TV I’m saving up for, the Samsung QN95, doesn’t support it. I’d go for a different non-OLED TV that has Dolby Vision but it wouldn’t be as good overall as the QN95. Is it even worth going for a TV specifically for Dolby Vision? Is it actually a game-changer?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JeGpJxFVB7I
Will my TV do this once activated?
I have had this already on the insider programme
And it works A1 perfect with the LG C1 and also now at 120hz since the tv update a month ago.
I must be honest it added a certain more natural look and sheen to assassins creed vanhalla.
@MaccaMUFC
I have a Samsung Q90r and recently changed to an LG C1. The tv is perfect for series x and is the best tv I have owned.
It works seamlessly and perfect in every way with the series x.
Matches every specification the series x throws at it without any faults.
Also no hdmi hand shaking issues at all, which Samsungs do have sometimes.
LG C1 all the way any day.
@Snake_V5 you should ALWAYS use game mode. Not using it feels sluggish and has higher latency because your TV is adding processing to the image games don’t need.
The only thing I find with game modes is the image can look a little softer, I don’t mind it, but some people like to bump up sharpness a bit and there’s not really any harm in that as long as you don’t put it too high.
@Fenbops I heard though that Game mode degrades the games graphics.
@Originut Same right!? It still gives me shivers hahah
@Snake_V5 no it’s actually the opposite. Game mode just makes games look as intended by the Developer and improves responsiveness as your TV isn’t adding anything extra to the image causing input lag. Not using game mode usually leads to more artefacts and over sharpening of the image if anything.
Dolbyvision makes a huge difference! Is there a list of games it works with?
I've been using this for a while now on my LG C1 OLED.
Looks superb.
My tv doesn't support dolby vision but i'm perfectly fine with 4K 60 FPS..
@JetmanUK @GamingFan4Lyf I don't know what I'm doing wrong. On Series X, Dolby Vision for gaming is enabled and I also checked video fidelity and it's "30 bits per pixel (10-bit)" because the C9 uses a 10-bit panel, right? Colour space is "standard" but I don't know if "PC RGB" would be better. I'm not sure if my settings are optimised.
@John117
Cannot agree more, the tv is perfection for gaming and series x.
Also for sky q, movies etc.
@JetmanUK Right! It would be good to add this to the article, the TV refresh rate was set to 120Hz and when I changed it to 60Hz and launched Sea of Thieves it was running with Dolby Vision. I don't know if the CX and C1 (@Dezzy70 @John117 could you check that?) support the 4K 120Hz Dolby Vision mode but, anyway, I don't remember any game that supports 4K at 120Hz except perhaps some indie games?
@Fenbops I did a little research and I was right. Game mode does lower the graphics as the TV will turn off some of the processing that makes the graphics better.
@BlueOcean Color space for TV's should always be set for Standard. PC RGB is only there is you are 100% connected to an actual PC monitor. I know a lot of higher end TV's might also support the PC RGB color space, but it's best to just use Standard.
There are arguments for and against using 10-bit color. 10-bit color is automatically enabled when HDR content is being displayed, however, when stuff with 8-bit color is displayed, it's not being displayed in it's "intended" color.
I don't think it necessarily makes a HUGE different, but purists may find to just leave your system at 8-bit and then the game/app decide if it wants to update to use 10-bit color.
Technically, Dolby Vision supports 12-bit color, but nothing can go that high at the moment.
Also, make sure your TV firmware is up-to-date. I know LG's had a problem with 120Hz Dolby Vision, but I thought that had been patched.
Thanks. What about "Allow YCC 4:2:2"? It's on Series X, video modes.
@BlueOcean Here's what Jason Ronald posted on Twitter:
"Beginning today, Xbox Series X|S are the first game consoles to support Dolby Vision gaming. Xbox and Dolby continue to partner closely with TV manufacturers to update firmware to support Dolby Vision capabilities at 120 Hz where possible."
@BlueOcean
I’m not saying there is a game that runs at
Dolby vision 120hz.
But the LG C1 now supports it and the series x ticks the box on the menu.
The update for the tv was about a month ago, since then the box gets ticked.
All this new TV terminology is very confusing for someone like me who is stuck in the HD era. Is there a list of television sets that literally support everything that both modern consoles have to offer?
@Snake_V5 it doesn’t lower graphics, your TV adds unnecessary processing to the image and adds input lag. Games won’t be as responsive as they should be. If it looks good to you tho that’s fine, you do you 🙂
@ralphdibny The LG C1 (2021) supports the 4K 120Hz Dolby Vision mode, not sure if LG CX (2020) has been updated to support it. The LG C9 (2019) doesn't support it thus far. All of them are OLED which is perfect for this top-notch video mode. OLED entails infinite contrast and natural colours.
@FraserG Thank you. Wow, if LG updates C9 to run games at 120Hz with Dolby Vision enabled it would be awesome. I guess it is coming because C9 has more USB 2.1 bandwidth available than CX. Dezzy70 says that the C1 was updated a month ago.
@Dezzy70 So if you set the console to 120Hz and enable Dolby Vision, it works on C1. I hope that the C9 gets the update because right now, 120Hz and Dolby Vision are not compatible.
@Snake_V5 I must say that @Fenbops and @Originut are right. The added processing to the image might be good for films but not for games. The image quality is not worse in game mode, it's just not post-processed so it's pure and as intended by the developers.
EDIT: I checked and there are non-indie games that support 4K and 120Hz but I haven't found an official list.
@BlueOcean ahh cool cheers. I'll have to check out the CX and C1 models when I'm in the market for a new TV which will probably be in the next few months. Looks like that comment from Jetman indicates that you have to choose out of the features to enable on a C9 as it can't do all at once currently
@ralphdibny No problem. Yes, if you want to use Dolby Vision on C9 you can't enable 120Hz unless the TV gets the update and I guess it will because the C9 uses full HDMI 2.1 (like CX and C1) but has more bandwidth available than CX. This won't affect you because the C9 is an "old" model (2019).
@Fenbops Well I took a look at game mode on my TV and now there's a whole bunch of advance settings like sharpness etc. I don't know what all these settings should be set to, I'm just going to leave my TV alone.
Really impressed on my lg oled but only tried Psychonauts 2. Looks like a nice improvement over HDR10. Think some of my settings for DV game mode are: oled light 50, brightness 40, sharpness 10, contrast 100
@BlueOcean weird that the CX can do everything at once then if it has less bandwidth. I think the TV manufacturers should just put "Does Everything that's Currently Possible" on the box and make it easy for people like me 😅
Just trying it all now since new update came today.
Noticed new tick box on series x menu.
Allow Dolby vision for gaming.
Just tried pysconaughts 2.
Soon as game started the LG C1 came up Dolby Vision. All the tv settings say Dolby Vision.
The LG C1 game optimisers says running 120fps.
So all seems good and well with series x and LG C1. What a combination.
@Originut that's because I was still in conversation about this that's all. I am grateful.
@Originut It seems that Gears 5 is also 4K 120fps (perhaps the multiplayer mode?).
@ralphdibny In short, C9 (2019), CX (2020) and C1 (2021) have real HDMI 2.1 ports but C9 left more bandwidth available than CX (not sure about C1) because CX takes a bit more of that bandwidth for processing features. I know that modern TVs are confusing but I read a lot about them before getting the C9 and that's the only reason why I know what I know 😂. I am 99% sure that both CX and C9 will get the update because it's technically possible as they have real HDMI 2.1 ports (unlike Samsung 2019 -2020 TVs).
@Originut Yeah that's exactly what happened to me on my C9 so we can confirm now that both C9 and CX haven't received the 4K 120Hz Dolby Vision update yet.
@Originut Thanks I'll try that.
@Originut Yeah 😂.
@BlueOcean haha fair enough, decent! I think it will be spreadsheet time by the time I get around to buying one. It's gotta be the easiest way to compare features!
Flippin expensive tho. 55inch C1 is is currently 1300 quid. Double that for a 77inch
Took long enough! Being late is better than never.
@ralphdibny Ha ha. You can wait until CX receives the update and get that, I think it's still available and should be cheaper now. The 55" size is good if you don't play too far from the TV.
I've been playing Xbox on an old 32" 720p TV for a long time. Finally waiting this week for a 65" QLED with Dolby Vision, IMAX, high peak brightness, 4K120 and built-in 2.1 Onkyo soundbar and subwoofer. This Xbox update is good timing!
@CourtneyDL Hold up, more detail of this incident is required! 🤣
@BlueOcean I can check my settings for you, but I'm away from my Xbox until Friday.
@JetmanUK We're having work done on the house upstairs so my desk is next to the TV at the moment. I'm working on a project that needs a Windows laptop so my usual Mac was resting on my desk. I needed to grab it to do a quickly job so I pick it up, the charging lead gets snagged and muggins here yanks it like a tool. In doing that I smacked the TV on the edge with the MacBook leaving a 1cm crack. It's a bezel less screen so I'd managed hit the electronics around the outside sharply with a solid piece of aluminium and killed 40% of the image in the process.
I can laugh about it now but I was raging at the time. Luckily Amazon are replacing it but they're dragging their heels on a delivery date.
@JetmanUK No worries. My only doubt now is YCC 4:2:2.
@CourtneyDL Yikes. Glad that you've got a replacement sorted. 👍🏻
I had an incident similar to this back in the 360 era. I had a console with RROD, no problem, I was gonna sort it myself. I'm on YouTube following a video on how to take the console apart... Console fixed.... Just putting it back together and I knocked my at the time very expensive laptop off the arm of the sofa, screen smashed. 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤣
@BlueOcean I'm 99% sure I have that turned off, this was following advice from Vincent on YouTube, he referred to it in one of his set up videos. If I remember correctly it's not required as its basically a bandwidth saving setting, which the C9 doesn't have an issue with.
@JetmanUK Thanks.
@JetmanUK Ouch, the repair gods giveth and then taketh away.
@Originut @Dezzy70 OLED is a no go for me, it would be used in the living room for everything by the family and myself, constantly getting paused for too long, not being careful what’s on the screen like the ticker tape on certain channels etc and that’s if I’m in the house to baby it, imagine when I’m not in all day at work. Also the fact it gets used for hours on end everyday, the tv’s lifespan would be really limited. If I was getting it just for myself for the Series X and Netflix then I wouldn’t hesitate to get an OLED but because of reasons I’ve mentioned, burn-in and the TV probably not even lasting past 2 or 3 years, OLED is out of the question.
The new high end Samsung QLEDs are not far off from OLEDs these days thanks to the mini-LEDs with brilliant blacks (I know they are still not as good as OLEDs but they’ve come along way since older LCDs) and the fact they can go much brighter and make images pop in HDR, the high end Samsung QLED are the best non-OLED TVs out there, it’s the next best thing to OLEDs until micro-LEDs come along.
@Originut You mean micro LED, yeah they will be very expensive once they do release. Despite me wanting a 65” I’d even settle for a 55” again if micro led came out in next year’s range but I seriously doubt it will until at least another few years. I just wished Samsung would stop being so stubborn over not implementing Dolby Vision by favouring HDR10 instead, it’s already a standard in modern TVs. Plus they were late to implement proper full HDMI 2.1 ports until this year’s range. If it wasn’t for them having the best LEDs TVs out there I’d of switched to a different TV manufacturer.
@MaccaMUFC
Some very good reasons to be concerned about OLED, I’m lucky mine is pampered 😂
The Samsungs are great TVs and best alternative to OLED for sure. My Samsung Q90r used to pop hdr really well and in a very bright room they can’t be beaten.
Mine was 65” wall mounted using the Samsung slim wall mount, I think they do a new slim wall mount for their newest TVs. I managed to hide the one connect box cable really well.
Also on the wall it is out of harms way.
Hope you get it soon.
Anyone else having this issue? - I enabled Dolby Vision for gaming and none of my series X games would play with HDR. My TV was still in gaming mode but with no HDR and colours looked washed out. I tried a few things then finally turned off Dolby Vision for Gaming and HDR finally worked again. I know my TV can do Dolby Vision through Netflix 4K etc. My TV is a TCL 6 Series. Early teething issues with Dolby?
@TJ81 I think DV for Gaming uses LLDV, which means the Xbox applies the HDR and sends it wrapped to the TV (instead of having the TV apply the HDR). Maybe the TCL 6 Series does not support this mode?
Games I have tried so far that support it are Psychonauts 2, Control, Quantum Break, Hellblade, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, and Watch Dogs 2.
Forza Horizon 4 does not support it, but then again Horizon 5 is just around the corner, so might not make sense to focus optimization efforts on Horizon 4.
Bit sad that Jedi: Fallen Order is not supported. I do hope they add support for it soon.
@heksesang thanks for the reply, I'll have to look into it further. At least I can switch it on and off - I will try it with Psychonauts 2 and see what happens! Cheers.
@Dezzy70 I’m not looking to get one until around March/April. I’ve just been looking at other miniLED TVs other than Samsung and came across the LG QNED but they have the IPS panel so they are a no go. The other is a Philips 9636 which has the VA panel so I’m happy about that as well as it having everything, Dolby Vision, VRR, 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, Bowers and Wilkins with Dolby Atmos. Is there any reason not to go for the Philips 9636 over the Samsung QN95A?
Gonna be honest I know nothing of Phillips TVs and never looked at them.
Best look at some trusted good review sites or maybe someone that has used one with a series x.
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