NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

[ChaseB]

Well it took about a whole day of processing on YouTube, but our 4K Ultra HD...

Written By: Chase Becotte

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Be sure to actually click the 4K setting on YT to see it in the highest resolution. Also we're getting really close to 9K subs on YT so any peeps who like or subscribe right now is really appreciated!

I'm also going to have an MLB The Show one that does something similar (it's already published, just waiting for the 4K processing on YT once again).

[ChaseB]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

I felt this video might be especially helpful since I know some peeps felt in general the game might even look better with HDR off vs. on, so I showed off both in that environment and also did a color correct to show how HDR probably might look just as good but just might need a game-specific setting to refine it.

[bcruise]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

I felt this video might be especially helpful since I know some peeps felt in general the game might even look better with HDR off vs. on, so I showed off both in that environment and also did a color correct to show how HDR probably might look just as good but just might need a game-specific setting to refine it.

Nice video.

Was wondering what you did for that color correct, because the HDR image without it reminds me of how No Man's Sky looks to me right now - everything getting drowned in light (at least during the daytime). Kinda new to HDR in general since I just got a monitor that supports it within the past 2 months.

[RayRay34]

Is this just the current gen edition of 2k21 on the PS5 or is this the next gen edition of 2k21 on the PS5 vs the current gen on PS4? 

[ChaseB]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

Is this just the current gen edition of 2k21 on the PS5 or is this the next gen edition of 2k21 on the PS5 vs the current gen on PS4?*

That PS4 footage is captured from the PS4 Pro and is the current-gen version. Then the PS5 footage is all next-gen.

[ChaseB]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

Nice video.

Was wondering what you did for that color correct, because the HDR image without it reminds me of how No Man's Sky looks to me right now - everything getting drowned in light (at least during the daytime). Kinda new to HDR in general since I just got a monitor that supports it within the past 2 months.

Are you on the PS5 with No Man's Sky now or playing on PC? My recommendation if you're on PS5 is perhaps just make the whites a little darker in that HDR settings panel of your PS5 -- assuming you don't want to tweak your monitor or TV much. I also think the recordings can make the game look a little worse than it really is. On my TV for example, 2K did not look that washed out/overexposed (due to my TV calibration), but the recording amplified it further.

[bcruise]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

Are you on the PS5 with No Man's Sky now or playing on PC? My recommendation if you're on PS5 is perhaps just make the whites a little darker in that HDR settings panel of your PS5 -- assuming you don't want to tweak your monitor or TV much. I also think the recordings can make the game look a little worse than it really is. On my TV for example, 2K did not look that washed out/overexposed (due to my TV calibration), but the recording amplified it further.

Yeah, on PS5 with the actual PS5 version of NMS. Thanks for the suggestion.

[allBthere]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

I felt this video might be especially helpful since I know some peeps felt in general the game might even look better with HDR off vs. on, so I showed off both in that environment and also did a color correct to show how HDR probably might look just as good but just might need a game-specific setting to refine it.

the hdr calibration on xbox at least is whack. I did it and had to revert back doing the opposite of the instructions. HDR should have shadow DETAIL and highlight DETAIL, while not being flat. It simply offers a full spectrum previously unavailable.

The problem is the xbox calibration literally causes you to force the TV to crush blacks (zero dark detail) and blow out highlights (zero highlight detail). My VIZIO P65 performed perfectly 'out of the box' but curiosity got the best of me and I tuned it according to instructions with disastrous results.

Adding to the issue is that just because a full HDR spectrum has so much possibility, doesn't mean an NBA arena provides that. In other words, highlights aren't as bright as the sun and shadows void of light. Most pro sports arenas MINIMIZE dynamic range so everyone can see everything that's going on constantly. My feeling is that tuning it caused it to bring out those extremes where no exist.

So I kept my personal settings and reverted the internal xbox calibration as best I could to the way it was before.

The moral of the story is - whatever TV you have, create the settings that you like (HDR or not) and the only thing you should change is to activate game mode or not. Also check if your TV's game mode deactivates HDR or not. But the picture you like should work across all mediums and not just movies OR games.

IF your games look weird - does the startup menu look weird too? I'm noticing people with different TV's are having different experiences in next gen pretty drastically. I"m one of the lucky ones who had a perfect experience out of the box I guess...but either way, you shouldn't have to tailor anything to any one game OR system imo.

HDR shouldn't dramatically do anything to 2k21 (like blowing out the entire court) for example - it's also super hard to SHOW this stuff because you're likely not watching on an HDR monitor and perhaps it doesn't translate to a youtube video either.

Either way I appreciate the video, but it brings up a bigger issue which is total consumer confusion on the matter.

[ChaseB]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

I also think part of the HDR issue for 2K is just a 2K thing a teeny bit. Like, this is not new to 2K this year, but the reds can still come off looking a little too pink at times etc. 2K I feel like gets some colors just slightly off on jerseys and such for whatever reason that goes beyond tech/TVs/HDR.

[ksuttonjr76]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

Nice video.

Was wondering what you did for that color correct, because the HDR image without it reminds me of how No Man's Sky looks to me right now - everything getting drowned in light (at least during the daytime). Kinda new to HDR in general since I just got a monitor that supports it within the past 2 months.

I don't where I heard this, but I thought I watched a video where it stated the PS5 was "intended" to be played on 4KTVs versus computer monitors.

[ChaseB]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

the hdr calibration on xbox at least is whack. I did it and had to revert back doing the opposite of the instructions. HDR should have shadow DETAIL and highlight DETAIL, while not being flat. It simply offers a full spectrum previously unavailable.

The problem is the xbox calibration literally causes you to force the TV to crush blacks (zero dark detail) and blow out highlights (zero highlight detail). My VIZIO P65 performed perfectly 'out of the box' but curiosity got the best of me and I tuned it according to instructions with disastrous results.

Adding to the issue is that just because a full HDR spectrum has so much possibility, doesn't mean an NBA arena provides that. In other words, highlights aren't as bright as the sun and shadows void of light. Most pro sports arenas MINIMIZE dynamic range so everyone can see everything that's going on constantly. My feeling is that tuning it caused it to bring out those extremes where no exist.

So I kept my personal settings and reverted the internal xbox calibration as best I could to the way it was before.

The moral of the story is - whatever TV you have, create the settings that you like (HDR or not) and the only thing you should change is to activate game mode or not. Also check if your TV's game mode deactivates HDR or not. But the picture you like should work across all mediums and not just movies OR games.

IF your games look weird - does the startup menu look weird too? I'm noticing people with different TV's are having different experiences in next gen pretty drastically. I"m one of the lucky ones who had a perfect experience out of the box I guess...but either way, you shouldn't have to tailor anything to any one game OR system imo.

HDR shouldn't dramatically do anything to 2k21 (like blowing out the entire court) for example - it's also super hard to SHOW this stuff because you're likely not watching on an HDR monitor and perhaps it doesn't translate to a youtube video either.

Either way I appreciate the video, but it brings up a bigger issue which is total consumer confusion on the matter.

Yeah this generation is the first since the start of next-gen with PS3/Xbox 360 where I think consumers are both confused but also excited interested in tech again. It's now HDR and frame rates rather than just 720p vs. 1080p but that comes with confusion as well. I enjoy chatting about the tech and stuff so I like it, but I can get why peeps will be aggravated and confused.

And that's all interesting to know with the Xbox since I don't have one and am not sure when I will.

Again, for me, I'm good with 2K and HDR on since my stuff is calibrated correctly/or at least how I like it. My example in the video was to show off how the HDR can quickly get out of hand and I color corrected to just show that it's not actually THAT bad, you just probably need to tweak a setting or two either on your TV or the console (at least the PS5) to avoid the wash out. But I still think a game-specific setting for 2K vs. MLB The Show or whatever would be helpful since not every game is doing the same things with HDR like you said.

[ChaseB]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

I don't where I heard this, but I thought I watched a video where it stated the PS5 was "intended" to be played on 4KTVs versus computer monitors.

Hmmmm I don't think that should really matter since resolution and refresh rates and whatever else should mostly translate between TVs and monitors. I mean there's 4K monitors and so on.

[ksuttonjr76]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

the hdr calibration on xbox at least is whack. I did it and had to revert back doing the opposite of the instructions. HDR should have shadow DETAIL and highlight DETAIL, while not being flat. It simply offers a full spectrum previously unavailable.

The problem is the xbox calibration literally causes you to force the TV to crush blacks (zero dark detail) and blow out highlights (zero highlight detail). My VIZIO P65 performed perfectly 'out of the box' but curiosity got the best of me and I tuned it according to instructions with disastrous results.

Adding to the issue is that just because a full HDR spectrum has so much possibility, doesn't mean an NBA arena provides that. In other words, highlights aren't as bright as the sun and shadows void of light. Most pro sports arenas MINIMIZE dynamic range so everyone can see everything that's going on constantly. My feeling is that tuning it caused it to bring out those extremes where no exist.

So I kept my personal settings and reverted the internal xbox calibration as best I could to the way it was before.

The moral of the story is - whatever TV you have, create the settings that you like (HDR or not) and the only thing you should change is to activate game mode or not. Also check if your TV's game mode deactivates HDR or not. But the picture you like should work across all mediums and not just movies OR games.

IF your games look weird - does the startup menu look weird too? I'm noticing people with different TV's are having different experiences in next gen pretty drastically. I"m one of the lucky ones who had a perfect experience out of the box I guess...but either way, you shouldn't have to tailor anything to any one game OR system imo.

HDR shouldn't dramatically do anything to 2k21 (like blowing out the entire court) for example - it's also super hard to SHOW this stuff because you're likely not watching on an HDR monitor and perhaps it doesn't translate to a youtube video either.

Either way I appreciate the video, but it brings up a bigger issue which is total consumer confusion on the matter.

To me, the simplest solution is just change the settings according to what you want to see. I'll never understand this belief that everything has to be "perfect" out of the box. Anytime I buy a new electronic device the FIRST thing that I'm doing is tweaking the settings to my personal preference. I don't see how anyone can merely plug in or begin using their new device without making changes to their device. In my eyes, there's no such thing as universal settings.

[ChaseB]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

To me, the simplest solution is just change the settings according to what you want to see. I'll never understand this belief that everything has to be "perfect" out of the box. Anytime I buy a new electronic device the FIRST thing that I'm doing is tweaking the settings to my personal preference. I don't see how anyone can merely plug in or begin using their new device without making changes to their device. In my eyes, there's no such thing as universal settings.

Yeah I agree with this. But one point that was being made on some level though is 2K and basketball are going to try and mute things in a way where maybe you overcompensate too much to make 2K look a certain way, but then you play another game and it looks weird now etc. because HDR works in such a way where it might be tricky to find a one-size-fits-all approach for every game.

[ksuttonjr76]

Re: NBA 2K21 Graphics Comparison (4K Ultra HD) - PS4 Pro Vs. PS5 W/ HDR and No HDR

Yeah I agree with this. But one point that was being made on some level though is 2K and basketball are going to try and mute things in a way where maybe you overcompensate too much to make 2K look a certain way, but then you play another game and it looks weird now etc. because HDR works in such a way where it might be tricky to find a one-size-fits-all approach for every game.

I guess for me, I'm not into "vibrant" colors. I prefer my games closer to "dark" then "light" if that makes sense. It gets my goat when people have games like Doom, Resident Evil:Biohazard, Outlast, etc on high brightest where they can see everything. I have my settings close to dark, but I can still see the details of the environment, but I feel immersed when I play those games in the dark with my headphones. I want my heart to race when I play those games. Another example, I love using the "Cinema" mode on my TV, because I think it makes that movies I watch more realistic. My girlfriend absolutely hates the mode, because she thinks it makes the colors too dull.