After a couple of months of beta testing with Xbox Insiders, Microsoft is enabling Dolby Vision Gaming on Xbox Series X and Series S consoles today. This new Xbox feature is an industry first, and it follows Microsoft’s forward-thinking approach which saw HDR10 on Dolby Atmos come to Xbox during the previous console generation.
“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,” the Xbox team explained.
Dolby Vision is Dolby’s superior HDR format that many high-end 4K TVs have been embracing in recent years. Microsoft previously added Dolby Vision support for movies and streaming on Xbox One consoles back in 2018, but Dolby Vision Gaming will be exclusive to Xbox Series X|S consoles.
Compared to the HDR10 standard, Dolby Vision can deliver superior brightness, color, contrast, and detail, and it’s also compatible with other HDMI 2.1 features such as automatic low-latency mode (ALLM), Variable Refresh Rate (VRR), and up to 4K/120Hz gameplay. ““When compared to a standard picture, Dolby Vision can deliver colors never before seen, highlights that are up to 40 times brighter and blacks that are 10 times darker,” Dolby explains on its website.
Microsoft says that more than 100 next-gen HDR titles currently support Dolby Vision, and there are more in the pipeline including Halo Infinite. Games like F1 2021, Gears 5, Psychonauts 2, Microsoft Flight Simulator, Borderlands 3, or Ori and the Will of the Wisps all support Dolby Vision Gaming and Dolby Atmos on Xbox Series X|S consoles, and the Microsoft Store has a more complete list of Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos enabled games.
If Microsoft and Dolby will work with developers to make their games take full advantage of Dolby Vision, Dolby Vision Gaming on Xbox Series X|S consoles will also benefit existing HDR Xbox One games and others that support Microsoft’s Auto HDR technology. “When you are connected to a Dolby Vision enabled TV and Dolby Vision is enabled on Xbox Series X|S, the consoles will automatically enhance your existing games to deliver a rich, immersive experience unrivaled by any other game console,” the Xbox team explained.
If you have a 4K TV that supports Dolby Vision, you can turn on Dolby Vision Gaming on your Xbox Series X|S by going to Settings > General > TV & display options > Video Modes > Dolby Vision for Gaming. Microsoft also recommends checking that your TV is running the latest firmware, as some TVs may experience high latency issues when Dolby Vision for Gaming is enabled. To really take advantage of Dolby Vision Gaming, you’ll need a recent HDMI 2.1 4K TV that supports all next-gen features including Variable Refresh Rate (VRR) and Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM).
