ValveSoftware
[HL25] Default gamma is still 2.5
The patch notes for 25th anniversary say that the default gamma has changed from 2.5 to 2.2, but it is still 2.5.
The default value was changed, but since your config file predates the change it's set to the last value that was written to it.
I just got the game when it was free last month. I had no prior config or save. Not a big deal, just a heads up.
The game ships a default config.cfg that's installed by Steam, that might still have the old default value in it.
Yeah that seems to be it, gamma is set to 2.5 in config.cfg on fresh install. Deleting it sets default gamma to 2.2.
Also brightness is set to 1.0 with the default config.cfg, but is set to the minimum value of 0 when I delete it. Is 0 brightness the intended default?
Brightness does default to 0. That may be a mistake but it's been that way since before the anniversary update.
Also brightness is set to 1.0 with the default config.cfg, but is set to the minimum value of 0 when I delete it. Is 0 brightness the intended default?
I asked about this in a Steam discussion topic back when the update first launched, and the author informed me that the "brightness" slider used to be called "glare reduction". As that name implies that it's only needed if glare is present, a default of "0" makes sense.
I can confirm default gamma is still "2.5" on a fresh game with Steam Cloud disabled.
I can confirm default gamma is still "2.5" on a fresh game with Steam Cloud disabled.
Coincidentally, I also did a fresh (re)install this past weekend. And yes, same results as before. The only way I've found to get brightness "0"/gamma "2.2" by default is by deleting the config, launching the game, and letting it generate a new cfg automatically. It's disappointing that new players still aren't getting the experience advertised by the anniversary update out of the box.