Dialing in the best graphics and performance settings on PS5 can dramatically change your experience in the Wizarding World. In this guide, we’ll go over the best graphics settings for Hogwarts Legacy performance on PS5.
To truly harness the PS5’s power and take full advantage of the best graphics or performance settings, you’ll need the proper television or gaming monitor setup, as well as the proper HDMI cable, the latter of which comes with the system.
While Hogwarts Legacy supports 5 total graphics and performance options, two require a 120hz-capable screen (just as it does on Xbox Series X|S). Further, you’ll need a TV or monitor that supports VRR if you want to make use of the game’s variable refresh rate option.
Ultimately, finding the “best settings” boils down to what your setup is capable of reproducing and what you’re after: better graphics or better performance.
Hogwarts Legacy Best PS5 Graphics Settings
Once Hogwarts Legacy is installed, you’ll be able to tweak the graphics settings before jumping into the character creation screen. Here, if you’re looking for the best general graphics settings, all things being equal, here’s what we recommend:
- Graphics Mode: Fidelity
- Cap Frame Rate: On
- Motion Blur: Off
- Depth of Field: On
- Chromatic Aberration: On
- Film Grain: On
Adjust the brightness until the image is barely visible, then one or two ticks back from that for what’s likely a more accurate setting for your display.
While the game’s Fidelity with ray tracing option makes the halls of Hogwarts glisten and the waterways of the open-world sparkle, I found the framerate variability of the mode to be too distracting on the majority. Uncapping the framerate led to artifacting and tearing on my 60hz, non-VRR screen, making it hard to recommend to anyone that doesn’t have a screen with higher refresh rates and variable refresh.
Hogwarts Legacy Best PS5 Performance Settings
If you want the steadiest performance without dropping too many frames while exploring or in combat in Hogwarts Legacy, use these settings:
- Graphics Mode: Performance
- Cap Frame Rate: (Locked in this graphics mode)
- Motion Blur: Off
- Depth of Field: On
- Chromatic Aberration: On
- Film Grain: On
As with the best graphics settings, adjust the in-game brightness until the image is barely visible, then one or two ticks back from that.
Of course, performance mode drops the resolution, but I feel it ultimately makes most games look smoother and better. Again, it’s all up to taste.
Best PS5 HDR Settings
Unfortunately, it’s nigh impossible to provide actionable suggestions for the best HDR settings since they are entirely reliant on your television or monitor and personal preference. What works for me with a TCL 50S455 likely won’t work with your HDR-supported screen. The rule of thumb here is to toy around with the settings and tweak anything in the HDR menu how you like it. All setups will be relatively different.
Importantly, however, is that HDR can cut down on environmental surface glare and keep bright spots from getting too washed out. In Performance mode, I noticed a decided graphical improvement to the lighting in Hogwarts’ Astronomy Wing with HDR turned on and properly adjusted to my television.
I found, too, as has been pointed out elsewhere since the PS5’s launch, that following Sony’s suggested HDR instructions in the system’s Screen and Video submenu (Settings -> Screen and Video -> Adjust HDR) doesn’t yield the best results. Instead, it’s suggested to set all symbols until they first disappear when adjusting the HDR signal on the system, which seems to work.
The best settings for graphics and performance in Hogwarts Legacy aren’t nearly as granular as the best settings for PC. If you have the capability to take advantage of the game’s 120hz 40fps capabilities, go with the Balanced option for the best of both worlds. Otherwise, start with the default settings, try the suggestions above, and tinker around with HDR to find what works best with your display. For more, head over to our tips and tricks hub.
