How to Fix Too Dark Lighting | Doom: The Dark Ages
Image Credits: id Software, DOOM: Dark Ages
If the game looks like someone turned off every light in the kingdom, we thought the same thing. DOOM: The Dark Ages has a lighting issue that causes some players to see almost nothing in dark areas, even when their brightness is maxed out.
Here’s how to fix it or at least make the game playable until a real patch lands.
First, Check the Basics
Before jumping into deeper fixes, do this:
Turn gamma/brightness all the way up in-game
Make sure HDR is off (unless you're using an HDR monitor)
Toggle fullscreen/windowed to see if it helps
Update your graphics drivers
If that doesn’t fix it, keep reading.
The Real Issue: Missing Ray Traced Lighting
The game uses Ray Traced Global Illumination (RTGI) for most of its lighting.
If it doesn't detect enough usable VRAM, it silently disables this feature. No fallback lighting, no warning. Just pitch black areas that are nearly unplayable.
There’s no setting in the menu to toggle RTGI on or off; it's handled automatically by the engine based on your system specs.
Fix Option 1: Enable Ray Tracing by Forcing VRAM Detection
Some users have fixed the issue by spoofing the game into thinking they have more VRAM available. This re-enables RTGI and fixes the darkness instantly.
This involves adding a small patch to the game directory that tricks the game into turning RT back on. It works, but it may reduce performance depending on your setup.
If you try this, look for community-shared fixes specific to your platform. Be cautious and always back up your files first.
Fix Option 2: Try HDR Mode (Even Without an HDR Monitor)
Oddly enough, turning on HDR mode in the game can sometimes brighten everything, even if you don’t have an HDR monitor.
It washes out some colors, but it can make dark areas playable without killing your framerate like the RT fix might.
Once HDR is on, adjust the tone mapping and exposure sliders until things look decent.
Fix Option 3: Lower Texture Pool Size
Some players report better lighting results when they lower the texture pool size in a config file or via launch settings. This frees up more VRAM for lighting effects to work.
This can sometimes help if the engine is barely missing its VRAM threshold.
Final Tip: Monitor Calibration Won’t Save You
If your game is nearly pitch black and only bright spots are visible, the problem isn’t your monitor.
No amount of screen calibration will fix it unless lighting is actually being rendered.
You’re not crazy; this is a real bug or engine limitation, not a display issue.
Final Blurb
Until the devs patch it, DOOM: The Dark Ages can be way too dark if your system doesn’t meet the game’s secret lighting requirements. Whether you force RT back on or turn on HDR as a workaround, there are ways to fix it without giving up on the game. Just expect to spend a few minutes tweaking things to make it look right.
FAQ
Q: Why is DOOM: The Dark Ages so dark even with brightness maxed out? Because the game disables ray traced lighting if it thinks you don’t have enough VRAM, which leaves dark areas nearly invisible.
Q: Can I fix the dark lighting with in-game settings?
Sometimes. Turning on HDR or adjusting gamma helps a little, but if RTGI is disabled, no brightness setting will fully fix it.
Q: Is there a way to force the lighting back on?
Yes, some community fixes can spoof extra VRAM, which tricks the game into turning RT lighting back on.
Q: Will this lower my FPS?
Yes, re-enabling full lighting effects usually drops your performance by 10–20 FPS depending on settings.
Q: Is this issue going to be patched?
Most likely. It’s a common problem and tied to how the game handles ray tracing, so a patch or fallback lighting option may come later.
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