Want more? Well, since you asked so politely...


While the examples so far have been somewhat extreme, HDR lighting works in subtle ways too. In these two screenshots, taken from the courtyard inside the Monastary, there is the gentle warmth of the sun's glow on the walls facing it (left), while the shadowed side of the wall maintains visible detail despite the bright light above the roofline (right).




Moving inside, the lighting is eerily realistic. The light pours through the ornate stained-glass windows, blooming spectacularly when blown out with the shotgun. Thanks to the auto exposure, the camera adjusts over time to this bright light and after a few seconds, you can see more clearly.

On a side wall, there is a stained-glass window facing the courtyard. The scene outside is refracted through the window, transmitting the light but adding colour and distortion which is impressive in real time. What used to be limited to Tech Demos is now possible in actual games now.