The new GTA 6 launch trailer remains under close scrutiny. After some fans criticized its occasionally washed-out visuals, HDR and image-processing experts are now weighing in. Their analysis reveals noticeable color shifts and unusual brightness gradients in certain scenes. Some suspect Rockstar is simply upscaling existing SDR footage for HDR rather than adding new image data.
Wccftech reported these findings on October 16, 2026, emphasizing that the assessment relies solely on the released trailer and cannot confirm technical issues in the final PS5 version.
Experts See Issues with Colors
Among them is Filippo Tarpini, a specialist in HDR rendering and tone mapping—the process of converting image brightness and colors for different displays. He observes that certain vivid blues shift toward violet, as seen in a pool-diving scene.
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In that shot, the light sources and color gradients do not render as expected in a technically sound conversion. Visible steps within certain brightness gradients also appear. This effect is called banding, where distinct steps replace smooth transitions between shades.
Such anomalies can stem from the image-processing pipeline, video encoding, or output settings. Tarpini suspects that Rockstar’s tone-mapping method may be prone to these shifts, though the studio has not confirmed its approach for GTA 6.
The HDR implementation, in particular, has drawn criticism
Image-technology analyst MusaRenoDX also reviewed the HDR version of the trailer.
He concludes that the brightest highlights lack the extra detail expected from native HDR, suggesting the footage was upscaled from SDR to HDR after the fact. In such conversions, brightness data is stretched without adding new detail to the highlights.
While the result may look brighter overall, it does not automatically deliver the full visual range of a display designed for HDR. If GTA 6 does rely on such a process, it would be surprising given the enormous technical effort involved. However, it remains unclear whether the trailer file examined reliably reflects the game’s final HDR performance.
This doesn’t mean GTA 6 has poor HDR
Caution is advised when evaluating this. A published video goes through several technical steps before it reaches the viewer’s screen. These include recording, post-production, and compression for the respective video platform.
With HDR, these steps can alter the brightness and color data that ultimately reaches the screen. A trailer is not the same as a direct inspection of the final game on a properly calibrated HDR TV. Further changes between the trailer’s production and the game’s release remain possible. Rockstar has not commented on these observations.
https://www.playstationinfo.de/2026/10/15/gta-6-launch-trailer-spaltet-die-fans-und-ploetzlich-gibt-es-kritik-an-der-grafik/ There is therefore no confirmation that GTA 6 uses only upscaled SDR.
Following fan criticism, a technical discussion is underway.
The new analysis mirrors the mixed reactions to the October 15 launch trailer. Some viewers have already criticized the soft image rendering and particularly intense lighting effects, while others were thrilled by the details and atmosphere of the new game world.
The HDR analysis now adds specific technical observations to the debate. The issue is not whether the graphics are appealing, but how certain colors, brightness levels, and highlights are rendered. It remains to be seen whether these anomalies will even be visible in the finished game.
The question may be especially relevant for PS5 players, since many modern TVs support robust HDR features.
Only the final PS5 build will provide clarity.
GTA 6 is scheduled for release on November 19, 2026, for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. Rockstar has confirmed that the footage in the new launch trailer was captured on a PS5, but that does not guarantee identical visuals in every gameplay situation.
The available HDR settings and output options remain undocumented. Tarpini and MusaRenoDX’s analysis offers useful insights but no final verdict.
Only hands-on testing of the console build will show whether GTA 6 has genuine HDR issues or whether the anomalies stem mainly from the released footage. With release day less than a few weeks away, the question remains open for Rockstar. Share your thoughts in the comments.
