For years, gamers have enjoyed the glow of their computer screen, illuminating their virtual battles and late-night raids. But looking at a bright display for extended periods leads to fatigue and eye strain and even disrupts sleep patterns. Since gamers spend 1 to 5 hours on average staring at their computer screen, and this time can even go up to 11 to 16 hours a day, they have longed for a solution to protect their eyes. If you are a professional gamer, you may spend even more hours participating in demanding tournaments and training rigorously for the next one.
While there exist blue light filters, eyeglasses, and anti-glare screens, there is still a need for something more. Enter dark mode, a game changer that is transforming the way gamers interact with their devices. The benefits are undeniable!
What is Dark Mode, And How Do You Turn It on?
Dark mode is a theme that is used to shift the appearance of the device’s interface to make the interface darker. On iOS, macOS, Windows, and Android, users can choose to temporarily or permanently turn on dark mode while they are playing games. Then, they can enjoy playing their favorite games for hours.
Here’s how to turn on dark mode:
- macOS: While not many gamers chose Mac computers to play games in the past, things are changing with the introduction of Mac’s powered by the M1 chip, along with Metal and the availability of games made specifically for Mac computers. You can change Mac to dark mode by going to System Settings > clicking on Appearance > clicking the Dark option.
- Windows – Windows has been the OG gaming device and continues to be so. Although Apple is facing tough competition, it still has a few years to catch up. You can turn on dark mode on your Windows device by clicking on Start > Settings > Personalization > Colors > choose Dark.
Similarly, you can enable dark mode on your iOS or Android device by going to the Settings app. This is for those who prefer playing mobile games.
The Benefits of Dark Mode For Gamers
- Reduces eye strain and increases comfort
The traditional light interface of most games bombards the eyes with hard colors and bright lights. Dark mode offers a reprieve by replacing these bright elements with darker backgrounds and contrasting text colors. This helps to significantly reduce eye strain.
During long gaming sessions, dark modes help gamers focus on the game for longer without experiencing discomfort.
- Improves visual clarity
In certain situations, dark mode can increase visual clarity. If you are playing games with dark scenes or environments, bright interfaces or menus can create a jarring contrast. It may even blind you momentarily. This issue is eliminated in dark mode, and gamers are able to focus on the darker in-game content without interruptions.
Games that heavily rely on visual cues like stealth games or horror titles are best played in dark mode. In dark mode, the distractions are reduced and gamers stay fully immersed in the game.
- Improves focus and reduces light bleed
Gamers gaming in low-light environments prefer dark mode because it helps to reduce light bleed from the monitor. This stray light is the reason behind causing unwanted reflections and glare that cause eye fatigue and distract the players.
This issue is minimized when games are played in dark mode, which creates a much more defined screen image. Hence, you can fully focus on the in-game action.
Beyond Eye Comfort: Additional Reasons to Game in Dark Mode
- Reduced battery consumption
Playing AAA titles or intense multiplayer games puts a lot of strain on your computer’s resources and quickly drains the battery. Turning on dark mode is one way to improve battery life, especially for gamers on the go.
- Reduced screen burn-in
Although this isn’t a major concern with modern displays, dark mode can potentially reduce the risk of screen burn-in on OLED displays.
What is The Future of Dark Mode in Gaming?
As user preferences shift and display technology continues to evolve, dark mode is most likely to become an integral aspect of the gaming experience. In the future, you might be able to customize the intensity of dark mode or adjust specific color profiles within the game’s settings. It might even be possible to auto-adjust dark mode depending on the game environment so that optimal visibility and comfort are maintained throughout the game.
Summing Up
Dark mode is not just a visual preference for gamers. It is a practical tool that augments focus, comfort, and gameplay performance. Although dark mode is not suitable for every situation or every game, the benefits it offers are undeniable.
If you are a gamer who spends hours playing games on your computer, laptop or smartphone, you can significantly benefit from turning on dark mode. Not only will your eyes thank you for it but also you will end up extending the battery life of your device.