Steam Deck OLED(Only) Visual High Contrast Bug | Tales from Toyotoki: Arrival of the Witch (1950570)
Issue transferred from https://github.com/ValveSoftware/Proton/issues/8605.
@YoreonX posted on 2025-04-13T14:01:17:
Device: Steam Deck OLED
OS Channel Update: Main
Steam Client Update Channel: Steam Deck Beta
OS Version: 3.8
OS Build: 20250409.1001
Kernel Version: 6.11.11-valve10-2-neptune-611-g627a0b4bcc5d
BIOS Version: F7G0112
Steam Version: 1744067266
Version 7.0-6:
steam-1950570-proton-7-0-6-.log
Version 9.0-5:
steam-1950570-proton-9-0-4.log
This is a strange one..
This problem only effects the Steam Deck OLED & does not apply to Steam Deck LCD.
(When using the same version & yes I have personally tested on two{One OLED / One LCD} devices)
This game released in Aug 19th 2022, and was verified through the Verification Program(For at the time, the only Model being the original LCD Steam Deck) and it is still relative to the Standards introduced by the Verification Program for that particular model.
With that said, that all changed when Proton Version 8 went public alongside the launch of the Steam Deck OLED.
Proton 8(Latest Stable Proton 8 Version: 8.0-5) effectively launched w/The Steam Deck OLED and introduced a unique & Device specific visual bug for this Game(Or rather Engine)'s Implementation that is akin to adjusting the contrast to levels that are noticeably wrong / incorrect / problematic to the experience intended by the game developer, LCD: Steam Deck's that use the same or higher Proton versions & its Windows Counterpart.
This visual bug also does not happen on Desktop Linux either.
It is only Steam Deck OLED.
There is a work-around solution.
Switch the OLED Steam Deck to the Stable version of Proton Prior to the OLED's release.
Proton 7.0-6:
The Visual Bug No Longer occurs if the OLED Steam Deck uses the older Proton Version & again Older Steam Deck LCD Models can use any supported Proton Version and Visually will look as intended.
(I have tested on two devices)
I am a little late to this as I discovered this problem as far back as August 2024 & am only just now getting the time to write my first proper Proton Issue(which is more work than my usual SteamOS issue reports) as the issue still persists today w/Proton Version 9.0-4
The Game Developer is aware of the issue & is frustrated since he cannot do anything except request that the game be retested by Valve's Verified Program. This is an exclusively Proton problem, specifically Steam Deck OLED Models introduced post Proton Version: 8.0-5.
Proton Version: 8.0-5 or higher
Steam Deck OLED(Required)
Must be in SteamOS / Game Mode(Required)
Launch Game: Tales of Toyotoki: Arrival of the Witch (App ID: 1950570)
Done - You should see the visual bug that makes everything in-game excessively bright or contrast(y)
Steam Deck OLED + SteamOS / Game Mode
Go to the library page for The witch of the Ihanashi
Select Properties
Select Compatibility
Select Proton: 7.0-6
Launch Game: Tales of Toyotoki: Arrival of the Witch (App ID: 1950570)
Done - Launch Game & visuals are back to expected levels
So the reason I'm making a bug report here is that this is a very, very unique bug in Proton that only effects the Steam Deck OLED Model. It appears it does not happen in Desktop Mode & only happens in Game Mode. But since this does not happen if you use the older Proton Version that the game was originally verified for & it does not happen to LCD Steam Decks. I have decided to post this here as it seems appropriate to say that Proton may be causing this issue.
Will EDIT to add more information like Logs, Gist, etc.
This may actually be more appropriate for /VavleSoftware/gamescope potentially.
It appears that applying the following command in Steam Properties w/Proton 9.0-4:
DXVK_HDR=0 command
Actually resolves this issue, the Steam Deck is trying to HDR a non-HDR game(again).
Switching to Proton 7.0-6 also won't force HDR.
proton 7.0-6x2 2025-04proton 9.0-4x1 2025-04DXVK_HDR=0x1 2025-04PROTON_LOGx1 2023-01
Compatibility Report
System Information
I confirm:
Proton log omitted for now, see below.
Symptoms
The game is Steam Deck verified, yet launching it on my desktop is a gamble. It will either
Unfortunately, the last two outcomes are very rare, and I haven't found a way to force a particular one.
Like, stock Proton 7 will almost always produce the first result, but if I start Steam from the terminal instead of the GUI or enable PROTON_LOG, it will typically produce a (hung) window, with a more or less successful start every once in a blue moon. Experimental doesn't seem to make a difference, but latest GE [7-43] has a success rate of > 50 %.
I'll try to collect a Proton log for all these cases if it really helps, but as I said, enabling logging seems to change things. If I had to guess, some sort of timing issue.
Reproduction
Run game, or try to. May be hardware-specific, e.g. number of cores.