What is chromatic aberration in video games?

Chromatic aberration is a visual artifact that occurs in video games when different colors of light are refracted by a lens or displayed on a screen at different angles, resulting in color fringing or blurring along the edges of objects in the game world. This can lead to a distorted and unnatural appearance in the graphics.

Developers often add chromatic aberration intentionally to enhance the visual aesthetics of a game or to simulate the imperfections of real-world camera lenses. However, some players find this effect distracting or unpleasant, leading many games to include options to adjust or disable chromatic aberration in their graphics settings.

Chromatic aberration can be particularly noticeable in games with high contrast and bright colors, such as sci-fi or fantasy games. It is important for developers to carefully balance the use of chromatic aberration to ensure that it enhances the visual experience without hindering gameplay or causing discomfort for players.