Control: Best renderer.ini for Particle and Light Quality

Control’s visual identity relies on its “brutalist” architecture being reactively lit by particles and service weapon impacts. The standard settings often limit the number of active physics-based debris items to preserve CPU cycles. Modifying the renderer.ini allows us to force a “Modern” HDR preset and ensure that the OutputResolution and RenderResolution are perfectly synchronized, removing the temporal “haze” that often plagues the game’s lighting.

Hardware Compatibility & Expectations

• Ray Tracing Synergy: These tweaks are designed to work alongside Ray Tracing (RT). If you use “Ray Traced Indirect Diffuse Lighting,” these config changes will make the light bounce significantly more accurate.
• VRAM Overhead: Syncing resolutions and increasing particle detail requires at least 8GB of VRAM for stable 1440p play.
• DirectX 12: It is highly recommended to run the game in DX12 mode to utilize the advanced lighting paths modified in the config.

Backup and Preparation

The renderer.ini is sensitive; a single typo can cause the game to launch into a black screen.

1. Completely exit Control.
2. Navigate to the game’s root installation folder (path below).
3. Copy renderer.ini, right-click, and save a backup as renderer.ini.bak.
4. Open the original file with Notepad++.

File Location

The configuration file is located in the main game directory (where the .exe files reside): ...\SteamLibrary\steamapps\common\Control\renderer.ini

Best Config Settings for Particles & Lighting

Search for these specific variables. Update the values to match the “Cinematic Particle” profile:

"m_iOutputResolutionX": 2560,
"m_iOutputResolutionY": 1440,
"m_iRenderResolutionX": 2560,
"m_iRenderResolutionY": 1440,
"m_bVignette": false,
"m_bDepthOfField": false,
"m_eHDRPreset": 2,
"m_bUncapFPS": true,
"m_bDLSSLegacyModel": false

Pro Tip: Setting m_eHDRPreset to 2 (Modern) is a game-changer. The default (0) is often washed out. Preset 2 provides a much deeper contrast ratio, making the “Hiss” red glows and particle sparks significantly more vibrant.

Key Parameters Explained

Parameter	Recommended Value	Impact
m_iRenderResolution	Match Output	Fixes the “blurry texture” bug by forcing 1:1 pixel mapping.
m_eHDRPreset	2	Unlocks the “Modern” HDR path for better light bloom and color depth.
m_bVignette	false	Removes the dark corners, making the peripheral lighting clearer.
m_bDLSSLegacyModel	false	Forces the game to use newer DLSS reconstruction models if available.
m_bUncapFPS	true	Removes engine-level frame caps for smoother particle transitions.

In-Game Settings vs. Config

To complement your particle and light tweaks, use these in-game Graphics settings:

• Volumetric Lighting: Set to High. This controls the “god rays” in the Oldest House. “Ultra” is often buggy and can cause light flickering.
• Ray Traced Debris: Set to On. This ensures that the particles you’ve optimized in the config actually cast and receive shadows.
• Global Reflections: Set to High. This provides the specular shine on the brutalist concrete floors, which is essential for the lighting’s “bounce.”
• Film Grain: Set to Off. Film grain interferes with high-quality particle rendering, making sparks look like static.

Troubleshooting & Common Fixes

• Black Square Bug: If you see expanding black squares, this is a Ray Tracing conflict. Set m_iRenderResolution to match your screen exactly in the config.
• Textures Not Loading: This is a VRAM management error. If it persists, ensure your Texture Resolution in-game is one step lower than your maximum VRAM (e.g., use “Medium” for 6GB cards).
• Settings Resetting: If the game reverts your resolution, right-click renderer.ini, select Properties, and check Read-only.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Conclusion and Expected Results

By manually refining your renderer.ini, you are removing the conservative “safe” limits of the Northlight Engine. You can expect perfectly sharp textures, vibrant HDR-level lighting, and dense, high-fidelity particle effects that make every combat encounter in the Oldest House feel truly next-gen.