Disable Depth of Field Effect in Death Stranding 2 for PC Users

The PC version of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach delivers an impressive experience, thanks to the expertise of Nixxes Software and Kojima Productions. While users will appreciate the broad range of customization options, some features, such as disabling individual post-processing effects like depth of field, are not available directly in the game settings.

How to Disable Depth of Field in Death Stranding 2

Fortunately, modder Lyall has addressed this limitation with an update to the DeathStranding2Fix patch. Below are the steps to disable the depth of field effect.

Ensure that Death Stranding 2 is completely closed on Steam.
Visit the Codeberg release page and download the latest version of the patch by clicking on DeathStranding2Fix_0.0.3.zip (or the most recent version available) found in the Downloads section.
Extract the zip file to the game’s installation directory. Typically, it can be found at the following path:

steamapps\common\DEATH STRANDING 2 - ON THE BEACH

Next, locate and open the DeathStranding2Fix.asi file using a text editor like Notepad or Notepad++.
Scroll down to the section labeled [Graphical Tweaks], and modify the DisableDOF entry to true. It should appear as follows:

Configuration for disabling depth of field — Screenshot by Prima Games

Save your changes (using Ctrl+S) and exit the editor.

Implementing these steps will completely eliminate the depth of field effect in all aspects of the game, including cutscenes, conversations, menus, and gameplay. Below is a comparative visual showing the difference with and without the patch.

Death Stranding 2 screenshot with Depth of Field Enabled

Death Stranding 2 screenshot with Depth of Field Disabled

In addition to disabling depth of field, the DeathStranding2Fix patch offers several other enhancements:

Adjustable gameplay field of view (FOV).
Compatibility with any aspect ratio.
Option to disable cutscene pillarboxing.
Gameplay HUD confinement to a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Correction of cropped pre-rendered cinematics.

Primarily aimed at players using ultrawide monitors, this patch is a testament to Lyall’s commitment to enhancing the PC gaming experience. It’s advisable to keep an eye on the releases page for potential updates that might introduce new features.

If you choose to revert any changes made by the patch, you can either delete the associated files or change the respective values back to false within the DeathStranding2Fix.asi configuration file.

It’s worth mentioning that the absence of a depth of field toggle in the game settings is perplexing, especially when players can only adjust its quality. While this effect enhances the game’s aesthetic, it might compromise clarity for some users. A potential feature for a future update could involve allowing players the option to disable this effect entirely. Furthermore, being unable to disable chromatic aberration is another limitation that players hope Lyall may address in forthcoming updates.