Framing Your Adventure: The Art of Photo Mode in Modern Gaming

Gaming has…evolved. It’s not just playing the game anymore but living in it—as you play it. 

From Cyberpunk Official Website

Have you ever played GTA as an NPC, following traffic and walking around from place to place? If you did, you may have experienced some form of tranquility, a moment you just want to snap in-game, not as a screenshot. Modern games, especially RPGs, have incorporated a photo mode into their features, but it is often overlooked. This is why this article is going to bring awareness to that feature! 

At the top of my mind, it exists to commemorate the moment. It’s a dynamic feature because it sometimes allows you to control the camera's location, adjust lighting, change angles, and even have your characters post. 

From Screen Rant Official Website

Take Cyberpunk 2077, for example. Its photo mode lets you capture Night City in all its neon glory and provides filters, effects, and tools to create cinematic scenes. CD Projekt Red even held a photo mode content, celebrating the player’s creative experience on launch. Another great and personal example is Monster Hunter. Have you been grinding a certain layered armor set? Yes? Well, now it's time to show it off alongside that sick weapon you have. 

Immersion is enhanced and not interrupted. It may be argued that stopping to take photos breaks immersion, but photo mode can enhance it. The screenshot key is literally located on your keyboard—outside the game—which breaks immersion. Photo mode allows you to remain in the game and take it from the POV of your character’s shoes. 

The last point for you to start using this feature is that it is simply fun. Think of it as an extra tool to fuel your creative drive. If you love photography, you can practice it in games because they sometimes include camera-specific features like shutter speed, ISO, and other jazz features. Many players even use photo mode to tell stories, create mini-scenes, or share their adventures on social media.

From Reddit user @SonicControlre 

Photo mode isn’t just an extra—it’s a gateway to appreciating games in a new light. So before you sweat through competitive games, look back at the RPGs you played in the past and try out their photo modes.

Now, many of these additional “features” require their own button presses. If you are like me and want an upgraded experience, try the Logitech G502 Lightspeed mouse, which has additional programmable buttons that can accommodate any action you want in your game.