Factorio Forums

When using the console, especially with multiplayer chat, it's very difficult to read the text, depending on what's happening on screen.

In the image attachment, try reading the 2nd line under the steel, for example - it's very difficult, and for many people, impossible.

We need the ability to set a background color, alter font size, move the text... *something* to improve chat, messages, etc. And perhaps a scrollback while we're at it.

My current workaround is to:
1. Close the console.
2. Open the large map.
3. Zoom all the way out.
4. Open the console.

That way, I get a black background.

Thanks! ~tetryon

This could be ameliorated by darkening the background of the console region; I believe this is done in many games with their chat windows et al.

Yeah most games that include a chat have an option to set the chat's background opaqueness. Such a thing would be nice.

I spy a Bobsmods user

I also agree with your suggestion.

bobingabout wrote:I spy a Bobsmods user

I also agree with your suggestion.

Thank you for the endorsement, and as an up-until-now vanilla-only user, thank you for the past solid week+ I've spent trying to figure out your tech tree. Mind blown!

Cheers, ~tetryon

definitely need this feature too, because the console is very hard to read, an sometimes truncated. I even wonder how MOD authors are doing to debug their mods ?... (if someone has teh answer, it's a true question)

I see a lot of gui suggestions these days but no Rseding91 feedback I think in 13 hes working on some changes including more modding power or at least I thought he was.

there is a write data to file function that you can use to log. Much easier to read.

The font already has a black border to allow reading it on practically any background, but maybe it could be thicker. Personally, I could read it fine.

I concur, it's also hard to read in-game chat when watching streams or chat where not everyone is using voice chat

Chat is really hard to read sometimes, especially over a really busy factory. If it had a grey background, maybe 50% transparent, it would help a lot.

Added to viewtopic.php?f=80&t=22760 Support for Color Blinds / Better Visibility ...

Server chat color should be able to be changed and/or should default to a readable color. The grey on a dark colored game (i.e. like the grass or the furnaces) is very hard to read.

Added to viewtopic.php?f=80&t=22760 Support for Color Blinds / Better Visibility ...

PLEASE do this!

Can we get a background on the chat to make it easier to read new messages?

Could be an optional thing

Chat is very difficult to read on the background of the game and almost impossible threw streams.


When hitting ~ to open chat, it should open in a black box so that the text is more easily read, or failing that then perhaps a increase to text size or some sort of way to contrast the lettering.

This would be incredibly helpful because it would improve the ingame communication, reducing eye strain and especially for people who may happen to be streaming it it would allow them to include their viewers in their ingame discussions more easily rather then having to squint and try and read the message themselves and then also repeat it for viewers.

It's just a feature that every other game has but 3 years is obviously not long enough to implement a black background.