The changes you mentioned for the DarkerNights V1.0 mod indicate a significant overhaul of the game's lighting system to create a more immersive experience during nighttime gameplay. By increasing contrast with a steeper curve, the mod likely enhances the difference between bright and dark areas, making the environment feel more dynamic and realistic.
Darker shadows can contribute to a more ominous atmosphere, particularly by heightening the sense of mystery and danger that often accompanies nightfall. Softening highlights can add a touch of realism by mimicking the way light interacts with surfaces in the real world, thereby reducing the harshness of overly bright areas.
The adjustment of blacks and whites can help create a more visually striking environment, with deeper blacks providing a sense of depth and controlled whites preventing overexposure in particularly bright scenes. The reduced bloom and light scattering likely serve to tone down bright, glowing elements in the game, resulting in a more subdued and grounded lighting experience.
Overall, these modifications seem to be aimed at creating a more realistic and atmospheric nighttime environment, which can enhance immersion and potentially change gameplay dynamics by making visibility more limited and strategic.