diff --git a/Descent3/game.cpp b/Descent3/game.cpp
index 6f50d05aa..fca5c9562 100644
--- a/Descent3/game.cpp
+++ b/Descent3/game.cpp
@@ -966,7 +966,7 @@ void SetScreenMode(int sm, bool force_res_change) {
     } else {
       scr_width = FIXED_SCREEN_WIDTH;
       scr_height = FIXED_SCREEN_HEIGHT;
-      scr_bitdepth = 16;
+      scr_bitdepth = 32;
     }
 
     if (!rend_initted) {
@@ -999,7 +999,7 @@ void SetScreenMode(int sm, bool force_res_change) {
         rend_initted = 1;
         mprintf(0, "Changing menu settings to default!\n");
         Game_video_resolution = RES_640X480;
-        Render_preferred_state.bit_depth = 16;
+        Render_preferred_state.bit_depth = 32;
         scr_width = 640;
         scr_height = 480;
       }
@@ -1017,7 +1017,7 @@ void SetScreenMode(int sm, bool force_res_change) {
           rend_initted = 1;
           mprintf(0, "Changing menu settings to default!\n");
           Game_video_resolution = RES_640X480;
-          Render_preferred_state.bit_depth = 16;
+          Render_preferred_state.bit_depth = 32;
           scr_width = 640;
           scr_height = 480;
           Render_preferred_state.width = scr_width;
diff --git a/renderer/HardwareOpenGL.cpp b/renderer/HardwareOpenGL.cpp
index 992ccc0c7..259c0ac33 100644
--- a/renderer/HardwareOpenGL.cpp
+++ b/renderer/HardwareOpenGL.cpp
@@ -780,7 +780,7 @@ int opengl_Init(oeApplication *app, renderer_preferred_state *pref_state) {
     DEVMODE devmode;
 
     devmode.dmSize = sizeof(devmode);
-    devmode.dmBitsPerPel = 16;
+    devmode.dmBitsPerPel = 32;
     // devmode.dmBitsPerPel=gpu_preferred_state.bit_depth;
     devmode.dmPelsWidth = gpu_preferred_state.width;
     devmode.dmPelsHeight = gpu_preferred_state.height;
@@ -794,7 +794,7 @@ int opengl_Init(oeApplication *app, renderer_preferred_state *pref_state) {
     if (retval != DISP_CHANGE_SUCCESSFUL) {
       mprintf(0, "Display mode change failed (err=%d), trying default!\n", retval);
       retval = -1;
-      devmode.dmBitsPerPel = 16;
+      devmode.dmBitsPerPel = 32;
       devmode.dmPelsWidth = 640;
       devmode.dmPelsHeight = 480;
       devmode.dmFields = DM_BITSPERPEL | DM_PELSWIDTH | DM_PELSHEIGHT;
@@ -807,7 +807,7 @@ int opengl_Init(oeApplication *app, renderer_preferred_state *pref_state) {
         opengl_Close();
         return 0;
       } else {
-        gpu_preferred_state.bit_depth = 16;
+        gpu_preferred_state.bit_depth = 32;
         gpu_preferred_state.width = 640;
         gpu_preferred_state.height = 480;
       }