diff --git a/game/graphics/gfx.cpp b/game/graphics/gfx.cpp
index 3762851f2b..8709d9bbeb 100644
--- a/game/graphics/gfx.cpp
+++ b/game/graphics/gfx.cpp
@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ u32 Init(GameVersion version) {
   prof().instant_event("ROOT");
 
   g_debug_settings = game_settings::DebugSettings();
+  g_debug_settings.load_settings();
   {
     auto p = scoped_prof("startup::gfx::get_renderer");
     g_global_settings.renderer = GetRenderer(GfxPipeline::OpenGL);
diff --git a/game/kernel/jak1/klink.cpp b/game/kernel/jak1/klink.cpp
index f6ca91b6ea..97be859dde 100644
--- a/game/kernel/jak1/klink.cpp
+++ b/game/kernel/jak1/klink.cpp
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ void link_control::jak1_finish(bool jump_from_c_to_goal) {
   *EnableMethodSet = *EnableMethodSet + m_keep_debug;
 
   ObjectFileHeader* ofh = m_link_block_ptr.cast<ObjectFileHeader>().c();
-  lg::info("link finish: {}", m_object_name);
+  lg::debug("link finish: {}", m_object_name);
   if (ofh->object_file_version == 3) {
     // todo check function type of entry
 
diff --git a/game/kernel/jak2/klink.cpp b/game/kernel/jak2/klink.cpp
index 31eeeb1ef1..d0112d0898 100644
--- a/game/kernel/jak2/klink.cpp
+++ b/game/kernel/jak2/klink.cpp
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ void link_control::jak2_finish(bool jump_from_c_to_goal) {
   *EnableMethodSet = *EnableMethodSet + m_keep_debug;
 
   ObjectFileHeader* ofh = m_link_block_ptr.cast<ObjectFileHeader>().c();
-  lg::info("link finish: {}", m_object_name);
+  lg::debug("link finish: {}", m_object_name);
   if (ofh->object_file_version == 3) {
     // todo check function type of entry
 
diff --git a/game/main.cpp b/game/main.cpp
index eed4b22bf2..c7c147f6fb 100644
--- a/game/main.cpp
+++ b/game/main.cpp
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ void setup_logging(const std::string& game_name, bool verbose, bool disable_ansi
     lg::set_flush_level(lg::level::debug);
   } else {
     lg::set_file_level(lg::level::debug);
-    lg::set_stdout_level(lg::level::warn);
+    lg::set_stdout_level(lg::level::info);
     lg::set_flush_level(lg::level::warn);
   }
   if (disable_ansi_colors) {
@@ -141,9 +141,11 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
   // Override the user's config dir, potentially (either because it was explicitly provided
   // or because it's portable mode)
   if (enable_portable) {
+    lg::info("Portable mod enabled");
     user_config_dir_override = file_util::get_current_executable_path();
   }
   if (!user_config_dir_override.empty()) {
+    lg::info("Overriding config directory with: {}", user_config_dir_override.string());
     file_util::override_user_config_dir(user_config_dir_override, !disable_save_location_override);
   }
 
diff --git a/game/settings/settings.cpp b/game/settings/settings.cpp
index f17edbccad..93092e6d31 100644
--- a/game/settings/settings.cpp
+++ b/game/settings/settings.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,9 @@ void from_json(const json& j, DebugSettings& obj) {
   json_deserialize_if_exists(hide_imgui_key);
 }
 
-DebugSettings::DebugSettings() {
+DebugSettings::DebugSettings() {}
+
+void DebugSettings::load_settings() {
   try {
     std::string file_path =
         (file_util::get_user_misc_dir(g_game_version) / "debug-settings.json").string();
@@ -71,7 +73,9 @@ void from_json(const json& j, DisplaySettings& obj) {
   json_deserialize_if_exists(window_ypos);
 }
 
-DisplaySettings::DisplaySettings() {
+DisplaySettings::DisplaySettings() {}
+
+void DisplaySettings::load_settings() {
   try {
     std::string file_path =
         (file_util::get_user_settings_dir(g_game_version) / "display-settings.json").string();
@@ -114,7 +118,9 @@ void from_json(const json& j, InputSettings& obj) {
   json_deserialize_if_exists(keyboard_enabled);
 }
 
-InputSettings::InputSettings() {
+InputSettings::InputSettings() {}
+
+void InputSettings::load_settings() {
   try {
     keyboard_binds = DEFAULT_KEYBOARD_BINDS;
     mouse_binds = DEFAULT_MOUSE_BINDS;
@@ -131,6 +137,7 @@ InputSettings::InputSettings() {
     lg::error("Error encountered when attempting to load input settings {}", e.what());
   }
 }
+
 void InputSettings::save_settings() {
   json data = *this;
   auto file_path = file_util::get_user_settings_dir(g_game_version) / "input-settings.json";
diff --git a/game/settings/settings.h b/game/settings/settings.h
index 4f161a6ffd..2b66c04e54 100644
--- a/game/settings/settings.h
+++ b/game/settings/settings.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ struct DebugSettings {
   float text_max_range = 0;
   u32 hide_imgui_key = SDLK_LALT;
 
+  void load_settings();
   void save_settings();
 };
 void to_json(json& j, const DebugSettings& obj);
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ struct DisplaySettings {
   int window_ypos = 50;
   int display_id = 0;
 
+  void load_settings();
   void save_settings();
 };
 
@@ -60,6 +62,7 @@ struct InputSettings {
   bool keyboard_temp_enabled =
       false;  // not saved or restored, flips on if no controllers are detected
 
+  void load_settings();
   void save_settings();
 };
 
diff --git a/game/system/hid/display_manager.cpp b/game/system/hid/display_manager.cpp
index 8b536803bf..87620b2b08 100644
--- a/game/system/hid/display_manager.cpp
+++ b/game/system/hid/display_manager.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ DisplayManager::DisplayManager(SDL_Window* window)
   prof().instant_event("ROOT");
   {
     auto p = scoped_prof("display_manager::init");
+    m_display_settings.load_settings();
 #ifdef _WIN32
     // Windows hint to disable OS level forced scaling and allow native resolution at non 100%
     // scales
diff --git a/game/system/hid/input_manager.cpp b/game/system/hid/input_manager.cpp
index b788d3250c..727851c336 100644
--- a/game/system/hid/input_manager.cpp
+++ b/game/system/hid/input_manager.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ InputManager::InputManager()
   prof().instant_event("ROOT");
   {
     auto p = scoped_prof("input_manager::init");
+    m_settings->load_settings();
     {
       auto p = scoped_prof("input_manager::init::sdl_init_subsystem");
       // initializing the controllers on startup can sometimes take a very long time