diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/SpriteFont.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/SpriteFont.cs
index 5fb8a8e7c5..5846e46fd2 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/SpriteFont.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Graphics/SpriteFont.cs
@@ -69,6 +69,19 @@ namespace OpenRA.Graphics
 			}
 		}
 
+        public void DrawTextWithContrast(string text, float2 location, Color fg, Color bg, int offset)
+        {
+            if (offset > 0)
+            {
+                DrawText(text, location + new float2(-offset, 0), bg);
+                DrawText(text, location + new float2(offset, 0), bg);
+                DrawText(text, location + new float2(0, -offset), bg);
+                DrawText(text, location + new float2(0, offset), bg);
+            }
+
+            DrawText(text, location, fg);
+        }
+
 		public int2 Measure(string text)
 		{
 			return new int2((int)text.Split( '\n' ).Max( s => s.Sum(a => glyphs[Pair.New(a, Color.White)].Advance)), text.Split('\n').Count()*size);
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ChatDisplayWidget.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ChatDisplayWidget.cs
index edf9fe0c0d..5e982a851e 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ChatDisplayWidget.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ChatDisplayWidget.cs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Widgets
 	public class ChatDisplayWidget : Widget
 	{
 		public readonly int RemoveTime = 0;
+        public readonly bool UseContrast = false;
 		
 		const int logLength = 9;
 		public string Notification = "";
@@ -52,10 +53,13 @@ namespace OpenRA.Widgets
 				{
 					var owner = line.Owner + ":";
 					inset = Game.Renderer.RegularFont.Measure(owner).X + 10;
-					Game.Renderer.RegularFont.DrawText(owner, chatpos, line.Color);
+
+					Game.Renderer.RegularFont.DrawTextWithContrast(owner, chatpos, 
+                        line.Color, Color.Black, UseContrast ? 1 : 0);
 				}
 
-				Game.Renderer.RegularFont.DrawText(line.Text, chatpos + new int2(inset, 0), Color.White);
+                Game.Renderer.RegularFont.DrawTextWithContrast(line.Text, chatpos + new int2(inset, 0), 
+                    Color.White, Color.Black, UseContrast ? 1 : 0);
 			}
 
 			Game.Renderer.DisableScissor();
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ChatEntryWidget.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ChatEntryWidget.cs
index 3a347b11e7..8371c433db 100755
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ChatEntryWidget.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/ChatEntryWidget.cs
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ namespace OpenRA.Widgets
 		string content = "";
 		bool composing = false;
 		bool teamChat = false;
+        public readonly bool UseContrast = false;
 
 		readonly OrderManager orderManager;
 		[ObjectCreator.UseCtor]
@@ -40,8 +41,8 @@ namespace OpenRA.Widgets
 				var text = teamChat ? "Chat (Team): " : "Chat (All): ";
 				var w = Game.Renderer.BoldFont.Measure(text).X;
 
-				Game.Renderer.BoldFont.DrawText(text, RenderOrigin + new float2(3, 7), Color.White);
-				Game.Renderer.RegularFont.DrawText(content, RenderOrigin + new float2(3 + w, 7), Color.White);
+				Game.Renderer.BoldFont.DrawTextWithContrast(text, RenderOrigin + new float2(3, 7), Color.White, Color.Black, UseContrast ? 1 : 0);
+				Game.Renderer.RegularFont.DrawTextWithContrast(content, RenderOrigin + new float2(3 + w, 7), Color.White, Color.Black, UseContrast ? 1 : 0);
 			}
 		}
 		
diff --git a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/TimerWidget.cs b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/TimerWidget.cs
index a56c8c090a..5204b0663f 100644
--- a/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/TimerWidget.cs
+++ b/OpenRA.Game/Widgets/TimerWidget.cs
@@ -26,8 +26,10 @@ namespace OpenRA.Widgets
 		public override void DrawInner( WorldRenderer wr )
 		{
 			var s = WidgetUtils.FormatTime(Game.LocalTick);
-			var size = Game.Renderer.TitleFont.Measure(s);
-			Game.Renderer.TitleFont.DrawText(s, new float2(RenderBounds.Left - size.X / 2, RenderBounds.Top - 20), Color.White);
+			var size = Game.Renderer.TitleFont.Measure(s);
+            var pos = new float2(RenderBounds.Left - size.X / 2, RenderBounds.Top - 20);
+
+            Game.Renderer.TitleFont.DrawTextWithContrast(s, pos, Color.White, Color.Black, 1);
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/mods/cnc/chrome/ingame.yaml b/mods/cnc/chrome/ingame.yaml
index 02d25356c0..8b8cb36968 100644
--- a/mods/cnc/chrome/ingame.yaml
+++ b/mods/cnc/chrome/ingame.yaml
@@ -206,12 +206,14 @@ Container@INGAME_ROOT:
 			Height: 200
 			DrawBackground: False
 			RemoveTime:250
+			UseContrast: yes
 		ChatEntry@CHAT_ENTRY:
 			Id:CHAT_ENTRY
 			X:250
 			Y:WINDOW_BOTTOM - HEIGHT
 			Width: 760
 			Height: 30
+			UseContrast: yes
 		Background@DEVELOPERMODE_BG:
 			Id:DEVELOPERMODE_BG
 			Delegate:DeveloperModeDelegate
diff --git a/mods/ra/chrome/ingame.yaml b/mods/ra/chrome/ingame.yaml
index 1e00e6349b..177b72bdb2 100644
--- a/mods/ra/chrome/ingame.yaml
+++ b/mods/ra/chrome/ingame.yaml
@@ -213,12 +213,14 @@ Container@INGAME_ROOT:
 			Height: 200
 			DrawBackground: False
 			RemoveTime:250
+			UseContrast: yes
 		ChatEntry@CHAT_ENTRY:
 			Id:CHAT_ENTRY
 			X:250
 			Y:WINDOW_BOTTOM - HEIGHT
 			Width: 760
 			Height: 30
+			UseContrast: yes
 		Background@DEVELOPERMODE_BG:
 			Id:DEVELOPERMODE_BG
 			Delegate:DeveloperModeDelegate