diff --git a/src/citra/citra.cpp b/src/citra/citra.cpp
index 7a7ed58a7..7192e41ee 100644
--- a/src/citra/citra.cpp
+++ b/src/citra/citra.cpp
@@ -7,10 +7,8 @@
 #include <regex>
 #include <string>
 #include <thread>
-
 // This needs to be included before getopt.h because the latter #defines symbols used by it
 #include "common/microprofile.h"
-
 #include "citra/config.h"
 #include "citra/emu_window/emu_window_sdl2.h"
 #include "citra/lodepng_image_interface.h"
@@ -18,7 +16,6 @@
 #include "common/detached_tasks.h"
 #include "common/file_util.h"
 #include "common/logging/backend.h"
-#include "common/logging/filter.h"
 #include "common/logging/log.h"
 #include "common/scm_rev.h"
 #include "common/scope_exit.h"
@@ -26,13 +23,10 @@
 #include "common/string_util.h"
 #include "core/core.h"
 #include "core/dumping/backend.h"
-#include "core/file_sys/cia_container.h"
 #include "core/frontend/applets/default_applets.h"
 #include "core/frontend/framebuffer_layout.h"
-#include "core/gdbstub/gdbstub.h"
 #include "core/hle/service/am/am.h"
 #include "core/hle/service/cfg/cfg.h"
-#include "core/loader/loader.h"
 #include "core/movie.h"
 #include "input_common/main.h"
 #include "network/network.h"
@@ -47,7 +41,6 @@
 #ifdef _WIN32
 // windows.h needs to be included before shellapi.h
 #include <windows.h>
-
 #include <shellapi.h>
 
 extern "C" {
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/bootmanager.cpp b/src/citra_qt/bootmanager.cpp
index 8401d40b8..087a508f8 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/bootmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/citra_qt/bootmanager.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@
 #include <QMessageBox>
 #include <QOffscreenSurface>
 #include <QOpenGLContext>
-#include <QOpenGLFunctions_4_3_Core>
 #include <QOpenGLExtraFunctions>
 #include <fmt/format.h>
 #include "citra_qt/bootmanager.h"
@@ -121,8 +120,20 @@ public:
     /// Create the original context that should be shared from
     explicit OpenGLSharedContext(QSurface* surface) : surface(surface) {
         QSurfaceFormat format;
-        format.setVersion(4, 4);
-        format.setProfile(QSurfaceFormat::CoreProfile);
+
+        if (Settings::values.graphics_api == Settings::GraphicsAPI::OpenGLES) {
+            QCoreApplication::setAttribute(Qt::AA_UseOpenGLES);
+            format.setVersion(3, 2);
+        } else {
+            QCoreApplication::setAttribute(Qt::AA_UseDesktopOpenGL);
+            format.setVersion(4, 4);
+            format.setProfile(QSurfaceFormat::CoreProfile);
+        }
+
+        if (Settings::values.renderer_debug) {
+            format.setOption(QSurfaceFormat::FormatOption::DebugContext);
+        }
+
         // TODO: expose a setting for buffer value (ie default/single/double/triple)
         format.setSwapBehavior(QSurfaceFormat::DefaultSwapBehavior);
         format.setSwapInterval(0);
@@ -637,14 +648,6 @@ bool GRenderWindow::InitializeOpenGL() {
     child->SetContext(
         std::make_unique<OpenGLSharedContext>(context->GetShareContext(), child->windowHandle()));
 
-    // Check for OpenGL 4.3 support
-    if (!QOpenGLContext::globalShareContext()->versionFunctions<QOpenGLFunctions_4_3_Core>()) {
-        QMessageBox::critical(this, tr("OpenGL 4.3 Unsupported"),
-                              tr("Your GPU may not support OpenGL 4.3, or you do not "
-                                 "have the latest graphics driver."));
-        return false;
-    }
-
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/configuration/config.cpp b/src/citra_qt/configuration/config.cpp
index 744f6422f..f510a3c3c 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/configuration/config.cpp
+++ b/src/citra_qt/configuration/config.cpp
@@ -601,6 +601,7 @@ void Config::ReadPathValues() {
 void Config::ReadRendererValues() {
     qt_config->beginGroup(QStringLiteral("Renderer"));
 
+    ReadGlobalSetting(Settings::values.graphics_api);
     ReadGlobalSetting(Settings::values.use_hw_renderer);
     ReadGlobalSetting(Settings::values.use_hw_shader);
 #ifdef __APPLE__
@@ -622,6 +623,7 @@ void Config::ReadRendererValues() {
     ReadGlobalSetting(Settings::values.texture_filter_name);
 
     if (global) {
+        ReadBasicSetting(Settings::values.renderer_debug);
         ReadBasicSetting(Settings::values.use_shader_jit);
     }
 
@@ -1077,6 +1079,7 @@ void Config::SavePathValues() {
 void Config::SaveRendererValues() {
     qt_config->beginGroup(QStringLiteral("Renderer"));
 
+    WriteGlobalSetting(Settings::values.graphics_api);
     WriteGlobalSetting(Settings::values.use_hw_renderer);
     WriteGlobalSetting(Settings::values.use_hw_shader);
 #ifdef __APPLE__
@@ -1097,6 +1100,7 @@ void Config::SaveRendererValues() {
     WriteGlobalSetting(Settings::values.texture_filter_name);
 
     if (global) {
+        WriteBasicSetting(Settings::values.renderer_debug);
         WriteSetting(QStringLiteral("use_shader_jit"), Settings::values.use_shader_jit.GetValue(),
                      true);
     }
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_debug.cpp b/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_debug.cpp
index accc61b65..475d6ab70 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_debug.cpp
+++ b/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_debug.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ ConfigureDebug::ConfigureDebug(QWidget* parent)
 
     const bool is_powered_on = Core::System::GetInstance().IsPoweredOn();
     ui->toggle_cpu_jit->setEnabled(!is_powered_on);
+    ui->toggle_renderer_debug->setEnabled(!is_powered_on);
 }
 
 ConfigureDebug::~ConfigureDebug() = default;
@@ -37,6 +38,7 @@ void ConfigureDebug::SetConfiguration() {
     ui->toggle_console->setChecked(UISettings::values.show_console.GetValue());
     ui->log_filter_edit->setText(QString::fromStdString(Settings::values.log_filter.GetValue()));
     ui->toggle_cpu_jit->setChecked(Settings::values.use_cpu_jit.GetValue());
+    ui->toggle_renderer_debug->setChecked(Settings::values.renderer_debug.GetValue());
 }
 
 void ConfigureDebug::ApplyConfiguration() {
@@ -49,6 +51,7 @@ void ConfigureDebug::ApplyConfiguration() {
     filter.ParseFilterString(Settings::values.log_filter.GetValue());
     Log::SetGlobalFilter(filter);
     Settings::values.use_cpu_jit = ui->toggle_cpu_jit->isChecked();
+    Settings::values.renderer_debug = ui->toggle_renderer_debug->isChecked();
 }
 
 void ConfigureDebug::RetranslateUI() {
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_debug.ui b/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_debug.ui
index 2bf1a5f88..9edcfacaa 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_debug.ui
+++ b/src/citra_qt/configuration/configure_debug.ui
@@ -122,6 +122,16 @@
         </property>
        </widget>
       </item>
+      <item>
+       <widget class="QCheckBox" name="toggle_renderer_debug">
+        <property name="toolTip">
+         <string>&lt;html&gt;&lt;head/&gt;&lt;body&gt;&lt;p&gt;Enables debug reporting in the currently selected graphics API. Causes measurable performance loss, don't enable unless for debugging purposes&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/body&gt;&lt;/html&gt;</string>
+        </property>
+        <property name="text">
+         <string>Enable debug renderer</string>
+        </property>
+       </widget>
+      </item>
      </layout>
     </widget>
    </item>
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/debugger/graphics/graphics_surface.cpp b/src/citra_qt/debugger/graphics/graphics_surface.cpp
index b86d4e2d6..31aa544a9 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/debugger/graphics/graphics_surface.cpp
+++ b/src/citra_qt/debugger/graphics/graphics_surface.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@
 #include "citra_qt/util/spinbox.h"
 #include "common/color.h"
 #include "core/core.h"
-#include "core/hw/gpu.h"
 #include "core/memory.h"
 #include "video_core/pica_state.h"
 #include "video_core/regs_framebuffer.h"
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/debugger/graphics/graphics_vertex_shader.cpp b/src/citra_qt/debugger/graphics/graphics_vertex_shader.cpp
index 859a1448b..b0fe1c18d 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/debugger/graphics/graphics_vertex_shader.cpp
+++ b/src/citra_qt/debugger/graphics/graphics_vertex_shader.cpp
@@ -407,8 +407,7 @@ GraphicsVertexShaderWidget::GraphicsVertexShaderWidget(
                 static_cast<void (QSignalMapper::*)()>(&QSignalMapper::map));
         input_data_mapper->setMapping(input_data[i], i);
     }
-    connect(input_data_mapper, &QSignalMapper::mappedInt, this,
-            &GraphicsVertexShaderWidget::OnInputAttributeChanged);
+    connect(input_data_mapper, &QSignalMapper::mappedInt, this, &GraphicsVertexShaderWidget::OnInputAttributeChanged);
 
     auto main_widget = new QWidget;
     auto main_layout = new QVBoxLayout;
@@ -515,7 +514,7 @@ void GraphicsVertexShaderWidget::Reload(bool replace_vertex_data, void* vertex_d
     int num_attributes = shader_config.max_input_attribute_index + 1;
 
     for (auto pattern : shader_setup.swizzle_data) {
-        const nihstro::SwizzleInfo swizzle_info = {.pattern = nihstro::SwizzlePattern{pattern}};
+        const nihstro::SwizzleInfo swizzle_info = { .pattern = nihstro::SwizzlePattern{pattern} };
         info.swizzle_info.push_back(swizzle_info);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/citra_qt/main.cpp b/src/citra_qt/main.cpp
index e06adb0da..d8fdb4b3a 100644
--- a/src/citra_qt/main.cpp
+++ b/src/citra_qt/main.cpp
@@ -59,10 +59,7 @@
 #include "common/file_util.h"
 #include "common/literals.h"
 #include "common/logging/backend.h"
-#include "common/logging/filter.h"
 #include "common/logging/log.h"
-#include "common/logging/text_formatter.h"
-#include "common/memory_detect.h"
 #include "common/microprofile.h"
 #include "common/scm_rev.h"
 #include "common/scope_exit.h"
@@ -76,7 +73,6 @@
 #include "core/file_sys/archive_extsavedata.h"
 #include "core/file_sys/archive_source_sd_savedata.h"
 #include "core/frontend/applets/default_applets.h"
-#include "core/gdbstub/gdbstub.h"
 #include "core/hle/service/fs/archive.h"
 #include "core/hle/service/nfc/nfc.h"
 #include "core/loader/loader.h"
@@ -86,7 +82,6 @@
 #include "input_common/main.h"
 #include "network/network_settings.h"
 #include "ui_main.h"
-#include "video_core/renderer_base.h"
 #include "video_core/video_core.h"
 
 #ifdef __APPLE__
diff --git a/src/common/settings.h b/src/common/settings.h
index d6a780d3f..5d7ed0ed4 100644
--- a/src/common/settings.h
+++ b/src/common/settings.h
@@ -446,7 +446,8 @@ struct Values {
     Setting<bool> allow_plugin_loader{true, "allow_plugin_loader"};
 
     // Renderer
-    SwitchableSetting<GraphicsAPI> graphics_api{GraphicsAPI::Vulkan, "graphics_api"};
+    SwitchableSetting<GraphicsAPI> graphics_api{GraphicsAPI::OpenGL, "graphics_api"};
+    Setting<bool> renderer_debug{false, "renderer_debug"};
     SwitchableSetting<bool> use_hw_renderer{true, "use_hw_renderer"};
     SwitchableSetting<bool> use_hw_shader{true, "use_hw_shader"};
     SwitchableSetting<bool> separable_shader{false, "use_separable_shader"};
diff --git a/src/core/telemetry_session.cpp b/src/core/telemetry_session.cpp
index f7a7754e5..67fa086f1 100644
--- a/src/core/telemetry_session.cpp
+++ b/src/core/telemetry_session.cpp
@@ -3,8 +3,6 @@
 // Refer to the license.txt file included.
 
 #include <cryptopp/osrng.h>
-
-#include "common/assert.h"
 #include "common/common_types.h"
 #include "common/file_util.h"
 #include "common/logging/log.h"
diff --git a/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/gl_driver.cpp b/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/gl_driver.cpp
index 83dd57718..14d6c7064 100644
--- a/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/gl_driver.cpp
+++ b/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/gl_driver.cpp
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ static void APIENTRY DebugHandler(GLenum source, GLenum type, GLuint id, GLenum
                 id, message);
 }
 
-Driver::Driver(bool gles) : is_gles{gles} {
+Driver::Driver(bool gles, bool enable_debug) : is_gles{gles} {
 #ifndef ANDROID
     if (!gladLoadGL()) {
         return;
@@ -79,8 +79,10 @@ Driver::Driver(bool gles) : is_gles{gles} {
      * Qualcomm has some spammy info messages that are marked as errors but not important
      * https://developer.qualcomm.com/comment/11845
      */
-    glEnable(GL_DEBUG_OUTPUT_SYNCHRONOUS);
-    glDebugMessageCallback(DebugHandler, nullptr);
+    if (enable_debug) {
+        glEnable(GL_DEBUG_OUTPUT_SYNCHRONOUS);
+        glDebugMessageCallback(DebugHandler, nullptr);
+    }
 #endif
 
     ReportDriverInfo();
diff --git a/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/gl_driver.h b/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/gl_driver.h
index 0fa18e600..b8d491b7e 100644
--- a/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/gl_driver.h
+++ b/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/gl_driver.h
@@ -33,31 +33,37 @@ enum class DriverBug {
  */
 class Driver {
 public:
-    Driver(bool gles);
+    Driver(bool gles, bool enable_debug);
 
     /// Returns true of the driver has a particular bug stated in the DriverBug enum
     bool HasBug(DriverBug bug) const;
 
+    /// Returns the vendor of the currently selected physical device
     Vendor GetVendor() const {
         return vendor;
     }
 
+    /// Returns true if the current context is ES compatible
     bool IsOpenGLES() const {
         return is_gles;
     }
 
+    /// Returns true if the implementation supports ARB_buffer_storage
     bool HasArbBufferStorage() const {
         return arb_buffer_storage;
     }
 
+    /// Returns true if the implementation supports EXT_buffer_storage
     bool HasExtBufferStorage() const {
         return ext_buffer_storage;
     }
 
+    /// Returns true if the implementation supports EXT_clip_cull_distance
     bool HasExtClipCullDistance() const {
         return ext_clip_cull_distance;
     }
 
+    /// Returns true if the implementation supports ARB_direct_state_access
     bool HasArbDirectStateAccess() const {
         return arb_direct_state_access;
     }
diff --git a/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/renderer_opengl.cpp b/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/renderer_opengl.cpp
index 3f7910b7a..eebc08c8f 100644
--- a/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/renderer_opengl.cpp
+++ b/src/video_core/renderer_opengl/renderer_opengl.cpp
@@ -353,7 +353,8 @@ static std::array<GLfloat, 3 * 2> MakeOrthographicMatrix(const float width, cons
 }
 
 RendererOpenGL::RendererOpenGL(Frontend::EmuWindow& window, Frontend::EmuWindow* secondary_window)
-    : RendererBase{window, secondary_window}, driver{Settings::values.graphics_api == Settings::GraphicsAPI::OpenGLES},
+    : RendererBase{window, secondary_window}, driver{Settings::values.graphics_api == Settings::GraphicsAPI::OpenGLES,
+                                                     Settings::values.renderer_debug},
       frame_dumper(Core::System::GetInstance().VideoDumper(), window) {
     window.mailbox = std::make_unique<OGLTextureMailbox>();
     if (secondary_window) {
diff --git a/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/renderer_vulkan.cpp b/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/renderer_vulkan.cpp
index f8537e606..18b2a2e26 100644
--- a/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/renderer_vulkan.cpp
+++ b/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/renderer_vulkan.cpp
@@ -183,8 +183,9 @@ static std::array<float, 3 * 2> MakeOrthographicMatrix(float width, float height
 }
 
 RendererVulkan::RendererVulkan(Frontend::EmuWindow& window)
-    : RendererBase{window}, instance{window}, scheduler{instance, *this}, renderpass_cache{instance, scheduler},
-      runtime{instance, scheduler, renderpass_cache}, swapchain{instance, renderpass_cache},
+    : RendererBase{window}, instance{window, Settings::values.renderer_debug}, scheduler{instance, *this},
+      renderpass_cache{instance, scheduler}, runtime{instance, scheduler, renderpass_cache},
+      swapchain{instance, renderpass_cache},
       vertex_buffer{instance, scheduler, VERTEX_BUFFER_SIZE, vk::BufferUsageFlagBits::eVertexBuffer, {}} {
 
     auto& telemetry_session = Core::System::GetInstance().TelemetrySession();
diff --git a/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_instance.cpp b/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_instance.cpp
index 8c9a72a97..9c7172852 100644
--- a/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_instance.cpp
+++ b/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_instance.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ vk::Format ToVkFormat(VideoCore::PixelFormat format) {
     }
 }
 
-Instance::Instance(Frontend::EmuWindow& window) {
+Instance::Instance(Frontend::EmuWindow& window, bool enable_validation) {
     auto window_info = window.GetWindowInfo();
 
     // Fetch instance independant function pointers
@@ -64,9 +64,10 @@ Instance::Instance(Frontend::EmuWindow& window) {
     };
 
     const std::array layers = {"VK_LAYER_KHRONOS_validation"};
+    const u32 layer_count = enable_validation ? 1u : 0u;
     const vk::InstanceCreateInfo instance_info = {
         .pApplicationInfo = &application_info,
-        .enabledLayerCount = static_cast<u32>(layers.size()),
+        .enabledLayerCount = layer_count,
         .ppEnabledLayerNames = layers.data(),
         .enabledExtensionCount = static_cast<u32>(extensions.size()),
         .ppEnabledExtensionNames = extensions.data()
diff --git a/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_instance.h b/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_instance.h
index fec584608..f5476c7fe 100644
--- a/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_instance.h
+++ b/src/video_core/renderer_vulkan/vk_instance.h
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ struct FormatTraits {
 /// The global Vulkan instance
 class Instance {
 public:
-    Instance(Frontend::EmuWindow& window);
+    Instance(Frontend::EmuWindow& window, bool enable_validation);
     ~Instance();
 
     /// Returns the FormatTraits struct for the provided pixel format