PlayStation fans have been inundated with news recently, with the next God of War being officially delayed, the sly announcement that it and Gran Turismo 7 will actually be a cross-generation titles, and the long-awaited gameplay showcase for Horizon Forbidden West.
Unlike the other two PlayStation exclusives, it was made clear upon announcement that Horizon Forbidden West will be a cross-gen title, launching on the new PS5, but not leaving behind those still playing the PS4. It's good business on Sony's part, giving early adopters of the new hardware a more impressive build of a game while simultaneously ensuring the massive and established player base of the PS4 is still given an opportunity to experience new titles.
Some PlayStation owners may be concerned that the PS4 version is holding back Horizon Forbidden West in some way, and while that may be true in some capacity, Guerrilla Games developers ensured Game Informer in an interview that while the PS5 version will be more visually impressive and immersive, making sure the PS4 version performs adequately when Horizon Forbidden West releases is also a top priority.
Guerrilla Games, previously known for their work on the Killzone franchise before their breakthrough into the open world action-adventure genre with 2017's Horizon Zero Dawn, met with Game Informer to provide a follow-up to the lengthy State of Play gameplay showcase for Forbidden West. One major topic for game director Mathijs de Jonge and narrative director Benjamin McCaw was how their new game would utilize the new hardware of the PS5 despite being a cross-gen title.
A major new feature in Horizon Forbidden West is the inclusion of underwater traversal. Aloy will have a rebreather that allows her to swim indefinitely, exploring submerged ruins and encountering new aquatic machines. The Guerrilla developers emphasized that while the visual fidelity on PS5 will be much greater than that of the PS4 version, the water especially will have noticeable differences. Exploring Forbidden West's beautiful water sections will have much more detailed rendering, and the waves on the surface will be more sophisticated on the PS5.
Lighting will also be a big difference between the two platforms. De Jonge notes that the lighting for cutscenes in the PS4 version of Horizon Forbidden West will look much better than the ambient lighting while playing, providing the cutscenes with a cinematic look. On the PlayStation 5, this improved lighting is used throughout the game, greatly enhancing ambiance and world detail.
A major point of emphasis in the interview in regards to the new PS5 technology was the immersion that it allows players in Horizon Forbidden West's locations. Aside from the more realistic visuals, the PS5 also has the added benefit of DualSense and 3D Audio support. Guerrilla claims the adaptive triggers especially will help weapons to be more uniquely tactile, and drawing a bowstring will feel satisfying. The PS5's 3D Audio will help immerse players in the Forbidden West by having more precise audio cues.
Although the PlayStation 5 version of Horizon Forbidden West sounds much more impressive, the developers at Guerrilla made a point of noting that development and play testing started on, and continues to happen on the PlayStation 4. While it may not be the definitive way to experience Horizon Forbidden West, Guerrilla Games claims playing on the old hardware will still be fulfilling.
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