Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Details PS5 Improvements

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Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Details PS5 Improvements

Key Takeaways

  • Horizon Zero Dawn‘s remaster enhances graphics through improved foliage and NPC presence on the PS5.
  • Over 10 hours of new motion-capture data was recorded for livelier conversations between Aloy and NPCs.
  • In-game lighting, character models, and environmental reactions have been revamped for a more immersive experience.

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I must say that the upcoming Horizon Zero Dawn remaster has caught my attention like a Machina stalking its prey. The promise of enhanced graphics, livelier conversations between Aloy and NPCs, and an overall more immersive experience is music to my ears (or eyes, rather).

The team responsible for the upcoming remaster of “Horizon Zero Dawn” is currently reviewing the modifications and enhancements planned for the revamped version. Back in September, it was officially announced during a Sony State of Play livestream that 2017’s “Horizon Zero Dawn” would be given a remaster for PlayStation 5 and PC, with this upgrade becoming available on October 31. Owners who have previously bought the original “Horizon Zero Dawn” for PS4 will have the opportunity to upgrade to the digital version of the new PS5 edition at a discounted price.

The announcement that a revamped version of “Horizon Zero Dawn” is coming has sparked a range of reactions among gamers. Some think it’s too soon for a rererelease, while others are eager to experience Aloy’s journey again with enhanced visuals and additional upgrades. However, the revelation that a PlayStation Network account is necessary to play “Horizon Zero Dawn” on Steam hasn’t convinced everyone, but the sneak peeks of the game’s improved graphics and the option to transfer save data from the PS4 version to the PS5 remaster have sparked interest.

On PlayStation’s website, Julian Huijbregts from Nixxes Communications recently shared insights on how the upcoming remaster of Horizon Zero Dawn surpasses the original, primarily through superior graphics. For instance, the vegetation in this updated version matches that seen in 2022’s Horizon Forbidden West, according to Senior Environment Artist Patrick Blankenzee, who achieved this by refining shaders, textures, and geometry for numerous plants, bushes, flowers, and trees. Furthermore, Brian van Nunen, the Senior Technical Game Designer, mentioned that the PS5’s expanded memory has resulted in more populated villages and outposts, as well as new character animations, all contributing to making the world of Horizon feel more vibrant.

Horizon Zero Dawn’s Remaster Feels More Alive on PS5

Nixxes’s Tech Art team has been busy enhancing the terrain within Horizon Zero Dawn by swapping out certain elements with those from Horizon Forbidden West, and tweaking materials as well as other assets to align with the original game’s visual style. The team further added deformable snow and sand to the foundation of Horizon Zero Dawn, since these features were initially presented in the additional DLC expansion, Frozen Wilds. Additionally, they updated “Building Blocks,” or components used for constructing buildings and various scenery, with new high-resolution geometry through custom tools designed by the developers. This upgrade results in a more refined and detailed overall appearance.

Approximately 10 hours of fresh motion-capture data was recorded at Guerrilla Games’ studio in Amsterdam, which the developers utilized to bring more dynamic interactions between Aloy and NPCs in Horizon Zero Dawn. Given that the initial game had close to 300 conversations and over 3,100 dialog options, the team at Nixxes developed a tool to manage the processed motion-capture files for replacing the old animations. Furthermore, they created an animation pipeline that facilitated easy editing and re-exporting of enhanced facial and body motion-capture data. Additional tools were built to help the staff effortlessly adjust animations to match the in-game setting.

In Horizon Zero Dawn, the artists from Guerrilla and Nixxes collaborated on the game’s in-game lighting. Specifically, Guerrilla’s Atmospherics team utilized Forbidden West’s Nubis cloud system to create grandiose skies with sweeping clouds, while Nixxes focused on adjusting and re-lighting aspects of the world to preserve the original game’s atmosphere. Additionally, character models have been refined to respond to environmental factors like weather, all aiming to enhance immersion when Horizon Zero Dawn’s remastered version releases later this month.

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2024-10-17 20:43