Ultimate Guide to Optimizing Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on PC

The remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn revitalizes the celebrated 2017 open-world adventure by Guerilla Games for contemporary PC enthusiasts. Utilizing the technology that powered the 2022 release of Horizon Forbidden West, this remaster offers a significant upgrade over the original PS4 version, infusing new energy into the sci-fi post-apocalyptic universe that player character Aloy explores.

This guide serves to aid PC gamers in finding the ideal equilibrium between visual quality and performance, crafting an outstanding gaming experience that is both aesthetically pleasing and runs smoothly.

Optimal Configuration Settings for Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on PC

Post-apocalyptic America has never looked better. (Image via Sony)

This remaster builds on the solid framework of the Horizon Forbidden West PC version, meaning much of its technical architecture remains consistent. The goal is to achieve a 1080p resolution at 60 FPS, featuring a tailored graphics preset with most options set to high. Be prepared to adjust certain settings based on your hardware’s specifications.

Display Settings:

Window Mode: Exclusive Fullscreen
Resolution: 1920×1080
Aspect Ratio: Auto
Cinematic Letterboxing: Enabled
Refresh Rate: Set to your monitor’s native rate
VSync: Disabled
NVIDIA Reflex Low Latency: Disabled
Dynamic Range: Based on personal preference
Color Blind Mode: Based on personal preference
Dynamic Resolution Scaling: Disabled
Anti-aliasing: TAA
Upscale Method: Disabled
Upscale Quantity: Disabled
DLSS Frame Generation: Disabled

Graphics Configurations:

Preset: Custom
Texture Quality: High (Use Low for 4GB VRAM, Medium for 6GB VRAM, Very High for 8GB VRAM and above)
Texture Filtering: 16x Anisotropic
Shadow Quality: Medium
Screen Space Shadows: Enabled
Ambient Occlusion: SSAO
Screen Space Reflections: High
Level of Detail: Medium
Hair Quality: High
Crowd Quality: High
Terrain Quality: High
Water Quality: High
Clouds Quality: High
Translucency Quality: Default
Parallax Occlusion Mapping: Disabled
Field of View: Based on personal preference
Depth of Field: High
Bloom: Enabled
Motion Blur Strength: Based on personal preference
Sharpness: Default
Lens Flares: Enabled
Vignette: Based on personal preference
Radial Blur: Enabled
Chromatic Aberration: Enabled

In summary, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered successfully enhances the visual elements of the original game, aligning them with the advancements seen in Horizon Forbidden West, particularly in aspects like lighting, object density, and material details.