Horizon Forbidden West on PS5 supports VRR and 120Hz on compatible screens: our first tests

Thing promised, thing due. A few weeks after the induction of the Variable Refresh Rate on the PlayStation 5, the game of the Dutch of Guerilla Games Forbidden Horizon West has just received an update allowing it to exploit this same functionality. And like other games First party of Sony before him, in particular Spider-Man Miles Morales and Ratchet & Clank Rift asideit takes the opportunity to propose new, extremely interesting performance targets.

Thus, the behavior of the “performance” mode now changes when the game is running on a console connected to a 120 Hz screen and VRR. Instead of the fixed frame rate of 60 fps offered until then, the framerate is now fully unlocked, and therefore free to wander above the 60 fps line. A very quick test of the updated game has already allowed us to see a framerate around 70 fps in general, and can even occasionally reach 100 fps in the most favorable conditions. The gain in fluidity is slight, but still noticeable. What’s more, the dynamic rendering definition system works less aggressively, and allows itself on very rare occasions to let the frame rate drop for a very short time below 60 fps – drops that are rendered perfectly imperceptible by the VRR. In doing so, it adheres with a little more consistency to its target definition of 3200 x 1800 pixels (with checkerboard rendering).

A “balanced” mode at 40 fps as a perfect compromise

At the same time, the game also gains a brand new display mode called “balanced”, interposed between the aforementioned “performance” mode and the “quality” mode (rendered in native 2160p at 30 fps). It corresponds to a target framerate of 40 frames per second, and is accessible to all owners of a 120 Hz compatible screen, even without VRR – 120 Hz is essential because it is a perfect multiple of 40.

This frame rate is achieved by maintaining native 2160p resolution, but with checkerboard rendering (checkerboard rendering). The loss of visual quality compared to the “quality” mode is minimal, but with a feeling of fluidity in very marked increase – halfway perfect between 30 and 60 fps. In our opinion, this is the most convincing display mode of all, achieving an ideal compromise between fluidity and highlighting the incredible visual abundance of the game’s environments.

These new features are available now and free of charge for all owners of the game on PS5, via update 1.17.