Get an RTX 4080 if you want to meet the maximum Horizon Forbidden West PC requirements.
We already knew that Horizon Forbidden West was coming o PC on 21 March, but now we know if you’ll need a PC capable of powering Gaia or not. The Horizon Forbidden West PC requirements have just dropped, giving us all a look at the performance expectations for the second instalment in the franchise adventure.
While HZD fans with a PlayStation 5 have already been able to set foot in the far flung future at 4K, PCs come in a variety of builds. Sony and Guerrilla have opted to allow gamers to scale across 4 pre-set options, from Very Low to Very High. Anybody getting in on the ground floor can expect an i3 or equivalent, 16GB RAM, and an NVIDIA GTX 1650 to power giant mechanical dinosaurs at 720p and 30 frames per second.
At the other side of the scale, a fully decked out system with an i7, 16GB RAM, and a RTX 4080 or equivalent will manage to traverse the Forbidden West in 4K and 60 frames per second. The full list of PC specifications is here:
| Setting | Minimum | Recommended | High | Very High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Preset | Very Low | Medium | High | High |
| Avg Performance | 720p @ 30 FPS | 1080p @ 60 FPS | 1440p @ 60 FPS / 4K @ 30 FPS | 4K @ 60 FPS |
| Processor | Intel Core i3-8100 / AMD Ryzen 3 1300X | Intel Core i7-8700 / AMD Ryzen 5 5600X | Intel Core i7-9700 / AMD Ryzen 7 3700X | Intel Core i7-11700 / AMD Ryzen 7 5700X |
| Memory | 16 GB DDR | 16 GB DDR | 16 GB DDR | 16 GB DDR |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB / AMD Radeon RX 5600 4GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 6GB / AMD Radeon RX 5700 6GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB / AMD Radeon RX 6800 8GB | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 / AMD Radeon RX 7900XT |
| Storage | 150 GB SSD space | 150 GB SSD space | 150 GB SSD space | 150 GB SSD space |
| OS | Windows 10 (64-bit) (version 1909 or higher) | Windows 10 (64-bit) (version 1909 or higher) | Windows 10 (64-bit) (version 1909 or higher) | Windows 10 (64-bit) (version 1909 or higher) |
In all circumstances, 150GB and 16GB RAM is a must, so clear out any clutter. That goes double if you’re thinking about using a handheld like the Steam Deck or ROG Ally.
Anybody picking up Horizon Forbidden West on PC will get the complete edition of the game. A ton of extra in game content comes bundled, including Ultrawide 21:9 and Super Ultrawide 32:9 resolutions, as well as 48:9 triple monitor support. NVIDIA DLSS 3 upscaling and frame generation. AMD FSR and Intel XeSS are also supported, while anybody who exceeds the Very high option can start turning on NVIDIA DLAA. Much like the very first foray out into this world, the second entry is a chance for this franchise to shine without making compromises.
If you’re only aware of Aloy because of the Genshin Impact crossover, then there is still plenty of time to grab Horizon Zero Dawn on PC, explore a post-apocalyptic world where robotic dinosaurs roam the Earth and humanity no longer rules the landscape. Until then, you can check out the official Steam Store page for more on the Horizon Forbidden West PC Requirements.
