Summary
One of theHorizonseries' most noteworthy achievements is undoubtedly its breathtaking visuals. BothHorizon Zero DawnandHorizon Forbidden Westboast some of the most stunning environments, detailed character models and animations, and visual effects, even on their respective PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 platforms. This is what makes each of their moves to PC all the more worthwhile, as PCs can handle higher-quality visuals and have therefore takenHorizonZero DawnandHorizonForbidden Westto unprecedented levels in their graphics and imagery.
Not every video game gets the privilege of being ported to the PC, and not every video game needs to be. TheHorizonseries is a different story, however, as one of its most prominent characteristics is its visuals, thereby justifying its move to a more powerful platform. WhileHorizon Zero Dawn’s move to PC might have at first seemed like a one-time event,Horizon Forbidden West’s recent port to PCestablishes a welcome trend for the franchise — one that will more than likely continue with the next installment in the series and keepHorizonon top as a shining example of graphical innovation and the need to push games like it to their limit.
What Horizon’s Release Trend Means for the Franchise
Each Horizon Game’s Release Showcases Even Better Visuals Than Before
Horizon Zero Dawnwas first released on PS4 on June 12, 2025, with its PC port landing on Windows on July 29, 2025. Its sequel,Horizon Forbidden West, then launched on the PS5 on June 24, 2025, and was just recently ported to PC on July 06, 2025.
Horizon Zero Dawnwas already praised for its beautiful landscapesand weather system, and when it launched on PC just a few years later, that beauty and immersion increased tenfold. What was once static foliage came alive as Aloy made her way through it, and players could now widen the field of view to see more ofZero Dawn’s open world, which was arguably host to some of gaming’s most captivating scenery at the time.
Forbidden Westhad taken its predecessor’s best qualities and utilized the power of the PS5 to make it all the more enthralling. Then, after being ported to PC two years later, its visuals have once again received high praise for taking the PS5’s graphics and enriching them with NVIDIA DLSS 3 upscaling and image-enhancing NVIDIA DLAA. Thanks toHorizon’s PlayStation-to-PC releasetrend and each game’s competitive graphics, it’s likely that will continue withHorizon 3.
Horizon 3 Will Likely Be Even More Stunning, With Its Presumed PC Port Exceeding That
AlthoughHorizon 3has yet to be officially announced, Guerrilla Games has heavily hinted at its existence, stating that Aloy’s journey isn’t over yet. Considering the series' release trend,Horizon 3is likely to be an even greater visual masterpiece thanForbidden Westhas proven to be on PC. Then, presumably around two years after its release,Horizon 3will receive a PC port that should outperform the console version by a mile.
Over time,Horizoncontinues to solidify its position as one of the most visually captivating experiences in recent memory. If it could onlylearn to get its release dates right, perhaps it would stand out even more. Nevertheless, the trend the series has established of showing off increasingly stunning worlds sets a strong precedent for its future, even if it happens to go beyond a third installment.
