Horizon Forbidden West dev nearly removed flying due to PS4 support
Horizon Forbidden West dev nearly removed flying due to PS4 support
Horizon Forbidden West: Overcoming Technical Challenges to Take Flight
Ah, game development, where miracles happen and sacrifices are made! The team behind Horizon Forbidden West faced a daunting challenge when they weren’t sure if the PlayStation 4 could handle the exhilarating feature of flying. Can you imagine a Horizon game without soaring through the skies on the back of a majestic Sunwing? Sacrilege!
During a chat at Develop:Brighton, studio director Jan-Bart van Beek spilled the beans on the team’s nail-biting dilemma. Releasing across two console generations, Guerrilla Games had to grapple with technical hurdles. It was touch and go until the very end, with the team contemplating whether they should cut the flying feature entirely. That would’ve been a hot mess!
But fear not, dear players, for the gods of game development smiled upon us. The tides turned, the wind whispered secrets, and with some divine intervention, the team managed to make flying work on both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Huzzah! Van Beek jokingly mentioned that they may have sacrificed a few coders to the gods, but hey, it was totally worth it.
Of course, the challenges didn’t end there. Head of development strategy for PlayStation Studios, Angie Smets, shared the rollercoaster ride that was developing a cross-generation release. In the early stages, it was all about pushing the quality bar on the PS5, leaving the poor PS4 struggling to catch up. It’s like a sibling rivalry between consoles!
Guerilla’s technical director, Michiel van der Leeuw, revealed that the team wanted each Horizon screenshot to showcase the difference between the older and newer consoles. They wanted the PS5 version to shine brighter than a supernova, making the PS4 players drool with envy. Talk about raising the stakes!
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Now, buckle up for some good news and some tough choices. The PS4 version of Forbidden West is something to be proud of, but let’s be honest, the PS5 version is where the magic happens. Many fans decided to hold out for a PS5 before embarking on Aloy’s next adventure. Can’t blame them, really. Who wouldn’t want to experience the game’s full splendor?
Speaking of splendor, let’s dive into the depths of Burning Shores, the PS5-exclusive DLC for Forbidden West. The team at Guerrilla Games unleashed their creativity without the constraints of the PS4 hardware. The cityscape ruins of LA came to life with mind-blowing detail, requiring the processing power and fast streaming technology of the PS5. Flying over those lands must have felt like a dream!
Game director Mathijs de Jonge couldn’t contain his excitement as he talked about the advancements in Burning Shores. The powerful hardware of the PS5 allowed them to add stunning visuals and pull off epic battles that would have been impossible on the PS4. We’re talking memory and processing power that could rival a supercomputer. Prepare to be dazzled, my friends!
Now, let’s peek into the future of the Horizon series. According to van Beek, Guerrilla Games is committed to keeping the Horizon flame burning bright. We can expect an upcoming Netflix adaptation, a co-op-focused online project, and even a third game dedicated to our beloved protagonist, Aloy. Rumor has it that a remaster of the original Zero Dawn is also in the works. The horizon stretches far, my friends, and it’s filled with adventures awaiting us all.
So gear up, hold on tight, and embrace the wonders of Horizon Forbidden West. Fly high, explore the depths, and revel in the joy of gaming magic. The world of Aloy awaits, and it’s an experience you won’t want to miss!
Original content source: GamesIndustry.biz
