The highly anticipated arrival of Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition on PC (released March 21, 2024, ported by Nixxes Software) marks another triumphant stride in Sony’s strategy of bringing its flagship PlayStation exclusives to the vast PC gaming market. This port is not just a straightforward transfer; it is a meticulously optimized package that includes the massive base game and the critically acclaimed Burning Shores expansion, delivering Aloy’s entire epic journey in its most technically advanced form to date. The move immediately targets high-value gamers searching for “best PC open-world RPGs,” “4K gaming exclusives,” and “NVIDIA DLSS 3 titles,” aiming for a significant share of the lucrative high-end GPU market.

Following the successful, though initially bumpy, launch of Horizon Zero Dawn on PC, Nixxes Software—renowned for their porting expertise—has delivered a sequel launch that is widely praised for its stability and comprehensive feature set. The technical uplift allows PC players to experience the post-apocalyptic world teeming with colossal, mechanical beasts in unprecedented detail and frame rates, effectively setting a new bar for AAA game ports.

Uncapped Visual Fidelity and Performance

The primary draw of the PC Complete Edition is the complete removal of the frame rate and resolution constraints inherent to console hardware. This unlocked performance allows high-end rigs to push the game far beyond the PS5’s 60 FPS cap, showcasing the intricate detail of Guerrilla Games’ massive world:

• Uncapped Framerate: Players with 120Hz and 144Hz monitors can enjoy Aloy’s agile combat and smooth traversal at significantly higher refresh rates, enhancing the user experience and response time.
• Advanced Upscaling Technologies: The port features robust support for NVIDIA DLSS 3 (including Frame Generation), AMD FSR 2.2, and Intel XeSS. This inclusion is vital for 4K gaming, allowing mid-range and high-end cards alike to maintain high frame rates without sacrificing image quality, a critical advantage over the PS5’s reconstruction methods.
• Ultrawide Support: The game provides native support for 21:9 and 32:9 ultrawide monitors, offering an incredibly immersive cinematic experience that console players simply cannot match.

Initial PC performance reviews confirm that the port is excellently optimized, scaling efficiently across a wide range of hardware, from modest setups (targeting 1080p performance) to flagship RTX 4090 builds running native 4K at high FPS. The use of Windows’ DirectStorage API further ensures that the substantial 150 GB storage requirement translates into lightning-fast loading and snappy fast travel, maintaining the flow of the sprawling open world.

The Complete Journey: Base Game and Burning Shores DLC

As a Complete Edition, this PC release offers an exceptional value proposition for new players. It packages the main game—which features a significantly expanded map, deeper combat mechanics, and the addition of the Shieldwing Glider and Pullcaster—with the essential Burning Shores expansion.

• Burning Shores Integration: The Burning Shores DLC, previously exclusive to the PS5 due to its demanding visuals and complex asset density, is included from the start. This content introduces a new region, new machine types, and a flying mount, which showcases the full graphical capability of the engine.
• Enhanced Gameplay: The sequel substantially improves on Zero Dawn’s combat, introducing a much deeper melee system, weapon skills, and a more challenging array of machines that require tactical dismantling. The focus on attacking machine weak points and harvesting specific components remains a rewarding cornerstone of the action RPG gameplay.

The narrative continues Aloy’s mission to save a dying Earth, leading her and her allies into the dangerous, post-apocalyptic American West. While some critics note that Aloy’s character arc remains stubborn and self-reliant, the high quality of the world-building, the compelling environmental lore, and the stunning visual delivery elevate the experience. This positions the title strongly against other large-scale open-world games, driving organic interest via high-volume searches for “best story-driven RPGs PC” and “games with great graphics 2024.”

Mouse and Keyboard Controls and Customization

Nixxes has ensured that the controls are not an afterthought. The game offers full and flexible mouse and keyboard mapping, crucial for precise aiming during ranged combat—a core mechanic of the Horizon franchise. For those who prefer the familiar console feel, the port retains support for the PlayStation DualSense controller, including haptic feedback and adaptive trigger functionality, ensuring an authentic experience. Furthermore, the inclusion of an on-the-fly, transparent settings menu is a stroke of genius, allowing players to instantly visualize the impact of every graphical slider change without exiting the game—a feature highly valued in the PC enthusiast community.

The success of the Horizon Forbidden West Complete Edition on PC solidifies the growing trend of PlayStation’s shift toward a multi-platform release strategy. The high quality of this port, combined with the comprehensive content package, makes this the definitive way to experience Aloy’s fight for survival and exploration of the Forbidden West.