Horizon Zero Dawn — PS5 & PS5 Pro performance
Technical analysis last updated
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on PS5 delivers a complete visual makeover compared to the original PS4 release, bringing assets, lighting, volumetric effects, and conversation animations up to par with Horizon Forbidden West. On PS5, three graphics modes are available (30fps Quality, 40fps Balanced, and 60fps Performance), all of which strictly adhere to their framerate targets. Performance mode is the recommended choice, providing a clean ~1800p presentation at a locked 60fps. PS5 Pro support is built-in and automatically active on the new console.
Graphics modes on PlayStation 5 Pro
PS5 Pro support is confirmed to be integrated out of the box, activating automatically on PS5 Pro systems. Specific frame-rate and resolution breakdowns for PS5 Pro hardware were not detailed in this review.
Developer Nixxes confirmed built-in PS5 Pro support is automatically enabled on the hardware.
Performance Mode
PS5 ProUnverifiedTargets an average resolution of 1800p with clean anti-aliasing.
Balanced Mode (40fps)
PS5 ProUnverifiedOffers a middle ground in resolution and visual fidelity between Quality and Performance modes.
Quality Mode
PS5 ProUnverifiedAims for native 4K using dynamic resolution scaling.
Graphics modes on PlayStation 5
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered achieves exemplary performance stability on PS5. Visuals are vastly improved via new terrain systems, re-baked lighting, and updated character models. Performance mode is the standout recommendation, running at a virtually flawless 60fps at an average resolution of 1800p.
Built-in support automatically activates when played on PS5 Pro hardware.
Performance Mode
PS5UnverifiedTargets an average resolution of 1800p with clean anti-aliasing.
Quality Mode
PS5UnverifiedAims for native 4K using dynamic resolution scaling.
Balanced Mode (40fps)
PS5UnverifiedOffers a middle ground in resolution and visual fidelity between Quality and Performance modes.
PS5 vs PS5 Pro
Side-by-side comparison of graphics modes, resolution and technical features.
Guerrilla Games delivered a major visual upgrade on PS5 Pro using their proprietary custom reconstruction algorithm instead of PSSR. The Performance Pro mode elevates image quality to near-native 4K levels while locking at 60fps, eliminating previous checkerboard artifacts and foliage shimmering.
| Metric | PS5 | PS5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| PSFoundry Score | 80Great | 80Great |
| Recommended mode | Performance Mode | Performance Mode |
| Modes available | 3 | 3 |
| Highest target FPS | 60 | 60 |
| Highest verified capability | 60 fps target | 60 fps target |
| PSSR | No | No |
| Ray tracing | No | No |
| VRR | Yes | Yes |
| 120 Hz support | No | No |
| PS5 Pro Enhanced | Yes | Yes |
- PSFoundry Score
- 80Great
- Recommended mode
- Performance Mode
- Modes available
- 3
- Highest target FPS
- 60
- Highest verified capability
- 60 fps target
- PSSR
- No
- Ray tracing
- No
- VRR
- Yes
- 120 Hz support
- No
- PS5 Pro Enhanced
- Yes
- PSFoundry Score
- 80Great
- Recommended mode
- Performance Mode
- Modes available
- 3
- Highest target FPS
- 60
- Highest verified capability
- 60 fps target
- PSSR
- No
- Ray tracing
- No
- VRR
- Yes
- 120 Hz support
- No
- PS5 Pro Enhanced
- Yes
Known issues
We haven't documented technical issues for this title yet — this doesn't mean the game is bug-free.
Video analysis
Independent technical videos referenced in our analysis.
The remaster creates a stunning immersive experience that showcases the best of the PlayStation 5 and the PlayStation 5 pros capabilities.
Opting out of PSSR, Guerrilla Games has outfitted Horizon Forbidden West and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered with its own upscaling solution.
The best upscaling on consoles? Horizon Forbidden West/Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster PS5 Pro Review. Digital Foundry
Go to channel Digital Foundry · Exclusive: Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered - PS5 DF Tech Review - Is The Upgrade Worthwhile? Digital Foundry•508K ...
There is no significant difference between the pro and the base PlayStation 5 version.
The first ever PlayStation 4 Pro frame-rate test. We take a look at the performance in this early build of Horizon Zero Dawn, as Sony's new ...
External links open in a new tab. PSFoundry is not affiliated with the linked publications.
Sources and verification
Every technical claim on this page is attributed. Nothing is estimated.
PSFoundry is primarily a source-based database. A game is only marked as personally tested when PSFoundry has directly tested it. All other technical information is attributed to its original source.
- UnverifiedDigital Foundry evaluates Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on PS5, highlighting dramatic visual overhauls imported from Forbidden West, including rebuilt foliage, hand-re-lit environments, updated water rDigital Foundry2024-10-23
Digital Foundry evaluates Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on PS5, highlighting dramatic visual overhauls imported from Forbidden West, including rebuilt foliage, hand-re-lit environments, updated water rendering, and new motion-captured conversation animations. The remaster maintains rock-solid performance across 30fps, 40fps, and 60fps modes, alongside native PS5 Pro support.
Open source - UnverifiedHorizon Forbidden West receives an exceptional PS5 Pro enhancement from Guerrilla Games, eschewing Sony's PSSR in favour of a proprietary temporal reconstruction technique. The new Performance Pro modDigital Foundry2024-12-17
Horizon Forbidden West receives a bespoke PS5 Pro upgrade utilizing Guerrilla's custom reconstruction technology rather than Sony's PSSR, delivering remarkable image stability, clean 1440p-to-4K upscaling, and robust frame rates across its graphics modes.
Open source - UnverifiedHorizon Zero Dawn delivers impressive visual presentation and a stable 30fps performance on PS4, though water rendering, lip sync, and enemy AI suffer from noticeable shortcomings.VG2472017-02-24
Horizon Zero Dawn delivers impressive visual presentation and a stable 30fps performance on PS4, though water rendering, lip sync, and enemy AI suffer from noticeable shortcomings.
Open source
Frequently asked
Answers built from the verified data on this page.
What frame rate does Horizon Zero Dawn run at on PS5 Pro?
On PS5 Pro, Horizon Zero Dawn offers 3 graphics modes: Performance Mode targets 60 FPS at 1800p; Balanced Mode (40fps) targets 40 FPS; Quality Mode targets 30 FPS at 4K.
What frame rate does Horizon Zero Dawn run at on PS5?
On PS5, Horizon Zero Dawn offers 3 graphics modes: Quality Mode targets 30 FPS at 4K; Balanced Mode (40fps) targets 40 FPS; Performance Mode targets 60 FPS at 1800p.
Is Horizon Zero Dawn worth playing on PS5 Pro?
Guerrilla Games delivered a major visual upgrade on PS5 Pro using their proprietary custom reconstruction algorithm instead of PSSR. The Performance Pro mode elevates image quality to near-native 4K levels while locking at 60fps, eliminating previous checkerboard artifacts and foliage shimmering.
What is the best graphics mode for Horizon Zero Dawn on PS5 Pro?
Best overall balance: Performance Mode — Performance Mode targets 60 FPS at 1800p.
What is the PSFoundry Score of Horizon Zero Dawn?
Horizon Zero Dawn scores 80/100 on PS5 Pro. The PSFoundry Score measures technical performance only — frame rate, image quality, graphics modes, visual features, responsiveness, loading and stability — not how good the game is.
Patch history
Only updates that changed graphics modes, resolution, frame rate or visual features.
We only log updates with a documented effect on graphics modes, resolution, frame rate or visual features. None have been verified for this title yet.
The players' verdict
Recent player impressions of how the game runs on PS5 and PS5 Pro.
We publish player impressions from Reddit, ResetEra and specialist forums only when they discuss how the game actually runs. They never affect the PSFoundry Score.
Related analyses
Other analysed games close to Horizon Zero Dawn.
Horizon Forbidden West
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
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Dying Light
Destiny 2
Borderlands 3
Warframe
Starfield
Browse the full PlayStation performance database or the PS5 Pro Enhanced games list.