When it comes to the PC version of Horizon Forbidden West, there has been notable praise for its full range of upscalers such as DLSS, FSR, and XeSS, as well as features like ultrawide monitor support and DirectStorage integration. However, one key component seems to be missing – AMD’s frame generation system. In a conversation with Nixxes senior director and principal programmers, it was revealed that the delay in integrating AMD’s system is due to waiting for the release of the next update of FSR. This decision has sparked curiosity among the gaming community, especially considering the popularity of AMD’s technologies in the market.
Michiel Roza, the Principal Optimization Programmer at Nixxes, explained that the team decided to wait for FSR 3.1 before integrating AMD’s frame generation system. Despite AMD launching FSR 3 with a shader-based frame interpolation algorithm in September 2023, there have been no significant updates to the system since then. On the other hand, Nvidia introduced DLSS 3 Frame Gen in September 2022 and has made multiple tweaks to the system to improve its performance. Nixxes’ decision to hold off on AMD’s system until the latest version reflects their commitment to incorporating the most advanced technologies for optimal performance in Horizon Forbidden West.
Jurjen Katsman, the Studio Head and Senior Director of Nixxes, highlighted the importance of game-specific tweaking when it comes to frame generation algorithms. He emphasized the need for special attention to elements like the user interface (UI), including inventory slots, health bar, and compass. These elements are typically added after rendering, either in a separate pass or immediately after post-processing. In the case of FSR 3, AMD’s documentation stresses the importance of ensuring that the UI is not compromised in terms of appearance or synchronization with the game. This attention to detail is crucial for delivering a seamless gaming experience to players.
AMD announced the upcoming release of FSR 3.1 at the recent Games Developer Conference (GDC), promising improvements to the upscaler’s quality as the primary focus. The updated version is scheduled to be available for developers in the second quarter of the year. With this timeline in mind, it is likely that Nixxes has only recently gained access to the new software kit, which means that players can expect a patch for Horizon Forbidden West featuring the enhanced FSR 3.1 Frame Generation in the near future. This development aligns with Nixxes’ dedication to staying at the forefront of technological advancements in the gaming industry.
The decision to delay the integration of AMD’s frame generation system in Horizon Forbidden West reflects Nixxes’ strategic approach to leveraging the latest advancements in performance-enhancing technologies. By waiting for the release of FSR 3.1 and focusing on game-specific tweaking, Nixxes aims to deliver a superior gaming experience to players while maintaining the visual integrity of the UI. As the gaming landscape continues to evolve, Nixxes’ commitment to innovation sets a high standard for optimized gameplay and visual quality in Horizon Forbidden West.
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