One huge benefit of the PS5/Xbox Series X era is that these new systems are so fast that loading screens are pretty much a thing of the past. In developing Horizon Forbidden West for both PS4 and PS5 the developers ran into a snag, however: the game loaded too fast on the newer system.
This probably doesn’t sound like much of an issue, especially as the original Horizon Zero Dawn could sometimes see loading screens of a minute when “fast-traveling.” But the developers of Horizon Forbidden West wanted their players to have comparable experiences no matter what console they played it on, and that includes being able to read the hints that pop up on the loading screen.
In an interview with IGN, game director Mathijs de Jonge said that the fast travel loads in about four or five seconds, which is too fast for players to be able to read the tips. To ensure that players can read them, Guerrilla Games added a feature on PS5 where players have to tap X after the game has loaded, so they can choose to read the tips as long as they please. Some players would of course rather just jump right into the action as soon as possible, and thankfully the developers have added a feature in the settings that allows them to turn this feature off. The setting is just another example of the many accesibilty features that Horizon Forbidden West offers.
Horizon Forbidden West will undoubtedly be a massive success, if history is any indication. As of last November Horizon Zero Dawn has sold over 20 million copies across PS4 and PC, and now that people are even more excited about a PlayStation exclusive for their new consoles it's easy to assume that this could easily eclipse its predecessor's success.
People who are stuck waiting on their purchase of a PS5 will no doubt be pleased to know that it runs just fine on PS4. Anyone waiting on their purchase may want to know how to avoid Horizon Forbidden West spoilers in the coming weeks, as the many twists and turns of the game are being spread far and wide on the internet.
One easy way may just be to stay off the internet and play Horizon Forbidden West in LEGO form. They will have to wait until May for that incredible set, but it comes with a Tallneck and exclusive Aloy minifig that allows players to recreate the game in physical form.
Horizon Forbidden West is now available for PS4 and PS5.
Source: IGN
