Horizon Zero Dawn gets breathtaking ray-tracing overhaul that makes game look fully next-gen

There are plenty of stunning games of the PlayStation 4 era, many that pushed the boundaries of what the console was perhaps capable of. One such game is 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn.

Developed by Guerrilla Games, Horizon Zero Dawn is a first-party Sony title. Set in the post-apocalyptic United States in the 31st century. The world is overrun by deadly machines and each day the human race fights for survival. You play as Aloy, considered to be an outcast of the Nora tribe, who is tasked with the role of “Seeker” and embarks on a mission to stop the machines from taking over the world, and it seems that a project called Zero Dawn could be the answer to all the questions.

Check out the Horizon Zero Dawn trailer below!

Horizon Zero Dawn offers a perfect blend of storytelling, combat and world exploration. What’s more, it is also a stunning-looking game, even on PS4 and it looks even better on PS5. Yet in 2020, Horizon Zero Dawn made its way onto PC, allowing it to look more gorgeous than ever, largely down to its ray-tracing. So surely, the OG Horizon game couldn't look any better on PC, right?

A devoted indie developer has taken matters into their hands enhancing the visuals of Horizon Zero Dawn with a breathtaking ray-tracing overhaul mod that makes this 2017 game look truly next-gen. YouTuber DigitalDreams shared a gameplay video of the enhanced Horizon Zero Dawn and it looks amazing.

Presented in a glorious 8K resolution and powered by an advanced ray-tracing shader from NiceGuy with added global illumination and glossy reflections implemented via Resshade, the game now looks better than ever. To be honest, my words do not do this Horizon Zero Dawn overhaul the justice it deserves, so be sure to watch the video and enjoy.

Horizon Zero Dawn is available on PC and PlayStation. Its sequel Horizon Forbidden West is also out now, as is its PlayStation 5 exclusive expansion, Burning Shores.