Horizon Zero Dawn E3 2016 Demo vs Retail PS4 Graphics Comparison

One more interesting graphics comparison of Horizon’s  E3 2016 Gameplay footage and retail PS4 version emerged showing changes that have been done during development process. How much difference can you spot?

[chrisx]

The Upgrade is real

[johndoe11211]

I can't actually say. I think in some scenes it looks better on the demo and in some it looks better on the released game. I think the trees look a lot better in the demo but the overall atmosphere looks better on the released game. I won't call this an upgrade or a downgrade, it's more like a redesign.

[Erik7357]

But we at least know the demo wasn't fake polished up Ubisoft BS.

From your analysis it was not really a downgrade and more of a "moving resources" to other areas in the game.

The trees did look more lush in the demo and if you look at around the 0:50, shadows were sharper. Much finer details are seen in the shadow from trees in the demo.

Also, 1:04.......water reflections are better in demo

Not really huge like Ubisoft downgrade huge so not really a problem honestly

[johndoe11211]

@Erik7357

I think "moving resources" is the best way to put it. For example, there are a number of longnecks in the demo but none in the released game scenes in the video above. I think i'ts because they probably changed the purpose of those creatures in the released game hence the reason there are fewer of them but it's totally understandable why if you play the game. It's due to them having a very specific purpose, having them roaming all over the place would have defeated that.

[littlezizu]

The Game has 24hour day/ night cycle, Demo is in day and while recorded footage above is in dusk so can't compare. But Digital Foundry already compared with Demo said better than demo, their comparison had similar time of day.

[Deep-throat]

They removed some stuff. Notice the fog density in the final version; maybe to cover up the bad draw distance.

The game looks great still.

[Sparta07]

The scenes are not even in the same time of day.

[Bathyj]

@Deep-throat
Or you know, it was foggy that day. If theres fog its the whether, not a technical drawback. This isnt Turok.

On a clear day you can see a Tallneck from so far away its just a tiny little blip, but its still there. There is no fog covering up draw distance. Just thought you would like to know so no one accuses you of accidentally spreading false information.

[TheCommentator]

I agree with your assessment, John Doe.

I said many times before that it looked downgraded from what I could see in the sh!tty 480p comparison and made reference to missing shadows, less foliage, etc. I can now say that there actually are differences in the foliage, but I think that even though there is less foliage in the retail release the quality of it is better. Most other details seem to have been trade offs to balance the look of the retail release too. That said, it was not downgraded, IMO, but optimized to balance the overall look of the game. And it's beautiful.

I was right that there were differences beyond resolution in the 480p comparison. That's why I told people not to assume I was wrong to point out those differences that were evident in said comparison. I said let's wait to pass final judgement until a good comparison was released. You guys all insisted is wasn't different though... it's all just the bad video... the time of day is just different... lol.

[Bathyj]

Isnt foliage procedurally generated? Wouldnt that mean its random and if you happen to see one video and theres a tree and then see another video and theres no tree, its not like they took it out, trying to thin the forest a bit for whatever reason. Its the algorithms built into their engine simply saying no, theres no tree there today, maybe tomorrow.

Even animal placements can be random, other than if its a machine site and that animal has to be there. I've fast travelled to a camp firm and meet 2 Ravagers. The next time I went there I saw a Behemoth and a couple of Watchers. I ducked behind a rock quick smart I can tell you.

I dont know why people think they would thin out foliage anyway for any reason other than they felt like it looks better in that given area. Its not like the engine cant handle it. Watch a Behemoth fight 3 Tramplers and a Snapmaw perfectly fluidly, crap blowing up everywhere and never missing a beat and try to tell me a few extra trees are going to make the framerate dip. Must be all them ants.

[bouzebbal]

remember haters were hating on that killzone 2 trailer.. in the end it was upgraded and they kept quiet later on.
GG go all out everytime.. their technical understanding is outstanding.

[TheCommentator]

Bathyj, Minecraft is procedurally generated too, but the placement of objects doesn't change each time you reload it. I'm not sure, but maybe you could load an area a few times and see if it randomizes the placement of these things? Snap a few pics to show us if it's different? IMO, it would be kind of weird having all the trees in different spots every time you played, like when an actor's drink magically fills/empties/fills in a scene.

Another, more similar to Horizon example of procedurally generated foliage, which I know doesn't change every time it's loaded, is Far Cry. In the map editor specifically, I would have several sets of the same foliage brush so I could have more options to place trees where I needed them, and their orientation on the map always remained constant when I reloaded.

I'm not knocking Horizon, just saying that it seems like Guerrilla made some things a bit less detailed and other things more detailed in the final build. The overall look in the retail release seems more cohesive than the reveal footage because of these changes.

Edit: Why would they decide to thin out foliage? To have more detail in the foliage that remains, to make processing available for the ants, to improve any number of other areas... look, PS4 is powerful, but it still has limitations that need consideration when it comes to development. Asking why they would need to remove foliage is like asking why they didn't choose native 4K for the Pro. The power simply allowed better asthetics when used in another way.

[ILostMyMind]

#4THEPLAYERS

[Wallstreet37]

The game is the truth (my favorite open world games) and the most beautiful console game so far with no hit to performance and constant enemy battles. The game is phenomenal and one can't help but take snap shots every few minutes.

[TKCMuzzer]

Yeah, can't help thinking the photo mode should have been unlocked after completing the game, I mean it keeps slowing my progress down. :)

[badz149]

1st world problems LOL

[LordMaim]

Preach brother. Ended up with over 300 photos by the end of the game.

[Bathyj]

Photomode is a game by itself. Ive spend hours just taking pics. Now that I have all the overiddes I can get right up close to anything. Try zooming right under the bottom of a Thunderjaw. The level of detail, the textures of every surface is staggering. I was literally starting at its undercarrage for like 10 minutes last night, looking at every little scratch and bit of dirt. As a total package this game as no peers.

[TheCommentator]

I'm sorry, I agree with you that the detail is amazing, but I can't get past how excited you are talking about... bottoms, undercarriages, and packages. I assumed this play on words was intentional, but it's subtle enough that it may not have been! Either way, you had me laughing pretty hard with this post!

[Bathyj]

Yeah, but its funny cos its true. I was right up under the thing, all the detail you never see while youre actually playing the game because, you know, the Thunderjaw will crush your arse. But you can zoom right in virtually an inch from the surface. You can see the cross pattern of carbon fibre, the little wear marks on metal at corners, the scuffs and scratches. Its just crazy.

I mean you will never, never see this when youre playing, so why is it there? But it is, and you can look at it all. I'm just a bit gobsmacked. I love detail. I know not everyone cares about a scratch in a piece of metal, but I love seeing something I think no one else has noticed.

Can I just say being able to change the time of day in photomode is an incredible addition. Its so fluid and it gets gives some gorgeous results. I sometimes take 4 or 5 photos of the exact same thing without moving the camera, only changing the time of day.

I only wish the PS4 let you record straight to a gif so you could make these little transition shots. That would be pretty cool.

[mandingo]

game is eh

[guyman]

Good for you.

Meanwhile, the game is actually incredible. Dont you microsoft fanboys have anything better to do?

[UnHoly_One]

Wow, am I the only one that doesn't use photo mode?

I went into a couple times just to spin around and look at things, but I never took a single picture and I don't have the artistic side to come up with the stuff I see others doing. I like seeing what other people take, but I just don't do it myself.

I'm surprised there are so many people using it constantly.

[mad-dog]

Game looks great. Using compressed Youtube footage isn't really the best way for this though.

[TheOptimist]

Demo
Higher res textures, better ambient occlussion, more vegetation, brighter color pallet
Retail
Better bloom effects

This is what I see

[AmUnRa]

Then go to a doctor, theyr is something with your eyesight. The retailversion is a slight upgrade looking at the demo from the E3 2016.
It is everything but NOT a downgrade.

[TheOptimist]

*Looks at comment history*
*Notices Sony bias*
*Doesn't take seriously*
*Strolls away*

[Kurdishcurse]

Jeezuz....i could almost smell the defensive bias. You are being abit too aggressive there buddy....

[UltraNova]

@The optimist

So when a ps4 fan says something possitive for a ps4 exclusive you auto-dissmiss his/hers opinion as biased?

So based on your way of thinking, who can offer an un-biased opinion, an xbox or Nintendo fan who only saw videos of the game online ?

Open your eyes, dont be blind accept the fact that if the guy above played the game (you didnt ask) and you didnt then his opinion carries far more credit than yours.

[BIGBOSS08]

Maybe if you didn't wank so much, you wouldn't have jizz Stuck in your eyes clouding your vision. Give the Johnson a rest pal..

[TheOptimist]

Oooooooooh..... Another one..... *Waits for others*

[leoms]

LMAOOOO!!!!

[cyclindk]

The paranoia, jeez.

Anyone who disagrees with him is fake news apparently :)

[TheOptimist]

And apparently you are the cute little defender of justice. Great job sire, I respect you for it. Carry on.

[Ceaser9857361]

He expects that he gonna get away with trolling around in here. Troll elsewhere dude..

[LP-Eleven]

Just don't respond. Plenty of us have tried to reason with him. You'll get nowhere.

OT: Look at Guerrilla's history for upgrades! It's crazy! Go look at Killzone 2 the month prior to launch. It was insane how big of jump they accomplished! With Horizon, they've done it again!

[guyman]

Yea it's expected for an article like this to attract a junk comment like this.

Despite how clear It is there is very little difference, and despite the fact that it's the best looking open world game for its scale (including any game on pc) you make this ridiculous accusation. LMAO, just give it up and go to sleep.

All it is "Lalalalalalalaa cant hear you I'm right you're wrong because you're a ps4 fanboy lalalalalaa even though I haven't played the game"

Pffft pathetic

[TheOptimist]

Aaaaaannddddd....... Another one....

[guyman]

Wow theoptimist, you're sure showing us man! gotta fight that good fight

But what do i know am I right ! I've only played the demo myself and own the full game day one whereas you most likely haven't played a second of it. You're so right man, Keep on confirming the imaginary downgrade lmao

[Sparta07]

*Looks at comment history*
*Notices Microsoft bias*
*Doesn't take seriously*
*Strolls away*

😉

[TheOptimist]

Ahhh..... *Pretty sure, didn't go through 42 pages of comment history, only the first page*
*Strolls away*
*Try better at trolling*

[Ceaser9857361]

TheOptimist needs to see TheOculist.

[guyman]

And an optometrist

[TheOptimist]

It's not trolling if it's true. /_(-_-)_/

[Ceaser9857361]

Its trolling... you're the only one with false claim , spreading lies.. OR else either you are true and rest of the gaming journalist around the world is a liar ?? Digital foundry has pointed out where the retail version improved then the demo.. I suggest you to use a better TV to watch it.. Youtube video can be watched at 1080p to 4k... you must be watching it on 144p.

[TheOptimist]

You ain't helping your case by pointing to some other media outlet lad. Either you disprove me or you don't. If you can't disprove me, then you are the troll defending something "Preciousssssss"

Also video is being watched in 1080p FYI on a monitor, which is much better for telling minute details over a TV

[Ceaser9857361]

You aint helping either by spreading something which is not true.. And i am pointing out how wrong you are since you're the only one with those point. Nevermind.. Haters gonna hate.

[guyman]

@Theoptimist

Once again I ask you the question, have you even played the game? Or does the game intimidate you so much to the point that you need to fish and hope for a downgrade?

Im convinced it's the latter

[UCForce]

Yeah, I'm not gonna believe what you are saying.

[Kaneki-Ken]

TheOptimist: *Autistic Screeching*
Me: Stop it, get some help.

[Sunny_D]

Now I'm watching this on my phone and it's not the best YouTube video with the compression but what version was each video running on? Were both on PS4 Pro at 4K or the standard PS4?

[cyckiewicz]

Both standard

[Der_Kommandant]

Take notes Ubisoft

[BlakHavoc]

This game looks unreal, I don't think anyone should be screaming downgrade lol. But I knew the part with the tallnecks were not going to be in the final game since they're used primarily to reveal sections of the map. Didn't even notice they weren't there honestly when passing by that area.

[Sunny_D]

They wanted to invoke the Jurassic Park feel in the demo lol

[BlakHavoc]

Only thing missing was the iconic JP music lol

[rainslacker]

It's more efficient to do that for a demo instead of showing a bunch of shorter scenes. Shows what's in the game keeping everything focused.

[AmUnRa]

^^^^ This....

[uth11]

Demo lighting looks better to me. But that could be just time of day

[gbsrnctaln]

This game will blow your balls off on the Pro.

[TheVetOfGaming]

Will save me having a hysterectomy.

[LordMaim]

That would have gotten you a funny bubble under the old system. :)

[BIGBOSS08]

It's just crazy how good this game looks. It's the best looking game ever and it's open world, which is even more crazy. Not only that but the performance of the game is also brilliant.

[Zarock]

Bad comparison video, the time of day Is different and the viewing angles are way off. Nonetheless the retail version looks better with some texture differences.

[Hardiman]

This game looks amazing and I'm wearing the photo mode out lol. Seriously I've been playing it since the 28th and I'm still blown away by the look of the world and the details that abound in it!

[DialgaMarine]

The retail looks surprisingly good by comparison. The thing that stood out most to me though is the fact that you see two tallnecks walking around in the demo, which suggests that the used to have free roaming tallnecks, and not just the handful of ones on rails. I wonder why the retail version doesn't.

[joethetimelord]

Sometimes you have to cut features due to limitations. There might've been too many terrain bugs for the devs to handle. Longnecks are huge, but like all game models, they're basically balloons. One misstep and they're walking sideways.

Goes to show that you should never ever take an E3 demo at face value. It's almost never a reflection of the final product.

[DialgaMarine]

True, but I think the gameplay on the left was standard PS4. I played on my Pro on a 4K display, and it looked so much sharper.

[joethetimelord]

Don't get me wrong; I never said the game was downgraded, only that changes do happen, both positive and negative, from E3 to release.

[Bathyj]

That was just a trailer to show the Tallnecks. Tallnecks are a gameplay mechanic and they are made to stay in their area. It doesnt mean they once roamed free. I really doubt they were ever meant to. They are doing what they are supposed to be doing.

[joethetimelord]

I honestly don't think Guerilla wouldn't have at least tried to make the necks roam free. That said it would probably be very hard to accomplish given their size.

[rainslacker]

Think they put them there for effect more than anything. Demo was one scene, not a trailer, so it gave them the chance to show off more than one or two dinos.

[deadfrag]

Who gives a fuck,the game looks great in its release public form!

[DialgaMarine]

Yeah, even if you argue the demo was better looking than the standard PS4 version, it's very small differences at worst. This isn't even close to Ubisoft levels of downgrades, and the Pro version still looks phenomenal when seen on an actual 4K HDR display.

[rainslacker]

Most people seeing a downgrade seem more like the types that can't have this game look so good and maintain their sanity.

[Nivekki]

I've been loving this game, been playing it for over 50 hours. But now I seem to have run into a bug where she keeps going on about checking my focus, where there's no reason to. Keeps going on about it. Nothing seems to stop it either, weirdest bug I've ever had. There's been quite a few glitches with the game, but this is the worst one.

Shame, because it's been great up into now.

[MRMagoo123]

it was probably a quest you can't start yet , like that town over run with glint hawks it happened to me but I completed a new mission I think one of the story missions and it went away. She said something about an agent being in the town centre and I should find him then went on about using my focus, the problem was the quest to rid the town of glint hawks was paused because a story quest needed to be finished before I could proceed with it on account of it being in the same town and using one of the same people.

it may work it did for me anyway

[joab777]

Before watching, I'll make this statement. Whether it's better or worse, I don't care because I've never seen a agame that looks this good. In 4k, this game is jaw droppingly beautiful and the best part is that it is so smooth running!

[MRMagoo123]

The retail version looks better on the pro than the demo looked.

[Big_Game_Hunters]

DEMO looks better 100%, game still looks great visually though. HOWEVER.... the proof is here, and there is a long list of people that need to apologize to me. because https://www.youtube.com/wat...

[MRMagoo123]

yes because you think the demo looks better people should apologise to you 😂 ok lil guy /pats head now run along with your buddies and play k 🖒

[Big_Game_Hunters]

Think has nothing to do with it, its fact. don't be mad at me, I don't control what games get downgraded.

[MRMagoo123]

yup its facts 🖒 😂 its a fact you think it looks better in the demo ,it's also a fact I think the retail version looks better. opinions aren't facts though so no it's not fact.

[Outside_ofthe_Box]

LOL you didn't apologize that the stream footage comparison was hogwash. Why should anyone apologize to you now? Remember when you said that GG lied about the the game being from the same build LOL?

To me both vids are of the same quality just assets moved around here and there in the retail version and the time of day being different in both vids. Again Youtube isn't the best to to judge if you truly want to use a magnifying glass to go into detail and see if there is a downgrade or not. Even direct feed footage on youtube have quality loss.

[guyman]

Solidifies how brilliant this game is when pathetic microsoft fanboys have to resort to scumbag trolling and damage control because they have no exclusives themselves to play. Sorry, move along Felicia

P.S. you're 100% wrong. BTW Horizon looks better than anything on xbox one. Lmao.

[joab777]

I don't think it's possible. What I am playing now on my TV in 4k looks better than the demo.

[rainslacker]

Might want to go into details about what you were right on before, and how this video somehow backs up your prior assertions before looking for apologies.

If you manage to do that, then get over it, because no one is going to apologize to you, because you are too much of a troll to even bother.

Sad you need to seek validation like that though. I'm often right about the things I say months in advance while everyone is bickering back and forth, but I never seek an apology, because I know that when the time comes, a lot of things I say end up being the same argument that those that disagree with me end up using.

[Yo Mama]

I think the footage on the right is from a standard PS4. When I play this, my PS4 Pro makes it look closer to the footage on the left.

[tigertron]

Upgrade or downgrade it's one of the best looking games ever made. I find myself pausing every few minutes to take screenshots.

[ROWDYMANE]

this is stupid

[shadowT]

Love Horizon. Already one of my favs of 2017.

[jc12]

Close, really close. But overall, I'd say the demo version appears a little less "muddy."

[TechnoGoat]

I wish someone could eternal sunshine my brain, so I could experience this game again for the first time.

[aConIsDemocracy]

A beautiful game. Turner and Constable would be envious i'm sure.

[windblowsagain]

Are both running on PS4 or Pro. Or both etc.

[mandingo]

the downgrade is real. so much more blurry in retail version

[Bathyj]

If youre being sarcastic and I didnt get it, I apologize, but you should make it more obvious. Use the /s, thats what its there for.

If youre not.....

Ha, you guys are hilarious. You realise youre watching a Youtube video right? Im playing it in 4k and blurry is not a word I would use. In fact the only time it looks blurry is when Im up til 5.00am playing all night and on my 8th beer. Im pretty sure thats just my eyes though, not the game.

Honestly, anyone claiming downgrade based on this video, go have a look at the game running on a PS4 and come back to me. If you havent seen that your opinion is irrelevant.

[Imalwaysright]

Lower res textures, much less vegetation, worse draw distance, less detail, worse lighting and no this isn't sarcasm so don't bother replying to me with that condescending attitude.

"You realise youre watching a Youtube video right"

Yeah youtube video side by side. If the retail version looks better by your logic the same should apply to the demo so what makes this comparison irrelevant? The differences are quite apparent to me and are easy for me to spot in this video so unless whoever made this video did it with an intention to mislead, I'm going to say downgrade but I'm also going to say that the game still looks fantastic which is what really matters and what GG tried to and managed to achieve with their game world.

[Bathyj]

Condescending?

Do you even know what that means?

[Imalwaysright]

Ah so your comment dismissing mandigo's comment as being sarcasm and not his honest opinion was sarcasm as well? And here I thought that you were being condescending.

[Bathyj]

I am being condescending. I'm talking down to you deliberately because your opinion is irrelevant. It's only irrelevant not because you're wrong, but because you're so adamant you know what you're talking about yet you clearly have no idea because you haven't played it.

I know this because no one who played it could call it blurry. It just isn't and the draw distances are amazing. From a high vantage point you can literally see landmarks that would take you ten minutes to run to.

And that's why you and your buddy are just stinking of desperation right now. You shouldn't act like you know something when you don't and worse yet, try so hard to convince others. It's just sad. . It's like a virgin giving me sex tips.

[rainslacker]

huh. Maybe don't reply to bathy with such a hypocritical attitude. You are much worse in Zelda articles with our condensation.

Me, I'm always condescending, because my arguments are better. I'm also very humble. So it evens out.

Bathy, this /s is for you.

Anyhow, Horizon isn't blurry. Not sure how you determined the resolution of the textures from these videos. Draw distance depends on the time of day, where you are, and what direction the camera is looking towards. PS4 crops a bit, but it's about the same as it was in the demo. The demo ran on the stock PS4, so not sure why you think they'd drop draw distance, but continue to make the image worse. That's silly considering the demo had a lot going on. Lighting is fine, but this video doesn't show it, because it takes place at a different time of day.

[Imalwaysright]

No I haven't played the game but that's the beauty of talking about graphics. You don't need to play the game to judge them because they don't fall into the subjective category unless you're talking about art style.

I don't like motion blur, I hate it because because it makes everything look like a blurry mess and sometimes it gives me headaches. I always turn it off in my PC games. It would be nice to have an option to turn it off in this game because Horizon has this hideous overuse of motion blur that makes it look blurry as hell when you're not standing still.

You find my opinion irrelevant? Great but don't think for one moment that you speak for everyone else.

@ rainslacker

"Not sure how you determined the resolution of the textures from these videos" just pausing the video right at the beggining and looking at the textures side by side. You can also tell how less detailed the retail version is.

"Draw distance depends on the time of day, where you are, and what direction the camera is looking towards"
Convenient that the draw distance is constantly better on the demo isn't it? BTW what time of the "day" it was in the demo and the retail version? I can't tell.

[guyman]

@iamalwayswrong @ mandigo

All these microsoft fanboys trying their best

Doing it for justice!!

[Imalwaysright]

Said the playstation fanboy.

[Nyxus]

Blurry... you clearly haven't played it. You're basing your judgement off a compressed Youtube video.

[mandingo]

Im just saying it looked better before

[guyman]

My question to you pathetic microsoft fanboys spamming this article your BS, is have you guys actually played Horizon?

I can answer that question for you lot. No, No you havent. Continue playing nothing.

[mandingo]

I have played it and I stand by my decision