Some tips and possible workaround on how I fixed most of the issues

[FFox]

I'll keep this simple, game clearly needs an update regarding performance. However here I'll list the things I've done to stabilize the frametimes and most of the lag spikes or stutters. Can't tell this will do it for you, I can only speak for myself.

-The main game executable:
HorizonForbiddenWest.exe > properties > Run in compatibility mode as Windows 8. In the same properties, check the "Disable Fullscreen Optimizations" box.

-External programs:
RTSS (RivaTuner aka FPS limiter), I personally tried both with it and without. No difference. Just make sure to not overlap them, if you have various frame limiters stick to just one.

If you have "ISLC" (Intelligent Standby List Cleaner) a little program to free some ram, if you have it make sure to add the main executable to the exclusion list, as it will constantly clear up the stand-by list everytime of how much RAM the game uses.

-Windows settings:
Pagefile management it is fully Automatic, managed by Windows on my both drives. I have the game on a HDD and once the shaders compiled it loads pretty fast NGL. Windows is smart on how it manages the system paging file, leave it AUTO.

-In game settings:
Use Fullscreen or Exclusive Fullscreen <- this one for the best results, set the refresh rate to your monitor setting. Or do 60 if you prefer absolute consistency or mid-range to low-range system.

Enable VSYNC. Yes this is lame, even for me with a FreeSync monitor but seriously, leave it enabled. Not like the difference is much on my case I can barely notice it.

Audio output: TV - because the others make the dialogue and rest of the game hard to listen. This too requires an update ASAP.

So far, these tweaks got me to a very solid experience despite the normal frame drops typical of the just released game which will be adressed soon I hope.

[𝔗𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔲𝔰 𝔄𝔠𝔱𝔲𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔰]

Originally posted by FFox:

-The main game executable:
HorizonForbiddenWest.exe > properties > Run in compatibility mode as Windows 8. In the same properties, check the "Disable Fullscreen Optimizations" box.

Any explanation on this? I keep seeing this "fix" everywehere,but so far it did nothing in any games on my pc

[FFox]

Originally posted by 𝔗𝔥𝔦𝔫𝔤𝔲𝔰 𝔄𝔠𝔱𝔲𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔰:

Originally posted by FFox:

-The main game executable:
HorizonForbiddenWest.exe > properties > Run in compatibility mode as Windows 8. In the same properties, check the "Disable Fullscreen Optimizations" box.

Any explanation on this? I keep seeing this "fix" everywehere,but so far it did nothing in any games on my pc

Can't tell exactly what it does but I didnt lose anything on trying, I've put it like that so far and I'll leave it like that. Rest of my games I didn't do anything. If it works, it works. This is all my personal experience.

[BloodyVikings!]

"game clearly needs an update regarding performance"

What are your specs? Usually comments like that are made by people with old hardware, in other words it's just people telling themselves that the game is the fault when in fact it's their computers that need to be upgraded,

I have everything maxed in 4k with no upscaling and no dynamic resolution and I get 100+ FPS all the time. And my CPU is in my opinion really old now. It's an i9-10900k and the GPU is a 7900 XTX. I have 64 GB RAM and the game is installed on an NVMe. If you have anything older than that I wouldn't fault the game for the "bad performance". It's you machine that is old. On the other hand, if you're on a 4090 and am getting low frame rates I can understand your complaint about the performance.

[FFox]

I would award you with the clown prize but I appreciate my points too much.

[goran_rayman]

Originally posted by BloodyVikings!:

"game clearly needs an update regarding performance"

What are your specs? Usually comments like that are made by people with old hardware, in other words it's just people telling themselves that the game is the fault when in fact it's their computers that need to be upgraded,

I have everything maxed in 4k with no upscaling and no dynamic resolution and I get 100+ FPS all the time. And my CPU is in my opinion really old now. It's an i9-10900k and the GPU is a 7900 XTX. I have 64 GB RAM and the game is installed on an NVMe. If you have anything older than that I wouldn't fault the game for the "bad performance". It's you machine that is old. On the other hand, if you're on a 4090 and am getting low frame rates I can understand your complaint about the performance.

Well it's pretty normal that yours run well considering your rig, but let's be real, it's pretty sad to see that almost all games which were released after Covid seems soooo poorly optimized to run on "decent" rigs.

[BloodyVikings!]

Originally posted by goran_rayman:

Originally posted by BloodyVikings!:

"game clearly needs an update regarding performance"

What are your specs? Usually comments like that are made by people with old hardware, in other words it's just people telling themselves that the game is the fault when in fact it's their computers that need to be upgraded,

I have everything maxed in 4k with no upscaling and no dynamic resolution and I get 100+ FPS all the time. And my CPU is in my opinion really old now. It's an i9-10900k and the GPU is a 7900 XTX. I have 64 GB RAM and the game is installed on an NVMe. If you have anything older than that I wouldn't fault the game for the "bad performance". It's you machine that is old. On the other hand, if you're on a 4090 and am getting low frame rates I can understand your complaint about the performance.

Well it's pretty normal that yours run well considering your rig, but let's be real, it's pretty sad to see that almost all games which were released after Covid seems soooo poorly optimized to run on "decent" rigs.

Maybe it's just me but my rig is pretty mid IMO. If there are three levels per teir, so low-, mid- and high low-teir. Then low-, mid- and high mid-tier, etc. Then my rig is probably around high mid-tier to low high-tier because my CPU is old and my RAM is just DDR4 at 3600 MHz.

I know there are devs out there who lately rely on hardware brute forcing the performance but I also know a lot of people jump on the blaming-game when it's their hardware that is old. New hardware get released because games get more demanding. If you can't or don't want to keep up then you will fall behind. It's always been like that.

[goran_rayman]

Originally posted by BloodyVikings!:

Maybe it's just me but my rig is pretty mid IMO. If there are three levels per teir, so low-, mid- and high low-teir. Then low-, mid- and high mid-tier, etc. Then my rig is probably around high mid-tier to low high-tier because my CPU is old and my RAM is just DDR4 at 3600 MHz.

I know there are devs out there who lately rely on hardware brute forcing the performance but I also know a lot of people jump on the blaming-game when it's their hardware that is old. New hardware get released because games get more demanding. If you can't or don't want to keep up then you will fall behind. It's always been like that.

If I were a game company, I would make sure that a larger range of players could buy and play my games to make more profit, but it's up to them I guess.

And well, that post is not really about a false complaining, but a fix to a real problem. So all is good!