Horizon Forbidden West is an action role-playing game developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was originally released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, but has now been launched for Windows PC users. However, some players have reported experiencing low FPS drops during gameplay on their PCs, which has hindered their overall experience.
If you are facing frame rate drops and stutters while playing Horizon Forbidden West on your PC, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take to improve the game’s performance and resolve this issue. It is essential to follow the guide carefully and thoroughly to guarantee a seamless gaming experience.
Fix Horizon Forbidden West Low FPS Drops on PC | Increase Performance
We have provided a list of possible solutions below, which should come in handy for you. Please try each method until the issue is resolved. So, let’s get started without any further delay.
1. Check System Requirements
It’s possible that the problems you are facing with the game might be due to compatibility issues with your PC’s specifications. Before drawing any conclusions, we suggest that you carefully check the game’s system requirements and compare them with your PC’s specs. To assist you, we have listed the minimum and recommended system requirements for this title below.
Minimum System Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher)
- Processor: Intel Core i3-8100 or AMD Ryzen 3 1300X
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 4GB or AMD Radeon RX 5500XT 4GB
- Storage: 150 GB available space
- Additional Notes: 150GB SSD Space
Recommended System Requirements:
- OS: Windows 10 64-bit (version 1909 or higher)
- Processor: Intel Core i5-8600 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 or AMD Radeon RX 5700
- Storage: 150 GB available space
- Additional Notes: 150GB SSD Space
2. Update Graphics Drivers
It’s recommended to check out graphics driver updates on your PC so games and other graphics-intensive programs can run properly. To do so:
- Right-click on the Start Menu to open up the Quick Access Menu.
- Click on Device Manager from the list.
- Now, double-click on the Display Adapters category to expand the list.
- Then, right-click on the dedicated graphics card name.
- Select Update driver > Choose Search automatically for drivers.
- An update will automatically download and install the latest version if available.
- Once done, make sure to reboot your computer to change the effects.
If you’re experiencing problems with your graphics driver, you may need to update it manually by downloading the most recent version from your graphics card manufacturer’s official website. For Nvidia graphics card users, you can update the GeForce Experience app from their official site. However, if you’re using an AMD graphics card, you can visit the AMD website to download the latest driver version.
3. Switch Between Display Modes
You can change the display modes of the game directly from the in-game settings menu. This includes options such as fullscreen borderless and windowed bordered. This feature is helpful in optimizing the game’s performance based on your screen resolution and PC specifications. It is definitely worth trying as many players have found it to be beneficial.
4. Run the game as an administrator
To avoid user account control-related privilege issues, you should run the Horizon Forbidden West executable game file as an administrator. To do this:
- Right-click on the Horizon Forbidden West exe shortcut file on your PC.
- Now, select Properties > Click on the Compatibility tab.
- Make sure to click on the Run this program as an administrator checkbox to checkmark it.
- Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.
5. Close Background Running Tasks
Sometimes, unnecessary background running tasks or programs can consume more CPU or Memory resources on the system, which may cause crashes, lags, stutters, FPS drops, etc. To do that:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc keys to open up the Task Manager.
- Now, click on the Processes tab > to select tasks that are unnecessarily running in the background and consuming enough system resources.
- Click on End Task to close it > Do the same steps for all unnecessary tasks.
- Once done, restart your system to apply changes.
6. Stop Background Downloads
The chances are high that you’re trying to download or install other game updates simultaneously, whatever client you’re using. It’s better to pause or stop other background downloads while launching and playing Horizon Forbidden West, the game on the client. Once you finish your gameplay, you can continue downloading games or installing patch updates.
7. Switch to Auto Settings in Video
If you haven’t succeeded in fixing the frame drop issue, then make sure to switch to auto settings in video mode by following the steps below.
- Press the Esc button on your keyboard in the gameplay.
- Now, go to the in-game Settings menu > Click on Video.
- Select Auto Settings > Resume the gameplay to cross-check whether the frame drops or lags still appear.
- If the in-game lag or frame drops remain, select All and try lowering the video settings from the game menu.
8. Set High Performance in Power Options
If, in case, your Windows system is running on the Balanced mode in Power Options, the system and hardware aren’t running to their full potential. You can set the High-Performance mode for intense gameplay for better results. However, the high-performance mode will consume higher battery usage if you use a laptop. To do this:
- Click on the Start Menu > Type Control Panel and click on it from the search result.
- Now, go to Hardware and Sound > Select Power Options.
- Click on High Performance to select it.
- Make sure to close the window and fully shut down your computer. To do this, click on the Start Menu > Go to Power > Shut Down.
- Once your computer is turned off, you can power it on again.
9. Contact Horizon Forbidden West Support
If none of the methods worked for you, contact Horizon Forbidden West’s Support for further help.
That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.