Guerrilla Games has released a new PC patch for Horizon Zero Dawn that adds support for both NVIDIA’s DLSS and AMD’s FSR techs. In addition, Update 1.11 brings some improvements to the shader management system.
Going into more details, the game will no longer have a shader pre-compilation step on startup. Furthermore, there are now fewer stutters during gameplay. Not only that, the loading screens will typically be shorter on high-end CPUs.
As always, Steam will download this update the next time you launch its client. Below you can also find its complete changelog.
Horizon Zero Dawn Patch 1.11 Release Notes
Graphical Improvements
- Added Nvidia’s DLSS upscaling technology.
- Added AMD’s FidelityFX Super Resolution, replacing FidelityFX CAS.
UI Changes
- Adjusted settings screen to facilitate the addition of DLSS and FSR.
- Render Scale option has been removed but same result can now be accomplished by adjusting setting Upscale Method to Simple and adjusting Upscale Quality.
Performance Improvements
- Improvement to the shader management system. This will result in a few noticeable differences:
- There is no longer a shader pre-compilation step on startup. The game will always compile shaders during loading and in the background.
- Stutters during gameplay that used to occur due to background shader compilation have now been significantly reduced.
- Because shader compilation is still happening in the background you may notice the game having a higher CPU utilization while that is happening.
- Loading screens will wait for the required shaders to be fully compiled. This may cause loading screens to take somewhat longer on certain systems.
- On higher spec machines with faster CPUs the loading screens will typically be shorter, due to more efficient shader compilation that better leverages high-end CPUs.

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I’ve tried this FSR on Hellblade and gotta say, it DESTROYS the graphics! When enabled it adds some film grain like texture to the game, and it’s horrendous. Didn’t even play enough to see how it would be performance wise, cause that shlt was too fvcking ugly.
Not at all.
FSR on Ultra Quality looks better than native
FSR on Quality looks just about as native and the sharpening filter helps a lot. It doesn’t destroy anything.
ignore this idiot , I have a gaming laptop and desktop both with Nvidia cards but I admit Amd FSR is really great for people with older gpu’s and it looks great specially on laptops 15-17 inch screen ultra quality and quality FSR both look awesome even using it on 1080p .I thought my laptop with gtx980m is not up to par but with tech like amd FSR thanks to amd these gpus can also offer very good gaming experience on a laptops.
Maybe I did something wrong?
It “pixelates” the image, really, it svcks! I’ll try again on another game and see what happens, cause I’ve already finished that one.
Will see it on the new Halo.
Disable film grain for Hellblade in ini? That’s what I did anyway.
That’s a nice one. Cause I don’t remember if that option was available in game, and if it was, I’ve surely disabled it pronto. I hate film grain!
Definitely not in game, unfortunately. Only in ini.
Nice. Thank you, mate.
Don’t know wtf are you barking , I have an old laptop with gtx980m and hellblade looks awesome in ultra quality FSR , I even tried it on my main desktop gaming rig and at 1440p ultra quality it was also looking good . Seems like people like you just want to throw hate on amd for no reason . Both of my gpus are nvidia but still I am not a fan boy like you
“Both of my gpus are nvidia”
So shut your wh0re mouth, then!
I’m not payed by these mf to market their brands, I tell what I see in front of me.
You had another experience? Good for you, but don’t try and assume I’m lying just because you’re too dumb to understand different rigs bring different outcomes.
Moron!
“There is no longer a shader pre-compilation step on startup. The game will always compile shaders during loading and in the background.”
big change
Excellent post launch support by the team!
you forgot the part that you bought it from the Epic Store.
Nice, this game is pretty demanding. DLSS is a big help.
Now if only:
1) AF would work at all times and not break or not work if tweaked in-game
2) If AO would actually look like in the Options Menu and not DISAPPEAR when set above Original
3) If Texture Option would change so that changes above Original don’t just add a sharpening filter across the entire game
4) If Shadows would have higher LODs and not just higher resolution than console.
Here is a quick comparison I made between FSR and DLSS: https://www.pcmrace.com/2021/12/08/horizon-zero-dawn-imagenes-comparativas-4k-nativo-vs-dlss-vs-fsr/
No Habla Espagnol …
My GTX980m 8gb gpu acts like a base ps4 running this game xD
Finally. This game sorely needed good anti-aliasing on PC.