Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Will Feature More NPCs On PS5

We previously touched on the various enhancements that Guerrilla Games and Nixxes are introducing in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. While we noted the increase in dialogue and motion-capture recordings, specifics were sparse. However, a recent post on the PlayStation blog provided deeper insights into the upgrades, highlighting the teams’ efforts to create a more vibrant world.

According to Nixxes’ senior technical game designer Brian van Nunen, one significant change involved increasing the number of NPCs inhabiting villages, cities, and outposts, thanks to the enhanced capabilities of the PlayStation 5. Not only are there more characters present, but they also possess more varied routines and exhibit more realistic movement patterns.

“Building the game for PS5 enabled us to utilize the additional memory, allowing us to greatly increase the number of non-player characters,” van Nunen explained. “We created numerous spots for NPCs to stand, sit, and engage in activities. Their schedules were diversified to enhance movement and make different areas feel livelier. We also aimed to creatively employ existing animations.”

One of the notable advancements seen in the transition from the original Zero Dawn to its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, was how the developers made use of PS5’s capabilities compared to the PS4. This led to a busier environment, with NPCs bustling about and interacting in ways that would affect Aloy’s exploration. As open-world titles continue to expand, these details play a critical role, making the effort to revamp Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered commendable.

To enhance NPC realism further, Nixxes adjusted “skin tones, hair quality, and clothing,” incorporating elements seen in Forbidden West. This also includes improvements made to Aloy, who now showcases more detailed facial features.

Mark Bazelmans, a senior technical artist at Nixxes, elaborated on the extensive amount of new dialogue and motion-capture work that was undertaken. Over 10 hours of new motion-capture footage were recorded by Guerrilla, resulting in around 2,500 new files for Nixxes to refine. Bazelmans mentioned the development of a Python tool specifically for processing and replacing the original files.

“The tool linked characters and imported the dialogue audio, allowing animators to better synchronize movements and create camera angles,” Bazelmans described. Animator Alexander Georgiev noted challenges in aligning characters’ proportions with their environments.

“We created small, automated scripts to correct any clipping issues with shoulders and arms. All these tools enabled animators to focus more on enhancing character performances to align with their dialogue,” Georgiev stated.

The blog post delves into various improvements made to environments, textures, lighting, and foliage among others, making it worth a read if you’re intrigued by these technical advancements.

Originally announced during the September 2024 State of Play, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is scheduled for release on PS5 and PC on October 31.