Following Horizon Forbidden West’s PC release in March, Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut made its way to the platform on May 16th. This open-world game, meticulously ported by Nixxes Software, not only retains all content from the console version but also introduces new combat mechanics and undergoes optimization specifically for PC, allowing players to delve deeper into Japan’s Sengoku era and embrace the honor and duty of samurais. Nixxes’ expertise in porting ensures that PC gamers can fully appreciate Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut’s allure and enjoy an unparalleled gaming experience. Similar to recent PlayStation-to-PC ports, the PC edition supports NVIDIA DLSS 3, DLAA, and Reflex technologies, enhancing gameplay for those using Gainward GeForce RTX 40 SUPER series graphics cards.
Powerful Performance, Breathtaking Island Scenery
The PC version of Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut surpasses its PS counterpart visually, benefiting from the superior power of PC hardware. Not only does it unlock frame rates, but it also enhances details. From vegetation to foreground objects and distant landscapes, every aspect appears more intricate and lifelike, recreating the island’s natural beauty in stunning detail.
With high-resolution textures and improved lighting effects, the game showcases heightened realism in scene details. Whether it’s the texture of leaves, the ruggedness of rocks, or the intricacy of character costumes, everything exudes a heightened sense of authenticity, immersing players in a virtually tangible version of Tsushima Island.
New Storyline, Innovative Combat Mechanics
Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut adds the new “Iki Island Chapter,” which delves into the protagonist Jin Sakai’s exploration of Iki Island and his confrontation with past traumas. This additional chapter enriches the story content and deepens Jin’s character development, offering players a more profound understanding of his inner world and growth.
The PC version introduces new combat mechanics, including horse charges and enemy locking. Horse charges enable more agile movement in battle and powerful attacks, while enemy locking focuses player attention on single targets for precise strikes. These additions broaden combat strategies, enhancing both fluidity and intensity.
Optimized Experience, Immersive Feudal Japan
Targeting the best gaming experience, the PC version improves performance, enhances graphical details, reduces loading times, and refines controller vibration feedback. It also introduces exclusive PC features, such as full support for ultrawide monitors for a more immersive visual experience, and partial compatibility with DualSense controllers, although not fully utilizing all its features, still offering a more satisfying gaming experience with the controller.
Additionally, logging into a PlayStation Network account is required when starting multiplayer modes, which might inconvenience some players, but enables seamless synchronization of game progress with PS accounts for trophy enthusiasts. Altogether, these enhancements and optimizations provide PC gamers with a top-notch Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut experience.
Hands-On Testing
To assess the game’s performance across different hardware configurations, we tested it using Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER Snowstorm Mini and Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER Windforce OC graphics cards. Given the game’s relatively low system requirements, tests were conducted at maximum graphical settings, covering 1080p and 2K resolutions. DLSS 3 technology was enabled and disabled to observe its impact on frame rates. Through this process, we aimed to evaluate DLSS 3’s effectiveness in boosting game performance. Furthermore, we present in-game screenshots comparing DLSS 3 on and off to illustrate its influence on visuals.
Frame Rate Tests
1080p
In 1080p resolution, Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut demonstrates excellent optimization. Both test GPUs deliver smooth gameplay even without DLSS, averaging over 120 frames per second (fps). Enabling DLSS 3, performance increases significantly. With DLSS 3 in Performance Mode, Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER Snowstorm Mini averages 188.43 fps, while Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER Windforce OC surpasses 200 fps. Even in other modes, both cards maintain over 150 fps, representing a 138% and 142% average boost compared to without DLSS 3. This performance ensures a buttery-smooth gaming experience alongside stunning visuals.
2K
At 2K resolution, tests show that the game remains playable without DLSS, with the lower-end Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER Snowstorm Mini averaging 90.08 fps. Activating DLSS 3, performance surges for both cards: Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 SUPER Snowstorm Mini sees a 174% increase, and Gainward GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER Windforce OC sees a 178% increase. This indicates that with DLSS 3, the game remains silky smooth at 2K as well.
DLSS Visual Comparisons
Next, we compare the visual quality with DLSS on and off through real-time in-game footage.
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