Horizon Forbidden West includes new access options for those afraid of deep water.

Horizon Forbidden West includes new accessibility features, in part to make life easier for players with thalassophobia.

Horizon Forbidden West is a fantastic game. With improved gameplay and an even bigger story, the game is based on the vast world of Horizon Zero Dawn, introducing new environments to explore, including flooded areas and the ocean. At the same time, those who suffer from thalassophobia – the fear of deep waters – find it difficult to develop in these sectors. For such players today Guerrilla offers a very interesting accessibility option.

Horizon Forbidden West includes new accessibility features

Released alongside the Burning Shores expansion, this update adds Thalassophobia mode to Horizon Forbidden West. The studio explains in a FAQ that this mode “aims to alleviate the symptoms of thalassophobia by improving underwater visibility and allowing unrestricted breathing regardless of the storyline.”

Other additions include additional settings for color blindness and the ability to create waypoints and display larger quest icons. It is also possible to reorient the camera in focus mode to point it at the current target, as well as use the automatic function that follows Ela according to the direction of the left stick. In other words, you no longer need to use the right stick to move the camera.

In particular, to make life easier for players suffering from thalassophobia.

There are also larger subtitles and the ability to darken the edges of the screen to increase contrast. The update also introduces a very interesting option – automatic collection of items. This way, Aloy can restore items without having to press the button every time.

In recent years, Sony has been focusing on accessibility in its games. Games like The Last of Us Part II, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and God of War Ragnarok have plenty of options for this. The company isn’t making a perfect copy on the matter – The Last of Us Part I on PC, for example, doesn’t allow full key remapping – but this Horizon Forbidden West update, a year after launch, shows the company is determined to continue its momentum.

We hope you all enjoy your new adventure with Ela. If you have questions about Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores, check out some of our helpful resources below!

? FAQ: https://t.co/7QnUlseLxd
? Game support: https://t.co/f5iDCWsBBq pic.twitter.com/XsvxjZYvw9

— Guerrilla (@Guerrilla) April 18, 2023