Horizons Is Horizons just not worth it?(Will all Horizon content just be blocked for me?)

[shogunomi]

So I bought Horizons now when the new updates will arrive this fall. I was excited and I forgot all about system reqs because I am able to play Elite dangerous just fine after all.

But now after buying Horizons and spending an eternity updating it after taking a break from ED. But after finishing updating I arrive at... a message saying my computer cannot play Horizons and it seemingly reverts back to normal ED but with the Horizon BG.

That would be because of my graphics card. A GTS 250. Now I am buying a new card in the future but I cannot help but feel like something feels rather messed up would additional content also be blocked for me since it is Horizons content?

I mean, planetary landings and engineers. Sure I miss out on something but nothing that bothers me as much as missing out on fighter bays, player crews and commander customization.

I looked around and didn't find threads/posts similar to this. But I am sure others might have asked this before then I would want to remove this after being directed to posts/topics where this has been brought up rather than start a new thread.

Still. Did I buy Horizons just so it could block all of its content due to my card that works for ED? It feels like a pretty disgusting thing to face, that the content would be blocked in this way.

 

[Agony_Aunt]

Ouch, that card is a bit on the weaksauce side for Horizons. Not surprising it says it can't run it.

You should probably have paid more attention to the system requirements for Horizons.

Minimum PC specifications:

OS: Windows 7/8/10 64-bit
Processor: Quad Core CPU (4 x 2Ghz)
Memory: 6 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 470 / ATI 7240HD (DirectX 11 functionality required)
Network Broadband Internet Connection
Hard Drive: 8 GB available space

Recommended PC specifications:

OS: Windows 7/8/10 64-bit
Processor: Intel Core i7-3770K Quad Core CPU or better / AMD FX 4350 Quad Core CPU or better
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Graphics: Nvidia GTX 770 / AMD Radeon R9 280X or better
Network Broadband Internet Connection
Hard Drive: 8 GB available space

If you are not likely to meet the requirements any time soon, contact FD support

https://support.frontier.co.uk/kb/

And ask them if they will refund you.

(Assuming you bought direct from FD, otherwise contact the channel you purchased through, eg: Steam)

 

[shogunomi]

Mm, that is an option but first I will look for answers regarding the contents of Horizon and if all of it will be blocked which I now assume it will or if they somehow can enlighten me to as why not making it so just planets landing content is restricted rather than all of horizons (would it be so that all content would be disabled due to my card).

And as for Horizons and refunding. I will probably buy a new card at the end of the next month and I can still play ED normally.

I might have repeated myself but it feels silly that fighter bays and such would be disabled when it is mostly the planetary landings content that screws me over for all that I know. So I will wait a bit longer but I would just want to know if I am up for some content or if I will work for a new card next month.
Thanks for replying though Agony_Aunt.

 

[sndle9]

If you cannot launch the Horizons version of the game from the launcher, all horizons content will be blocked. Just use the base game until you get a new card.

 

[m0rl0ck]

So I bought Horizons now when the new updates will arrive this fall. I was excited and I forgot all about system reqs because I am able to play Elite dangerous just fine after all.

But now after buying Horizons and spending an eternity updating it after taking a break from ED. But after finishing updating I arrive at... a message saying my computer cannot play Horizons and it seemingly reverts back to normal ED but with the Horizon BG.

That would be because of my graphics card. A GTS 250. Now I am buying a new card in the future but I cannot help but feel like something feels rather messed up would additional content also be blocked for me since it is Horizons content?

I mean, planetary landings and engineers. Sure I miss out on something but nothing that bothers me as much as missing out on fighter bays, player crews and commander customization.

I looked around and didn't find threads/posts similar to this. But I am sure others might have asked this before then I would want to remove this after being directed to posts/topics where this has been brought up rather than start a new thread.

Still. Did I buy Horizons just so it could block all of its content due to my card that works for ED? It feels like a pretty disgusting thing to face, that the content would be blocked in this way.

I just emailed support asking for a refund for Horizons. The Engineers pretty much killed any chance at a balanced game and have no place in a space sim. Get a refund while you can and stick with the base game.
Planetary landings are really cool, but not worth having to endure what the engineers did to the game. Get out now before you invest any more time and money.

 

[EzeThieL]

So I bought Horizons now when the new updates will arrive this fall. I was excited and I forgot all about system reqs because I am able to play Elite dangerous just fine after all.

But now after buying Horizons and spending an eternity updating it after taking a break from ED. But after finishing updating I arrive at... a message saying my computer cannot play Horizons and it seemingly reverts back to normal ED but with the Horizon BG.

That would be because of my graphics card. A GTS 250. Now I am buying a new card in the future but I cannot help but feel like something feels rather messed up would additional content also be blocked for me since it is Horizons content?

I mean, planetary landings and engineers. Sure I miss out on something but nothing that bothers me as much as missing out on fighter bays, player crews and commander customization.

I looked around and didn't find threads/posts similar to this. But I am sure others might have asked this before then I would want to remove this after being directed to posts/topics where this has been brought up rather than start a new thread.

Still. Did I buy Horizons just so it could block all of its content due to my card that works for ED? It feels like a pretty disgusting thing to face, that the content would be blocked in this way.

I'll say keep the Horizons as you said you will get a better card, which is the best option whatever you play. As I said in some other treads, engineers are okeyish and planetary landing could lead to much fun if you like exploring and searching for some rocks or nice views. I didn't landed on any planet for some time except those where I had to haul something from a mission, but using a SRV isn't giving me any fun anymore as you don't have spare fuel for the SRV on the ship and you need some magic rocks to make fuel for them. Some are ok with it, others aren't so until you play yourself you will never know if it sticks to your head. As for engineers, the biggest problem is the lack of personal storage at their base or anywhere and you have to spend so much time grinding for the materials needed. I stopped doing this also but, who knows, you will be ok with this. Also, take note as you might need some more different things in that computer for a smooth ride, like the proc or ram...

I just emailed support asking for a refund for Horizons. The Engineers pretty much killed any chance at a balanced game and have no place in a space sim. Get a refund while you can and stick with the base game.
Planetary landings are really cool, but not worth having to endure what the engineers did to the game. Get out now before you invest any more time and money.

Lack of content in your answer dude. From what point of view or what game standard engineers don't have a place in a space sim? I mean, what is wrong with them? Engineers could never work in space? Giving you access to some upgrades for your ship? What is wrong with that? And how can landing on a planet could not be worth it because of the engineers? Somehow in your game an engineer spammed your inbox to death with the invites to his station while you tried to land and you crashed trying to delete all of them? Or somehow engineers hacked your ship and couldn't land? Or because they didn't offered the easy way of getting upgrades without work? This could be yes. The game is ruined by different and more important, illogical things and surely not from engineers.

 

[Soopyyy]

He's just too lazy to go and get the engineered items...

 

[bitstorm]

Did I buy Horizons just so it could block all of its content due to my card that works for ED? It feels like a pretty disgusting thing to face, that the content would be blocked in this way.

Only Frontier know for sure but I assume you won't have access.

Specifically I believe because Horizons is a separate executable, it's not just some flags on a server that enable/disable content that sits on everyone's machine. Literally the content only exists in the Horizons install, and well if it won't let you run it I don't think you'll see any of it.

Contact support.

 

[Soopyyy]

So I bought Horizons now when the new updates will arrive this fall. I was excited and I forgot all about system reqs because I am able to play Elite dangerous just fine after all.

But now after buying Horizons and spending an eternity updating it after taking a break from ED. But after finishing updating I arrive at... a message saying my computer cannot play Horizons and it seemingly reverts back to normal ED but with the Horizon BG.

That would be because of my graphics card. A GTS 250. Now I am buying a new card in the future but I cannot help but feel like something feels rather messed up would additional content also be blocked for me since it is Horizons content?

I mean, planetary landings and engineers. Sure I miss out on something but nothing that bothers me as much as missing out on fighter bays, player crews and commander customization.

I looked around and didn't find threads/posts similar to this. But I am sure others might have asked this before then I would want to remove this after being directed to posts/topics where this has been brought up rather than start a new thread.

Still. Did I buy Horizons just so it could block all of its content due to my card that works for ED? It feels like a pretty disgusting thing to face, that the content would be blocked in this way.

Who would have thought, content of an expansion is exclusive to that expansion...

 

[Nuvey]

I bought Elite: Dangerous for my 10yr old Xbox, and it isn't working on my PC? This is obviously FDev's fault, and I expect it to be fixed in short order or I will get quite distraught.

 

[shogunomi]

The funny thing is that my computer has everything a modern (well it would have been modern a few years ago atleast) gaming computer would want except for the graphics card so I pretty much choked on funds for the card in the end. I found myself able to grind from time to time and like everything else I will without a doubt do the horizons stuff until... I tried it all and gotten bored with it. But I do like grinding so that works fine.

Thanks for your answer.

And I will contact support since what Bitstorm said sounds like the most possible scenario I am facing regarding the horizons content.

 

[shogunomi]

Who would have thought, content of an expansion is exclusive to that expansion...

"Who would have thought, content of an expansion that I own and its exclusive content is unavailable to me since I cannot run the expansion but I can run the base game and the only difference worth mentioning is being able to land on planets"

What you say is not wrong but I cannot help but feel like you wanted to tell me something else perhaps other than just that?
Because in my head all I can see is that I will not be able to customize my commander... Because I cannot land on planets.
I will not be able to have fighters and fighterbays on my ships... Because I cannot land on planets.
I will not be able to form crews with my friends... because I cannot land on planets.
So my graphics card does not tackle planetary landings. And that causes me to lose out on all of Horizons which is not supposed to be restricted to planetary landings. So I guess since I am getting a new card I can just forget all about this but this is still silly to lose all the coming content because of the planetary landing.

So I might have to say that I wished for them to make Horizons so convenient that it blocks planetary landing but allows access to all post 2.1 update contents.

But in a way that doesn't sound like a stupid thing after all.

 

[shogunomi]

I bought Elite: Dangerous for my 10yr old Xbox, and it isn't working on my PC? This is obviously FDev's fault, and I expect it to be fixed in short order or I will get quite distraught.

Have you tried turning it off and on? Usually fixes all those problems I heard.

But yeah, then again blaming FDevs might be a better option. So lets go with that then.

 

[Mercury7]

Just get a cheap graphics card. $100 card should be enough to run Horizons (make sure it has 2 Gb of VRAM). I guess they are actually enforcing the minimum hardware requirement.

 

[MickyG1982]

Just get a cheap graphics card. $100 card should be enough to run Horizons (make sure it has 2 Gb of VRAM). I guess they are actually enforcing the minimum hardware requirement.

It's not a case of them enforcing the limit as much as it is the OP's card not supporting the required DirectX version (Horizons requires DX11, his card supports DX10) hence why the game won't run.

 

[Alex Brentnall]

It's not a case of them enforcing the limit as much as it is the OP's card not supporting the required DirectX version (Horizons requires DX11, his card supports DX10) hence why the game won't run.

I just came here to say that.
It's the same with the Open GL and Mac which is why the poor Apple users don't have the chance of getting Horizons for seemingly a while.

Yes it sucks that the hardware requirements prevent you from getting some of the updates but this game is planned to be updated for several years to come and frankly if the specs don't increase over those years its going to feel underwhelming graphically fairly quickly. Unlike other games say Skyrim or Borderlands which have a base graphics level and release all DLC and updates within 6-9 months this game is looking more on the 6-9 years of updates <- assuming all goes well. Hopefully this explains why.
Towards the end even on my rig (in signature) I expect to have to update. Probably not too much but I need a better graphics card for VR which I want next year. I may also need more ram or a better processor to keep up with the game required specs. Currently I'm cruising with an excess of pc power but in say 7 years everything will have changed.

As for the "bits of updates". You still get core features on the main game, for example you'll get passenger missions and the station interior changes etc. But since Engineers requires planet landings, Landing for horizons (obviously) also requires it you wouldn't be able to use the 2 headline features so far anyway.
If I read it correctly (yes this last bit is speculation) then ship launched fighters is the first bit you could use but won't be able to.

In short if you plan to get a new card say by December then you'll miss out on that content for around 1-2 months which is no big deal in the Elite universe. If you are looking mid of next year then yeah you'll miss out on some 2.2 and 2.3 content you theoretically could use.

tl: dr - Its a sucky system but it's very much needed to keep the game graphically up to date over it's lifetime.


Edit: As for refund from support. I'd look at when you plan to get a card and what you bought Horizons for. If you feel like the price of Horizons may drop by the time you have a card then I'd get a refund and wait for your new card. If you got Horizons in a sale or don't think it will move it depends on how long you'll be waiting. It may be simpler just to leave it inactive if you are only waiting a short while for the new card.

 

[shogunomi]

Indeed, which is why I kinda feel thankful for them not going as far as making normal ED require Dx11 out of the blue as part of the Horizons expansion suddenly being bunched up with ED just locked behind a purchase. So I can still grind away for Fed Corvette and work towards Empire ranks but still. Shame that Planets/(My current card) causes me to loose out on Horizons until I can get the 1060 from Nvidia.

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Yeah, that would be smarter. I like ED for what it is and can indeed wait a few months. I did in fact upgrade all the things in my computer except for the card which I would buy later (Though at the time I didn't think I would wait this long after seeing Nvidias 1060). And I didn't think of passenger and station interior is fine for me while I wait for a new card. But for now I will transport people in my cargo hold I guess and hopefully not get noticed by security whilst I do so.
Thanks for replying Alex!

 

[EzeThieL]

Indeed, which is why I kinda feel thankful for them not going as far as making normal ED require Dx11 out of the blue as part of the Horizons expansion suddenly being bunched up with ED just locked behind a purchase. So I can still grind away for Fed Corvette and work towards Empire ranks but still. Shame that Planets/(My current card) causes me to loose out on Horizons until I can get the 1060 from Nvidia.

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Yeah, that would be smarter. I like ED for what it is and can indeed wait a few months. I did in fact upgrade all the things in my computer except for the card which I would buy later (Though at the time I didn't think I would wait this long after seeing Nvidias 1060). And I didn't think of passenger and station interior is fine for me while I wait for a new card. But for now I will transport people in my cargo hold I guess and hopefully not get noticed by security whilst I do so.
Thanks for replying Alex!

Whatever you play, an new video card is most welcome for an gamer. If it's ED or Skyrim or Arma 3 or whatever, a new card for the said gamer is like a new girlfriend With the fear of starting some kind of video cards war here which I don't want, I sincerely advice to take a closer look at RX 480 also. Have fun with your purchase

 

[Red Anders]

Still. Did I buy Horizons just so it could block all of its content due to my card that works for ED? It feels like a pretty disgusting thing to face, that the content would be blocked in this way.

I can understand why you'd be disappointed and certainly hope that you get your refund so please don't think I'm trolling here, but I'm not sure 'disgusting' is the word I'd use to describe the fact that your eight year old graphics chipset can't handle Horizons.

My own card is old by the standards of the hardware a lot of players use for the game (GeForce 660Ti) and the only time I ever notice it is in a framerate drop when flying close to two or more planetary bodies which are close to each other. The game is actually very well optimised for low-end hardware but to be honest I wouldn't have had any expectation at all that content being released in 2016 would still cater for a system with graphics hardware as low-end as yours is.

As for the crux of your question though, it's really not as simple as just locking out content within a release based on your hardware. They set the minimum specs for the content that will be developed for the season pass and then develop to that benchmark. You're making an assumption that just because fighter bays are 'in space' content rather than planetside you would be able to use them but it's an assumption based on a false premise that all 'in space' content will continue to only require a card at the standard of the one you have. There's no graceful way for a game to lock out aspects of an integrated set of updates such as fighter bays and planetary landings on-the-fly based on your hardware, which is exactly why minimum hardware standards are used to begin with.

I'm actually amazed that the minimum spec is as low as a 470.

Have you considered just grabbing a cheap second hand card as an interim measure? I mean you're going to have to do some updating anyway assuming that your 250 system has other gear from around the same era because your PSU would likely explode if you just stick a 1060 into it as it is. As I said I can play the game fine using a 660Ti and you can pick those up for £30 or less on eBay. You can also buy a new low-end 700 series for the same kind of money. It's obviously not a long-term solution (I'll be upgrading myself very soon) but it would at least let you play the content you want to play until you get your PC fully updated.

 

[shogunomi]

I can understand why you'd be disappointed and certainly hope that you get your refund so please don't think I'm trolling here, but I'm not sure 'disgusting' is the word I'd use to describe the fact that your eight year old graphics chipset can't handle Horizons.

My own card is old by the standards of the hardware a lot of players use for the game (GeForce 660Ti) and the only time I ever notice it is in a framerate drop when flying close to two or more planetary bodies which are close to each other. The game is actually very well optimised for low-end hardware but to be honest I wouldn't have had any expectation at all that content being released in 2016 would still cater for a system with graphics hardware as low-end as yours is.

As for the crux of your question though, it's really not as simple as just locking out content within a release based on your hardware. They set the minimum specs for the content that will be developed for the season pass and then develop to that benchmark. You're making an assumption that just because fighter bays are 'in space' content rather than planetside you would be able to use them but it's an assumption based on a false premise that all 'in space' content will continue to only require a card at the standard of the one you have. There's no graceful way for a game to lock out aspects of an integrated set of updates such as fighter bays and planetary landings on-the-fly based on your hardware, which is exactly why minimum hardware standards are used to begin with.

I'm actually amazed that the minimum spec is as low as a 470.

Have you considered just grabbing a cheap second hand card as an interim measure? I mean you're going to have to do some updating anyway assuming that your 250 system has other gear from around the same era because your PSU would likely explode if you just stick a 1060 into it as it is. As I said I can play the game fine using a 660Ti and you can pick those up for £30 or less on eBay. You can also buy a new low-end 700 series for the same kind of money. It's obviously not a long-term solution (I'll be upgrading myself very soon) but it would at least let you play the content you want to play until you get your PC fully updated.

"They set the minimum specs for the content that will be developed for the season pass and then develop to that benchmark. You're making an assumption that just because fighter bays are 'in space' content rather than planetside you would be able to use them but it's an assumption based on a false premise that all 'in space' content will continue to only require a card at the standard of the one you have."

I was quite fast in pointing fingers rather than remembering that I am running the game on hardware that never was included in min req. Because I almost always assume that I can overlook reqs because most games has always "worked" for me with a healthy portion of lag.

Now when you mentioned PSU I just remembered that I actually forgot to look that one up myself. And I just noticed I am sitting on "PowerSupply AXP 630W RMS CoolFlow Silent". And the first date I see on that thing is around 2007. So I believe I should get a new one while I am at it (meaning that when I do, I will have replaced everything in this computer since when I bought it some good 3-4 years ago excluding for the chassis).

I mean I am sitting on a Intel core i7 4790k CPU
16.0GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 799MHz
Asus Z97-A motherboard
Nvidia Geforce GTS250
and two HDDs for a total of 4 TB.
(0.16Mb/s Down - 1Mb up)

But yeah, it is my own fault for upgrading my computer the way I did (Without a proper clue on what I was doing), leaving PSU and Graphics card for last which resulted in me getting frustrated and disappointed here and now.



And EzeThieL I actually asked my friend for a recommendation so I tossed him my wallet and asked him to put it on the first best graphics card that would suit me. So now I will probably have to ask him again regarding a new PSU but I am pretty neutral(clueless) on the whole computer shenanigans nowadays.

I mean, for what it is worth mentioning that it is obviously not FDs fault for making the game. But it is a shame that it would come to this that I will now have to wait and miss the whole Horizons thing until I can get a new card (And play with my friends that own Horizons like I do but they will then be able to have fighters, planetarylanding and commander customization while I roam around in my normal spaceship like I always have until now.)

Thanks for your replies.
Things make more sense without the red haze in my head but I am thankful for the replies on my question(s) here. I just need to suck it up (which I refused to do and decided to cry out here instead) and wait until I have the hardware to actually run this game.