I was shocked to find out the original version of Horizon Zero Dawn had extremely low requirements and would run on just about any PC system. There's been several updates, each one increasing requirements for the game. I'll be D****D if I will pay hundreds of $ for update/increased requirements just to play an already over priced game.

Neat tactic for pc hardware providers? I have GOG version of latest updated HZD but will probably never be able to play it. H**L, I don't even want my money back. Maybe someday the original version of HZD will be offered.

You sure? If anything it's the exact oposite. Non AVX hardware can now run the game, in other words, people with 10-12 year old hardware can run it.

That's the great mystery. Only other possibility is bad download files from GOG. Then again, at start of install, File integrity check was ok. Maybe something in my pc system, software, etc. Anyhow, I'll stay away from an games larger that 25 to 30 gigs.

Not really. The Orginal Build of the Game can be still be found on the Web and as you probably have guessed it by now does run as unstable and bugged as it would was back then, doesn't matter if your Hardware is outdated or top notch.

If you compare this build to the latest one that was released on GoG (v1.08) the requirements are the same while at the same time even more older Systems are being nowadays support then were during the Launch Period on Steam.

The only advise i can give you at the current moment to look up what Hardware is available in your Region at the current moment that you could afford and renew your System and/or consider buying into the Next Gen Console Generation since updating your current PC System could probably go too way about $700.

At the same time i have to warn you. Currently (because of the pandemic) there is an understook on many Hardware pieces doesn't matter where you look at so you will nowadays get probably less Hardware for your Buck then you would have got a year or two ago.

Therefor my general advise to you would be to wait at least another three/four months and then look up if the pricing of newer components have normalized.

Yea I know. NEWEGG always offers some pretty good deals and a complete redo would be $700-900.

So, the game runs on all kinds of old and new PCs! My system is what might be considered mid range. windows 10 pro 64 bit, LCD flat monitor 1920/1080. 12 gigs fairly decent ram (not the ddr4 kind), 500 gigs SSD, AMD Radeon 6900 video card, amd phenom II x4 965 processor (4cpu) ~ 3.4 ghz etc. So why is the game being such a SMART donkey?

I still can't help thinking my owned game files are a bad source to download. As far as upgrading, why should I spend $700 to $900 just to even get the game to start?

Your video card is not directx 12 that could be why it will not run for you.

Then why does dxdiag show nothing wrong?

Your system is very low end. The CPU was released in 2009. Not sure exactly which GPU you are referring to with the 6900, whether mobile or discrete, but it also quite old.

https://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=amd+phenom+ii+x4+965&id=370

If you want to game on the PC with latest titles, you need to upgrade. Very few PC games, like HZD or other newer titles, run on 10+ year old hardware decently.

This is one of the reasons why consoles are so popular.

I've seen videos of HZD on very low systems, lots of jerking and pauses. Strange that this is the first game that wouldn't even start?? And by the way, the 6900 is my video card.

I don't suppose there's a console system whereby you could use a mouse AND keyboard ! Anyhow, I've just got to eventually play the game. presently I'm watching a playthrough and am rather envious.

I swear I saw a keyboard for a console before, but I don't think it was for gaming.

I absolutely hate controllers, and is the main barrier for me never really using or playing consoles.

The Radeon HD 6900 does not have the directx 12 feature set so that is why your game will not run, there should be a error message but I guess they over looked that.

So why does DXDIAG find nothing wrong?

Because, there is nothing wrong. Your card just does not support direct x 12. If I am not mistaken dxdiag just checks to see if drivers are installed correctly. Look at your first picture, under feature levels, 11.0 is the highest your card supports, and this game need 12.0 or higher.

You bought a game which your computer does not even meet the minimum specs for. Your graphics card and processor are too weak.