Horizon Forbidden West release date, PS5 exclusivity, trailer, and everything we know so far

Horizon Forbidden West release date, PS5 exclusivity, trailer, and everything we know so far.

Horizon Forbidden West is the long-awaited sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn, and it looks phenomenal. Debuted at the PS5 Future of Gaming event on June 12, it proved developer Guerrilla is making the most of the PS5 specs to create an impeccably detailed world, and hinted at the new locations Aloy will get to explore.

Horizon Forbidden West release date

The Horizon Forbidden West release date is scheduled for 2021, and that's all we know for now. Guerilla revealed the broad release window in a follow-up dev diary, but we don't have a day or even a month to plan for just yet.  

Horizon Zero Dawn was released on 28 February 2017, three years and change after the PlayStation 4, but it's unlikely we'll see the same gap for the sequel. As one of PlayStation's flagship exclusives, we can't imagine it will lag too far behind the PS5's Holiday 2020 launch. 

Horizon Forbidden West is a PS5 exclusive

At least for now, if you want to play Horizon Forbidden West when it's released, you'll need a PS5. Though it's worth noting that its predecessor, Horizon Zero Dawn, is getting a PC release this year.

"Yes, I can confirm that Horizon Zero Dawn is coming to PC this summer", PlayStation Worldwide Studio head Herman Hulst wrote on the  PlayStation Blog. "There will be more information coming from Guerrilla, from the new studio directors [Michiel van der Leeuw, JB van Beek, and Angie Smets] pretty soon."

But that's a long wait for PC players, and there are no guarantees Horizon Forbidden West will follow the same path. 

"To maybe put a few minds at ease, releasing one first-party AAA title to PC doesn’t necessarily mean that every game now will come to PC," Hulst continued. "In my mind, Horizon Zero Dawn was just a great fit in this particular instance. We don’t have plans for day and date [PC releases], and we remain 100% committed to dedicated hardware."

"With the PS5's SSD, there will be virtually no loading screens," game director Mathijs de Jonge said in a recent dev diary, echoing sentiments from system architect Mark Cerny as well as several other PS5 developers. "In an open-world game like Horizon Forbidden West, if you open up the map and fast travel from one end to the other, or restart from a checkpoint, it will be super fast. When you boot up the game, you're right there in the action."

Horizon Forbidden West story

In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Guerrilla shared a teasingly vague synopsis for Horizon Forbidden West.

"Horizon Forbidden West continues Aloy’s story as she moves west to a far-future America to brave a majestic, but dangerous frontier where she’ll face awe-inspiring machines and mysterious new threats."

In a separate video, game director Mathijs de Jonge confirmed that the Forbidden West itself stretches from Utah to the Pacific coast, making for an in-game map that's "a bit bigger" than the ranges of Horizon Zero Dawn. 

Aloy heads to the Forbidden West to uncover the cause of a strange crimson blight which is killing off plants, animals, and tribes, not to mention turning the local weather into a non-stop superstorm. She'll meet new tribes - including a hostile tribe capable of overriding machines - and face "dozens" of new machines as she searches for a way to cure the blight.   

Horizon Forbidden West gameplay

We may only have one Horizon Forbidden West trailer to go on, but there's a lot we can unpack. Firstly, we can see that Aloy still has her Focus - her little Bluetooth earpiece - to help her scan the world around her. We also see her riding a Charger, so she's either managed to make a new spear to let her override them, or learned some new techniques to achieve the same end. 

There was a heavy focus on underwater exploration in the trailer too, which means one thing... robot sharks. Other new machines include Shellsnappers, Sunwings, and Tremortusks, respectively based on tortoises, pterodactyls, and mammoths.

Guerilla and Sony have released the first track from Horizon Forbidden West soundtrack on various streaming services - the one featured in the first trailer for the game. Prominent Dutch video game composer Joris de Man wrote the score, titled Promise of the West, and it's a dynamic mix of sounds that swells into a thumping, epic conclusion.

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Everything you need to know about the Sony PlayStation 5

Sony's big PS5 reveal event from June was a doozy - we got games upon games, plus our first look at the glorious console itself, not to mention PS5 accessories. Since then, it's been a rather steady drip of smaller, yet no-less juicy details. Sony's PlayStation 5 is still on track to arrive sometime in that 'Holiday 2020' period, and we're waiting rather anxiously to hear an exact release date. We're also eager to see what comes of the chicken game Microsoft and Sony are playing with their respective next-gen console's prices.

The most important news about our new favourite console? Sony is offering two different versions, a standard model with an Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive, and a digital model without a disc drive, meaning budget-minded shoppers will have a couple of options.

"With PlayStation 5, we are making a significant leap to deliver a truly new generation of transformative play experiences that will redefine expectations for what games can be," said Jim Ryan, president, and CEO of SIE. 

"Worlds will be richer and more beautiful, they'll captivate your senses in ways you didn't think possible, and you'll be able to experience them much more seamlessly, with lightning-fast loading. Today's showcase is just a glimpse of what's to come in the next generation, and we want to thank our community for taking this journey to PS5's launch with us."

We already knew the PS5 specs, which gave us an idea of what to expect in the PS5 vs Xbox Series X war for your paycheck, and now we've seen a huge bunch of games running on PS5 tech. Not to mention that incredibly sexy real-time PS5 Unreal Engine 5 tech demo.

The PS5 is going to be in direct competition with the Xbox Series X, which is coming also in Holiday 2020.

"With every new console, the processor and graphics get better, which is, of course, compelling, but we need to have unique elements too", explained Ryan in an interview with Business Insider. Apparently many of these "bigger differences" between PS5 and PS4 haven't yet been announced.

Also, in a recent Wired article, PS5 architect Mark Cerny (the man also responsible for leading work on the PlayStation 4) gave us a bumper of info about the upcoming PS5 specs, alongside hints about what we can expect from the PS5 price. 

The TL;DR version is that it'll be backwards compatible with PS4; it's been in development for over four years; a number of studios are already working on PS5 games; it'll boast 8K graphics and support for ray tracing; and under the hood will be a custom made AMD CPU and GPU. All that, combined with the new information means there's actually quite a lot we do know now about the PS5, so here we go:

When will the PS5 release date be?

Sony has now confirmed that the PS5 release date is set for Holiday 2020. "These updates may not be a huge surprise, but we wanted to confirm them for our PlayStation fans, as we started to reveal additional details about our vision for the next generation," explained SIEE President, Jim Ryan, on the PlayStation Blog. That's a good thing too because if Sony wants to compete with the Xbox Series X, it's had to look to release its next-gen console around the same time. 

Thankfully, it doesn't look like we're facing a PS5 delay for now.

For a more specific idea of the PS5 release date, a new rumor has pegged the console's launch down for November 20 of 2020, simultaneously stating that it'll be selling for the day one price of $499 in the United States. For comparison, the PS4's initial cost was $399, which brings us nicely onto our next point...

PS5 COST

How much will the PS5 cost?

(Image credit: Microsoft Xbox)

PS5 vs Xbox Series X – will Sony dominate the next-generation or can Microsoft stage a huge comeback?

After the big Wired article that officially confirmed the PS5, Wired's Peter Rubin took to Twitter to relay information that hadn't made it into the original article. That included slight hints towards the potential cost of the PS5. According to Rubin, PS5 architect Mark Cerny said that he "believe[s] that we will be able to release it at an SRP that will be appealing to gamers in light of its advanced feature set". 

When pressed on whether that means it will cost more than the PS4's launch price, he wouldn't give any further details, simply saying "that's about all I can say about it". 

What it translates to though, is that the price will be relevant to the technology that's under the hood, and because it will be more powerful than the PS4, you can probably bet it'll be more expensive too. Our prediction is that will circle the $500 / £450 price point, but only time will tell. 

Interestingly, a new report has emerged that Sony is struggling to keep the PS5 retail price low. The news comes via Bloomberg sources who suggest that the scarcity of particular internal parts in the PS5 is driving the price up on the production line, and Sony may choose to pass the buck onto consumers. The sources say the current unit price of the PS5 is about $450, which some in the company worry may already seem too steep to some potential buyers.

In the GDC-style presentation from Sony's Mark Cerny, he said the company has chosen to go with an 825GB SSD internal hard drive to try and keep costs low for the next-gen console, stating that:

"It's tempting to add more, but flash certainly doesn't come cheap, and we have a responsibility to our gaming audience to be cost-effective when it comes to what we put in the console."

Now, get out the salt and prepare for sticker shock. The PS5 price was seemingly leaked by French retailer Carrefour, and it's a bit more than most estimates. According to the reputed European store, the PS5 and its Digital Edition are priced at €499 and €399 respectively. That's £450 /$600 for the disc-compatible version and £400/$500 for the digital-only console. Again, that's quite a bit higher than most estimates, so don't start applying for loans just yet.

PS5 LOGO

The PS5 logo is rather familiar

(Image credit: Sony)

At CES 2020, Sony revealed the official PS5 logo, and as you can see above, it's not exactly much of a surprise. It's exactly the same as the PS3 and PS4 logos, but with a rather slick five at the end. 

PS5 SPECS

PS5 specs and performance: What technology can we expect?

(Image credit: Sony PlayStation)

Sony has already confirmed that the PS5 will be running on an AMD CPU chip that's based on the third generation of AMD's Ryzen line. It'll be an eight-core, custom-made, beast based on the company's new 7nm Zen 2 microarchitecture. The CPU is a custom variant of AMD Radeon's Navi family, and will support ray tracing - an effect that is a staple of Hollywood, and one that's beginning to appear in high-end PC processors and the Nvidia RTX gaming line. 

It's admittedly disconcerting to think a next-generation console could be running on three-year-old hardware by the time it comes out. Fortunately, in June of last year, a few industry sources speaking with Forbes contributor Jason Evangelho emerged under the guise of anonymity to clear up some of the erroneous reports surrounding what's really under the hood of the PS5. Their forecast? At least for its graphics, the PS5 is going to harness the power of the last-generation Zen CPU architecture in conjunction with AMD's freshly revealed Navi graphics architecture. 

What is the PS5 really capable of? Developers discuss the potential of the next generation

A big part of that GPU setup will be support for 8K resolutions and ray tracing in PS5 games. The latter is a technology that greatly improves the visual fidelity in games, as it mimics the way light moves and bounces from object to object, particularly reflective surfaces, and refraction through water, other liquids, and glass. Given the proper optimizations, games could exhibit more realistic lighting and shadows as a result. In that same Wired interview, Cerny went on to say ray tracing isn't just about visuals, as it can yield audio enhancements for players and developers alike.

"If you wanted to run tests to see if the player can hear certain audio sources or if the enemies can hear the players’ footsteps, ray tracing is useful for that,” he says. “It's all the same thing as taking a ray through the environment.”

It turns out that Sony is also adding a custom unit for 3D audio in the PS5 too, taking the attention to audio and sound improvements to the next level for its upcoming console. "As a gamer," said Cerny, "it's been a little bit of a frustration that audio did not change too much between PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4. With the next console, the dream is to show how dramatically different the audio experience can be when we apply significant amounts of hardware horsepower to it.”

For gamers though, at least from my perspective, one of the biggest new improvements for the PS5 specs will be a huge decrease in loading times. At a corporate strategy event earlier this year, Sony's first PS5 gameplay reveal demonstrated footage that compared Spider-Man PS4 running on both the current-gen system and the PS5. The experience was recorded by tech journalist Takashi Mochizuki, and it clearly showed that Marvel's Spider-Man takes 8.10 seconds to load, whereas on the PS5 that load time is shortened to just 0.8 seconds. No, that's not a typo. Take a look below:

Thanks to the fact the PS5 is switching from disc-based hard drives to SSDs, Sony is also changing it's approach to how we store games on the next-gen console. You'll be able to configure exactly what parts of a game you want to store on your machine, "allowing [a] finer-grained access to the data". That means you'll be able to install just the multiplayer, or just the single-player, or delete one or the other once you're done with it. 

Here's the full list of specs courtesy of Digital Foundry:

• CPU: 8x Zen 2 Cores at 3.5GHz (variable frequency)
• GPU: 10.28TFLOPs, 36 CUs at 2.23GHz (variable frequency)
• GPU Architecture: Custom RDNA 2
• Memory/Interface: 16GB GDDR6 / 256=bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 448GB/s
• Internal Storage: Custom 825GB SSD
• IO Throughput: 5.5GB/s (Raw), Typical 8-9GB/s (compressed)
• Expandable Storage: NVMe SSD Slot
• External Storage: USB HDD Support
• Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive

PS5 DESIGN

What will the PS5 look like? 

(Image credit: Sony)

The PS5 design is a bold step away from the traditional black box, with both the digital-only and disc drive versions boasting a white and black color scheme and serious curves. Think Wall-E's Eve on her best day. 

Meanwhile, yet another leaked patent reveals that Sony is developing a mysterious cartridge product that may or may not be compatible for the PS5. Current bets have it down as an external SSD that can be slotted into the console for easy memory management of your PS5 games, but - again - it's entirely possible this has nothing to do with the PS5 at all, so take its design and appearance with a pinch of salt. 

DUALSENSE PS5 CONTROLLER

What is the PS5 controller like?  

(Image credit: Sony)

The PS5 controller, AKA the DualSense, is the successor to the DualShock line. Sony abruptly revealed the controller in April after months of rumors and patents hinting at its functionality, and the DualSense lines up with a lot of what we've heard. 

While the DualSense is distinct from the DualShock, its design follows many of the same principles. It's altogether rounder, with a sleek white-on-black aesthetic rather than the usual jet-black default, but the input layout is roughly the same. The light bar on the back of the DualShock 4 is now split between the sides of the central touchpad, and there's a new Create button in place of the Share button, but most everything else is standard for a PlayStation controller. 

The biggest changes and advancements are found on the inside of the DualSense. The high points are:  

• Haptic feedback: the DualSense delivers "a variety of powerful sensations that you'll feel when you play, such as the slow grittiness of driving a car through mud." The DualShock 4 had rumble functionality, but the DualSense goes much further with more subtle and varied types of feedback. 
• Adaptive triggers: the L2 and R2 buttons on the DualSense can match tension of in-game actions. Drawing the string on a bow was the example Sony gave, but based on previous accounts, the same can be said of firing a heavy machine gun and the like. Sony also says that the angle of the triggers, relative to the whole controller, has been tweaked slightly
• Create button: the Share button has been replaced, but the new Create button serves a similar purpose. Sony says that this button will create "new ways for players to create epic gameplay content to share with the world, or just to enjoy for themselves." 
• Built-in microphone: you read that right - the DualSense has a microphone built right into it, which ought to make hopping into a chat with friends quick and seamless. 

PS5 UI

PS5 accessories

Along with showing off the PS5 design during the Future of Gaming stream, Sony also dropped some details about the accessories that will complement the new system. 

• Pulse 3D wireless headset – offering 3D audio support and dual noise-cancelling microphones
• HD camera featuring dual 1080p lenses for gamers to broadcast themselves along with their epic gameplay moments
• Media remote  with built-in microphone to navigate movies and streaming services with ease
• DualSense charging station for convenient charging of two DualSense Wireless Controllers.

What will the PS5 UI be like?

(Image credit: Sony)

Sony confirmed to Wired that the PS5 UI is getting "completely revamped" from what we know and love of the PS4's version. The idea is to give you instant access to what single-player missions you could do, or what multiplayer matches you could join without even having to boot up the game. 

"Even though it will be fairly fast to boot games, we don't want the player to have to boot the game, see what's up, boot the game, see what's up", says Cerny.  "Multiplayer game servers will provide the console with the set of joinable activities in real time. Single-player games will provide information like what missions you could do and what rewards you might receive for completing them—and all of those choices will be visible in the UI. As a player you just jump right into whatever you like."

Additionally, another leak from 2019 reveals that Sony apparently wants to make the PS5 more accessible for stream set-ups, with the console including an in-built camera that can capture 4K footage with the click of a button, organically reacting to the lighting of your room to make sure the picture is always top quality. Perhaps the hardware's new and improved user interface could also reflect this pivot, with more buttons dedicated to sharing your gameplay with the wider world 

What about PS5 streaming? Is that going to be a feature?

A report found on the PlayStation website revealed a series of slides presented by Sony CEO Jim Ryan at the very same aforementioned corporate strategy event the gameplay load times were shown off at. These slides focus on the company's long and short term future when it comes to PlayStation, and confirmed that PS5 streaming will go hand-in-hand with physical discs and digital downloads as a way to experience games going forward. The deck outlined "a massively enhanced PlayStation community where enriched and shared PlayStation experiences can be seamlessly enjoyed independent of time and place - with or without a console". 

Interestingly, Sony and Microsoft announced an unprecedented new partnership earlier in 2019 to develop advanced streaming and cloud technology together. Apparently Sony aims to use the "new partnerships to achieve growth and scale faster than ever before". 

Apparently this very same technology will be used to "transition our community to next-gen faster and more seamlessly than ever before", particularly when it comes to backwards compatibility for PS4 games. 

PS5 BACKWARDS COMPATIBILITY

Will there be PS5 backwards compatibility for my PS4 games (or older)?

God of War upscaled to 8K? Yes please (Image credit: Sony PlayStation)

Sony has confirmed that the PS5 will be backwards compatible with your PS4 games. According to the Wired article, the next-gen console won't be a digital only machine, it'll still accept physical media, and because it's based on the PS4 architecture is will be backwards-compatible for PS4 games. 

Now it's been confirmed that you can play PS4 games on PS5 straight off an external hard drive - so you might wanna start moving them all on over now.

There's no word on PS3, PS2 or older games as yet, but no doubt PlayStation Now will be making the move to PS5 too. 

However, according to a US patent filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment and spotted by GearNuke, there is reason to believe the PS5 will offer games from the entire PlayStation bloodline. The patent, called "Remastering by emulation," appears to indicate a new method of implementing high-resolution art assets into legacy software "on the fly."

Similar to the "texture packs" PC gamers have been concocting for years, remastering by emulation could serve as a cost-efficient way to improve the graphics quality of older titles without remaking them from the ground up. Sure, it's a stretch to say this equates to the ability to play our PS4, PS3, PS2 and PS1 games on PS5, but even so, we can see how it would be interpreted as such. 

This patent isn't the only sign we have that backward compatibility for older PlayStation games is on its way, either. A more recently discovered Japanese patent describes a technique that enables Sony hardware to "determine whether an application is a legacy application or not," and was actually authored by PS5 lead architect Mark Cerny. Moreover, the patent examines the potential for putting imitation legacy chipsets inside newer hardware. In doing so, Sony could avoid the obstructive hurdles that often thwart emulation efforts. 

Ubisoft's CEO has also now come out and said that the PS5 will run "almost all" PS4 games too. So it's looking good for PS5 backwards compatibility.

PS5 VR

Will there be a PS5 PS VR?

PSVR 2 is rumored to appear with PS5.

But what of PlayStation VR? In case there were any doubts, Mark Cerny confirmed PS5 compatibility for the original PSVR unit in his interview with Wired. However, he stopped short of suggesting a next-generation PlayStation VR headset is in the works. 

"I won't go into the details of our VR strategy today," he said, "beyond saying that VR is very important to us and that the current PSVR headset is compatible with the new console."

However, a selection of leaked PS5 patentshave painted a detailed picture of what to expect from a potential PS5 PSVR headset. As spotted by Inverse, Sony has filed a number of patents and trademarks, which include prototype pictures, related to a PS5 PSVR headset. It will apparently cost $250 in the US, boast head and eyetracking technology, and have the option to run wirelessly, with a five hour battery life on a single charge. 

In terms of specs, Sony is apparently aiming for a 560-by-1,440 resolution with the PS5's new headset, alongside a 120-hertz refresh rate, and a 220-degree field of view. 

For peripherals, Sony could potentially be toying with a VR Glove equipped with haptic feedback, which, when paired with the eye-tracking features of this new headset, could create some mad immersive gaming technology.

PS5 GAMES

What will the PS5 games line-up be like?

The PS5 launch games library is starting to look pretty impressive, thanks to the reveals during the recent Future of Gaming stream. Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Horizon Zero Dawn 2, Deathloop and no doubt more on the way as more big publisher show off their upcoming wares this summer.   

• All the confirmed and rumored upcoming PS5 games

But as for the rest of the PS5 games, we'll have to wait and see. Techland has confirmed that Dying Light 2 will also launch on PS5 and Xbox Series X, and EA has said it is working on next-gen titles right now for launch in 2020. So prepare yourself for an influx.

For more, check out 11 tech demos to make you excited for next-gen, or watch below for our latest episode of Dialogue Options.

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The best DAWs 2020

The best DAWs 2020. If you make music on a computer, your DAW - or Digital Audio Workstation, to give it its full name - is the most important tool in your creative arsenal. Yes, you’ll likely have a MIDI keyboard, audio interface, set of studio monitor speakers and possibly a microphone or two in your home recording setup as well, but your music production software sits at the centre of everything.

As such, it’s important to get a DAW that you’re happy with - and, perhaps even more importantly, a digital audio workstation that will enable you to turn your ideas into music as quickly and painlessly as possible. 

To help you find it, we’ve put together a guide to what MusicRadar users have voted as the best Digital Audio Workstations on the market today. In truth, any one of these products will enable you to make music, but they’re all slightly different in the way that they operate, so it’s worth taking the time to consider your options carefully.

What are the best DAWs?

As noted, the countdown below is based on your votes, but if you’re coming into the DAW world cold, we have a few recommendations of our own.

If you want the best DAW for beginners, it’s hard to look past Apple’s GarageBand, which is free - and a no-brainer - if you have a Mac. Acoustica’s Mixcraft is probably the closest PC equivalent, though you’ll have to pay for that one.

In terms of value for money, Cockos’s Reaper is hard to beat - this is a serious DAW at a stupidly low price - and Logic Pro offers significant bang for your buck, too (again, that’s Mac-only, though).

Then there’s Image-Line’s FL Studio, which is notable for its impressive lifetime free updates. This could save you some serious money in the long term.

Finally, we have to mention Ableton Live, undoubtedly the big digital audio workstation success story of the past two decades. Whether it’s the best DAW is open to debate, obviously, but with its fast and fluid workflow it’s certainly made a massive impression, and is used by more artists than we’d care to mention.

Best DAWs: buying advice

As we’ve already noted, the best DAW for you is the one that you find it easiest to make music with, so it’s worth trying demos of all the software that you’re considering. Think carefully about how you’re going to work, and the elements of the digital audio workstation that are most important to you.

A DAW can be used throughout the music production process: for recording, editing, arranging, mixing and even mastering. If you can, try working through this process so that you can test the workflow. If you frequently find yourself struggling and are constantly consulting the manual, the software you’re using probably isn’t for you, and it could be time to look elsewhere.

It goes without saying that, before you buy, you should also make sure that your prospective DAW is compatible with your computer, any other hardware that you might have, and any plugins that you consider essential to your workflow.

The best DAWs

1. Image-Line FL Studio

Launch price: From $99/£76/€99 |Versions: Fruity, Producer, Signature, All Plugins Bundle | Compatibility: PC/Mac | System requirements (PC): Windows 8.1, 10 or later, 4GB storage space, 4GB RAM | System requirements (Mac): macOS 10.13.6 or later, 4GB storage space, 4GB RAM

Originally launched as FruityLoops, Image-Line's DAW holds near-iconic status for a certain generation of producers, particularly in the hip-hop and EDM realms.The headline feature in version 20 was a native 64-bit Mac version, meaning that FL Studio can now be used on macOS (as well as PC) without the need for a clunky workaround. Pleasingly, licenses are shared between both Mac and PC versions.

Image-Line offers lifetime free upgrades to FL Studio users, meaning that all existing users of the software now automatically own upgrades to version 20 on both platforms. And the updates just keep on coming: version 20.5 brought in Flex, a new preset-based soft synth, while 20.6 has added a variety of new features. 20.7, meanwhile, gives you the tools you need to make a social media-orientated music video.

There will always be those who claim that FL Studio isn’t as ‘serious’ as some other DAWs, but the facts suggest otherwise, and it has some notable fans in the pro community, too. The thousands of votes it received in our poll suggests that this really is ‘the people’s DAW’, a title FL Studio shows no signs of relinquishing any time soon.

Read review: FL Studio 20

2. PreSonus Studio One

An 'upstart' DAW that's now playing in the big league

Launch price: From £100/£85/€95 |Versions: Prime (free), Artist, Professional | Compatibility: PC/Mac | System requirements (PC): Windows 7 (SP1 + platform update), Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 x64, Intel Core Duo or AMD Athlon X2 processor (Intel Core 2 Duo or AMD Athlon X4 or better recommended), 4GB RAM (8GB or more recommended), 40GB storage space | System requirements (Mac): macOS 10.11 or higher (64-bit only), Intel Core 2 Duo processor (Core i3 or better recommended), 4GB RAM (8GB or more recommended), 40GB storage space.

Studio One has been gaining ground for several years, and it's now a DAW of real power and maturity, not merely matching its rivals in most respects but going beyond them in a few areas.

Version 4 added “Harmonic Editing” of monophonic and polyphonic audio and MIDI tracks, enabling a song or individual elements within it to be automatically shifted to a user-defined key and chord progression. New MIDI editors for drums and patterns were included, too, along with a good assortment of workflow enhancements. Version 4.5, meanwhile, includes more than 70 new features, many of which have been implemented in response to user requests.

Studio One has long been a DAW with the potential to genuinely change your musical life, and version 4 only reinforces that position. If you’ve still yet to try it, there has never been a better time. 

3. Ableton Live

An inspiring DAW with a next-level workflow

Launch price: From $99/£69/€79 |Versions: Intro, Standard, Suite | Compatibility: PC/Mac | System requirements (PC): Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 10, 64-bit Intel (Intel® Core i5 processor or faster recommended) or AMD multi-core processor, 4GB RAM (8GB or more recommended) | System requirements (Mac): OS X 10.11.6 or later, Intel Core 2 Duo processor (Intel Core i5 processor or faster recommended), 4GB RAM (8GB or more recommended)

It's hard to overstate the impact that Live has had on the music software marketplace. When the first version was released in 2001 it threw out the traditional design rulebook and established itself not just as a recording program for composers, but also as a performance instrument in itself. Since then, it's exploded in popularity and influenced the development of countless other desktop and mobile apps.

The eagerly-awaited Live 10 was a deceptively extensive update, making plenty of meaningful changes, most of them to the Arrangement View. There were some new plugins too, of course: the Wavetable synth and Echo, Drum Buss and Pedal effects. 

Live 10.1 represented another well-judged update, adding some significant new features and - notably - the long-awaited support for VST3 plugins.

Of course, users will inevitably have a long wishlist for Live 11, but for many, Ableton’s software already sets a standard that no other DAW can match.

Read review: Ableton Live 10

4. Cockos Reaper 6

A seriously powerful DAW at a bargain price

Launch price: From $60 | Versions: Standard | Compatibility: PC/Mac/Linux (experimental) | System requirements (PC): 32-bit: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10, 12MB storage space; 64-bit: Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 x64, 13MB storage space | System requirements (Mac): 32-bit: OS X 10.5-10.13, 18MB storage space; 64-bit: OS X 10.5-10.14, 20MB storage space (dedicated OS X 10.15 Catalina version also available)

For the benefit of those not in the know, Reaper is a remarkably affordable cross-platform DAW that has a tiny footprint and sophisticated MIDI/audio routing capabilities. What’s more, the demo is fully-functional, though if you want to keep using it after 30 days, you’re required to pay the license fee.

This is one of the most customisable and affordable DAWs around. What's more, it's wonderfully responsive, with everything from scrolling and zooming to fader moves and item editing feeling quick and fluid. The recently-released Reaper 6 continues the good work of previous versions, offering subtle refinements that you’ll appreciate on a daily basis.

Factor in some budget for the soundware of your choice and Reaper makes for a top-class music production environment.

5. Steinberg Cubase

A grand old DAW that can still keep pace with the bright young things

Launch price: From $100/£85/€89 |Versions: Elements, Artist, Pro | Compatibility: PC/Mac | System requirements (PC): 64-bit: Windows 10, Intel Core i series or AMD Ryzen multi-core CPU, 4GB RAM (8GB recommended), 30GB storage space | System requirements (Mac): macOS Mojave, macOS Catalina, Intel Core i series or AMD Ryzen multi-core CPU, 4GB RAM (8GB recommended), 30GB storage space.

On the market since the days of the Atari ST (ask your Dad), Cubase has been around for the advent of audio recording, plugin effects and instruments (Steinberg actually invented the VST standard) and every other major DAW development.

With such a long history, you’d think Cubase would have every feature under the sun, and indeed, there are few it lacks. With an emphasis on improvements rather than a rack full of shiny new toys, Cubase Pro 10 provided a faster workflow and a more enjoyable user experience, while the 10.5 update picked up where that left off, refining things further and adding a new plugin or two.

We admit to missing the days when each new edition of Cubase brought with it a massive pile of flashy new toys, but 30 years is an eternity in the fast-paced world of music technology, and we have to say that Cubase has aged very well indeed.

6. Apple Logic Pro

Amazing value and great performance on the Mac

Launch price: $200/£200/€230 | Versions: Standard | System requirements (Mac): macOS 10.13.6 or later, 64-bit processor.

version of Logic Pro - version X was released way back in 2013 - but numbers can be deceiving. Version 10.5 is Logic Pro 11 in all but name, turning this most traditional of DAWs into a truly contemporary music-making platform.

Central to this overhaul is the addition of Ableton-style Live Loops, which enable you to jam with ideas before recording them to the main timeline. There's also a new step sequencer, completely overhauled samplers and new tools for electronic beatmakers.

Even though Apple is largely following trends here rather than setting them, this is the modernising step up that many Logic users have been waiting for.

More than all that, though, Logic Pro remains superb value for money - this is just the latest of many well-judged free updates - and, for the price, Mac users won’t find a more comprehensive set of music production tools anywhere else.

7. Reason Studios Reason

The rack-based DAW can now be used as a plugin

Launch price: From $99/£69/€79 |Versions: Intro, Standard, Suite | Compatibility: PC/Mac | System requirements (PC): Windows 7 or later (64-bit), Intel or AMD multi-core processor, 4GB RAM (8GB or more recommended for large ReFills or Rack Extensions), 4 GB free system disk space required, plus 8 GB for optional content. Additionally, program may use up to 20 GB scratch disk space | System requirements (Mac): Mac OS X 10.11 or later (64-bit), Intel Mac with multi-core processor, 4GB RAM (8GB or more recommended for large ReFills or Rack Extensions), 4 GB free system disk space required, plus 8 GB for optional content. Additionally, program may use up to 20 GB scratch disk space.

2019 was a big year for Reason. Its developer, Propellerhead Software, became Reason Studios, and version 11 of the rack-based DAW was released. This introduced the Reason Rack Plugin, which enables the DAW’s core tools to be used as a VST 3 or AU plugin within another DAW.

A second smart addition to Reason 11 is the ability to use elements of the DAW’s SSL-modelled mixer as individual devices. Having them available alongside Rack instruments is a great touch, and works particularly well in the Reason Rack Plugin.

Of course, you can still use Reason as your main DAW, but with the stock instruments and effects now available to use anywhere you like, and version 11.2 adding a new MIDI Out device for controlling your external gear, this is the most attractive that the software has looked in years.

8. Cakewalk by BandLab

Sonar rides again, and for free

Launch price: Free | Versions: Standard | Compatibility: PC | System requirements: Windows 7 or higher (64-bit only), Multi-core Intel or AMD CPU, 4GB RAM, 3GB disk space.

Back in 2018, online DAW vendor BandLab announced that it was acquiring the Cakewalk IP, which was then in the hands of Gibson, and that the Sonar DAW would live on as Cakewalk by BandLab

Better still, it's now made the software available for free. The third-party content that was bundled with the paid-for version has been removed, but the DAW's key features, such as the Skylight user interface, flexible ProChannel modules and 64-bit mix engine, are all here.

So, if you're a PC user on the lookout for a new DAW, you've got literally nothing to lose by trying this one.

9. Bitwig Studio

A great option for the creative producer

Launch price: From $99/€99 | Versions: 16-track, Standard | Compatibility: PC/Mac/Linux | System requirements (PC): Windows 7 or later (64-bit), Dual-core AMD or Intel CPU or faster with SSE3 support, Minimum 12GB free disk space (for full content installation) | System requirements (Mac): Mac OS X 10.11 or later, 64-bit Intel CPU, Minimum 12GB free disk space (for full content installation) | System requirements (Linux): Ubuntu 17.04 or later, 64-bit dual-core or better x86 CPU with SSE3 support, Minimum 12GB free disk space (for full content installation).

It’s a little over five years since version 1 of Bitwig Studio first hit hard drives, which makes it a relative infant in DAW terms. The application has come a long way in that time, though, throwing off the shackles of its inevitable Ableton Live comparisons - the two share a number of original developers and some significant workflow similarities - by adding multiple features that have bolstered Bitwig’s reputation as possibly the most inventive DAW on the market.

Now we have version 3 - an update very much focussed around just a single new feature, albeit a significant one. We’re referring to The Grid, a new type of device that brings a fully modular environment to Bitwig Studio’s toolkit.

This, along with some nifty pitch enhancements in version 3.1 and the addition of new EQ and saturation options in version 3.2, further cements Bitwig Studio’s existing stake as the creative producer’s DAW of choice.

10. Acoustica Mixcraft

A GarageBand rival for Windows users

Launch price: From $99 | Versions: Recording Studio, Pro Studio | Compatibility: PC | System requirements (PC): Windows 7 SP1, 8 or 10 (64 or 32-bit), 1.8 GHz Dual Core CPU (Quad Core or higher recommended), 8GB RAM.

When PC users ask us if it’s possible to get a GarageBand-style application for their operating system, we tend to point them in the direction of Mixcraft. Through its eight major updates, Mixcraft has evolved from a basic starter app to a genuinely impressive DAW, taking on features normally associated with costlier alternatives.

Mixcraft 9 has a sleeker interface with detachable panels, as well as new automation features, vocoder tracks, new effects and instruments and the option to convert audio to MIDI with a single click.

It might not be the flashiest DAW on the market, but if you invest in Mixcraft you'll be getting a well-supported production solution that comes at a great price, and beginners will find it very approachable.

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