Horizon Zero Dawn quickly became one of PlayStation 4's most notable titles following its launch in 2017, and fans almost immediately started clamoring for a sequel. After more than three years, the sequel has finally been revealed, and it looks like fans will have a lot more to get excited about this time around. Here's everything we know about the Horizon Zero Dawn sequel, Horizon Forbidden in the West.
When and where does Horizon Interdit Ouest take place?
As the title suggests, Horizon Forbidden West takes place in the western United States. The original Horizon Zero Dawn was already located quite far to the west, in Colorado and Utah, but Horizon Forbidden in the West will go even further, on the Pacific Coast. There is evidence in the trailer that Aloy will at least stop in San Francisco, including shots of the Golden Gate Bridge and - if that was too subtle - a building that appears to be modeled after the San Francisco Ferry. Building, with the name of the city on the right in front. The game's trailer shows a range of terrain, from deserts to snow-capped mountains to beaches, so a large map covering at least several current states is likely.
Screenshot via SonyThe question of when the Horizon Zero Dawn sequel takes place is a bit more difficult to answer. In the trailer, Aloy pretty much looks like the end of the first game. The trailer shows Sylens, sometimes Aloy's ally from the first game, building a new army of corrupt bots. Given that it apparently had time to gain quite a few followers, and given the time it would take to travel from Colorado to San Francisco on the back of a robot, it seems likely that Horizon banned in the West will have take place at least a few months after the conclusion of Horizon Zero Dawn, but probably not much more than that.
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What will be the new features of Horizon Interdit Ouest?
Aside from the new setting, there are a few new additions that we are sure to know. On the one hand, expect new robots to tangle or befriend, depending on your playstyle. The trailer showed new robots based on turtles, warthogs and elephants, and there are certainly more revelations to come.
Screenshot via SonyFrom its appearance, Horizon Forbidden West will also feature more developed swimming mechanics than its predecessor. While Aloy could swim Horizon Zero Dawn, the sequel will give her the option of diving underwater to explore the ocean, if the breathing apparatus she uses in the trailer is representative of actual gameplay.
There has also been speculation that Horizon banned in the West may be multiplayer, but this has yet to be confirmed or denied. Guerrilla Games actually experimented with co-op in an early iteration of Horizon Zero Dawn, and recently started hiring multiplayer programmers for a game that's more like its sequel, but it's a bit too early to start holding your breath.
When will Horizon Forbidden West be released?
Sadly, this is something we don't know yet. It looks like the game has been in development for a while and is probably pretty advanced, but neither Sony nor developer Guerrilla Games are ready to talk about it just yet. Given the anticipation Horizon Zero Dawn sequel, a version of the launch window would make it a foolproof console seller. The only question is whether it will be ready on time.
Will Horizon Forbidden West be a PlayStation 5 exclusive?
For now, at least: yes. Guerrilla Games is part of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, which is now run by former Guerrilla boss Hermen Hulst, so there's no chance Horizon Zero Dawn sequel hitting all non-Sony consoles. That doesn't mean it won't eventually hit PC, though. After remaining a PS4 exclusive for years, Horizon Zero Dawn will arrive on PC on a date yet to be announced, as Sony revealed earlier in 2020.
