Horizon Zero Dawn by Guerrilla Games was a rather good PS4 game. But with the PS5 on the horizon (zero dawn), it makes sense that we'd be seeing the sequel on the next generation of Sony console and not the current one.
And now, following the PS5's reveal in June, we finally know that Guerilla Games are working on a sequel to their hit game, titled Horizon Forbidden West.
Table of Contents
- Horizon Zero Dawn 2 trailer: first look at Horizon Forbidden West
- Horizon Zero Dawn 2 release date: When will Horizon Forbidden West come out?
- Is Horizon Forbidden West on PC or PS4?
- What Will Change in Horizon Forbidden West?
- How will the PS5 SSD affect Horizon Forbidden West?
- How will PS5 3D Audio impact Horizon Forbidden West?
While we're slightly upset the sequel isn't called Horizon First Dawn or, as one of our writers suggested, 2 Horizon 2 Dawn, judging from what we've seen of Forbidden West, Guerilla Games' title will be another smash hit. Here's everything we know...
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Horizon Zero Dawn 2 trailer: first look at Horizon Forbidden West
Take a look at the first Horizon: Forbidden West trailer right here...
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Horizon Zero Dawn 2 release date: When will Horizon Forbidden West come out?
The Horizon Forbidden West release date has been confirmed for 2021, although we can't be any more precise than that right now!
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Is Horizon Forbidden West on PC or PS4?
With Horizon Zero Dawn releasing on PC for the first time in August, some PC gamers have their fingers crossed that the sequel will also make its way onto the platform in the future.
Neither Sony nor Guerilla Games have commented on a PC version specifically, we know the game is a PlayStation exclusive, and so will not come to any other platforms at launch. However, this doesn't mean Horizon Forbidden West will never leave the PlayStation ecosystem, it just could be a few years until Sony allows a PC port.
As for the PS4, while Sony remains committed to ensuring each generation remains seperate, Sony confirmed that Horizon Forbidden West, alongside Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Sackboy A Big Adventure, is coming to PS4 in some form.
"While these three games were designed to take advantage of PS5 and its unique next-gen features like the ultra-high-speed SSD and DualSense controller, PS4 owners will also be able to enjoy these experiences when they launch," stated Jim Ryan in a PlayStation blog post.
"The PS4 digital versions of launch games include a free upgrade on both PS5 consoles, while the PS4 disc versions of these games include a free upgrade on the PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-Ray disc drive."
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What Will Change in Horizon Forbidden West?
After the huge success of the first instalment, Sony appears to be giving Guerilla Games the go-ahead for a more ambitious sequel.
VGC have reported that Horizon Forbidden West will include a co-op mode- a feature rumoured to have been scrapped during development for the original game.
The sequel is also said to be much larger in scope than the first Horizon Zero Dawn, offering players more open-world exploration in the post-apocalyptic USA.
In a developer video, Horizon's director, Mathijs de Jonge, revealed that the larger and more detailed map would stretch all the way from Utah to the Pacific coast, allowing players to explore a "mysterious new frontier" as they move further West.
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How will the PS5 SSD affect Horizon Forbidden West?
All of this got us thinking, just how much would the PS5 impact a next-gen Horizon game? The most obvious way in which Horizon Forbidden West would benefit from next-gen hardware is certainly the PS5 SSD.
The SSD allows for significantly faster loading times. This means that areas can be more detailed as more things can be loaded in faster, which means there's less need for hidden loading screens. You'll never need to squeeze though a gap in a wall while the game loads the next area again!
There will also be more processing power, which potentially allows for improved AI, better physics, and a world that feels more alive thanks to things changing or evolving over time.
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How will PS5 3D Audio impact Horizon Forbidden West?
The second big power punch could well be on an audio front. The 3D Audio that the PS5 is capable of might not seem like much, but sound design is integral to a good game.
The ability to signal enemies sneaking up on you via audio cues allows for more interesting creature design. It means you could have a robotic dinosaur that stalks you that is only given away by the sound it makes instead of how it looks.
Imagine you're hunting one of the giant monsters and you hear a horrific clicking sound behind you. It's probably not going to be the Predator, but a new kind of dinosaur designed to play with the new features of the PS5.
It's an exciting prospect, and every little improvement that the PS5 makes possible will add up to make one incredibly impressive sequel in the form of Horizon Forbidden West.
BUY NOW: Horizon Zero Dawn on PS4