Mascot characters are a fantastic way for game companies and studios to become more recognizable. Nintendo has more than its fair share of recognizable characters, from Mario to Link to Pikachu, while other companies like Microsoft use the likes of Master Chief to get the attention of fans. What's really interesting about mascots is how they sometimes emerge unintentionally from an unexpectedly popular character. One of those characters is Aloy, the protagonist of Horizon Zero Dawn's eagerly awaited sequel Horizon Forbidden West. Aloy's name is rapidly becoming synonymous with Sony and the PlayStation, much to Sony and its console's benefit.
Horizon Zero Dawn was a huge boon to the PS4, met with rave reviews and receiving many awards and award nominations around its 2017 release. Aloy shot to fame with her game's success, and she immediately became a face of the PlayStation that could rival Sony mainstays like Kratos. Horizon Forbidden West is set to come out in the second half of 2021, and it'll be a big deal for Aloy's place at Sony. It'll go a long way in helping her become more than a well-loved character from one PlayStation gem and more of a PlayStation mainstay that can be treated as a proper Sony mascot. In other words, Horizon Forbidden West is only the beginning.
Part of the PlayStation Family
Aloy's position as a crucial character in Sony's roster is undeniable. Not only is Horizon Zero Dawn a great success, but she was developed by Guerrilla Games, a Sony Interactive subsidiary. She's a verified home-grown Sony character, which makes her success mean even more. Sony had plenty of recognizable characters before Aloy came along, like God of War's Kratos and LittleBigPlanet's Sackboy, but as Nintendo's broad cadre of characters proves, there's always room for more mascots. It's great news that Aloy is stepping up as a recognizable character for Sony's current age.
It's not a surprise that Guerrilla Games is cooking up a Horizon Zero Dawn sequel. Fan demand, a rich setting with room for more plotlines, and the financial success of the first game make Horizon Forbidden West completely justified. Still, what the sequel does for Aloy's relationship with Sony might be even more important than the sequel itself. Guerrilla Games and Sony are setting up for Sony to be a recognizable figure for Sony for a long time. It wouldn't be surprising if Horizon becomes a long-lived franchise, and fans see Aloy go through many more journeys over many more consoles. A good sequel is always a good gateway to many more games, so Sony and its fans are surely both crossing their fingers.
Aloy's Importance
It means a lot that Aloy of all characters is becoming a strong video game mascot. Even after all these years, most famous leading characters in video games are men. Aloy is a wonderful example of a well-written and inspirational female lead, so she sends a good message to Sony's fans. Many of Horizon Zero Dawn's fans would likely argue that Aloy is deserving of a place among legendary female game protagonists like Lara Croft and Claire Redfield. If Aloy really does become one of the PlayStation's most familiar characters, it'll mean a lot for representation on the console.
Horizon Forbidden West is going to be a really important game for the PlayStation. It has the opportunity to open the door for many more adventures starring Aloy and to make her one of Sony's most important characters moving forward. No doubt Guerrilla Games will use the sequel to sow the seeds of future plots, just like how it was able to tease the Forbidden West in Horizon Zero Dawn. Aloy is already an important character in video game history, but it doesn't look like she'll become part of the game industry's past anytime soon. She has plenty of journeys with Sony ahead of her.
Horizon Forbidden West will release in 2021 for PS4 and PS5.