Horizon Forbidden West has received a new DLC, Burning Shores, and it is an entry that fans should not miss. Aloy has new dangers to face in a different region, though fortunately she does not have to do things alone. Seyka the Quen warrior is at her side, and she proves to be one of the most skilled companions she has ever had.
Seyka illustrates just how useful it is to have a competent friend around to tackle the challenges of Horizon Forbidden West's world. This makes the franchise perfect for an MMO setting where players can team up to take on machines, complete salvage contracts, or solve environmental puzzles. Fortunately, it seems like Guerrilla Games is cooking up something good.
Is a Horizon Multiplayer Game on the Way?
For a while, fans have hoped for a multiplayer Horizon game, and this has been fueled by rumors that a multiplayer game is on the way from Guerrilla Games. The rumors haven’t been entirely unfounded, as job listings by the studio have suggested that it is working on something related to multiplayer gaming. There has also been leaked footage of what looks like an early version of a multiplayer mode in Horizon Forbidden West. Recently, Guerrilla Games made an announcement that seems to confirm that a big wish is about to come true.
The studio made a post announcing that Studio Director and Executive Producer Angie Smets has become Head of Development Strategy at PlayStation Studios. This is an illustration of just how much talent is at Guerrilla Games, as the current Head of Sony Interactive Worldwide Studios, Hermen Hulst, also started his career with the studio. Guerrilla also revealed that it is still hard at work with the Horizon franchise and that an “exciting online project” is on the way. Though this does not entirely confirm that an online multiplayer Horizon game is in the works, it is the biggest clue thus far.
Seyka Illustrates the Potential of Multiplayer Gaming
Throughout the Horizon franchise, Aloy has a few companions who help her out during combat, including Erend and Talanah. Though they are all helpful, Seyka manages to outperform them all. She is quick, strategic, and ensures she always communicates with Aloy so that they can coordinate their attacks. It is incredibly fun to hunt machines with her, and things would only get better if players could do the same with friends.
The franchise feels like it is at the right place for multiplayer elements. Online gaming is more popular than ever, and there have been new machines introduced to Horizon that are perfect for multiplayer combat. The Bilegut is a huge machine that lays eggs that produce Stingspawns. It’s annoying to deal with all these threats alone, but it gets easier when Seyka helps. The experience could be emulated in an MMO which allows friends to split up the work. Though the game seems ideal for a co-op experience, PvP gameplay could also be great if players can form teams and use mounts to get the upper hand on opposing groups.
It is clear that gamers have yet to see the last of the Horizon franchise, and that plenty more is in store. The Burning Shores DLC introduced new gameplay elements such as grapple strikes and thermal updrafts that make combat even more interesting. With the addition of multiplayer elements, the Horizon franchise has the opportunity to expand its reach even further.
Horizon Forbidden West is available on PS4 and PS5.