Multiple sources are corroborating the rumor that a Horizon Zero Dawn remake is in development, which will improve lighting, textures, animations, character models, and accessibility options to meet the standard of its current-gen sequel. Further, these reports suggest a multiplayer game is also in development for the Horizon franchise that may feature co-op gameplay.
This will surely please any fans who are excited about the Horizon franchise, but it will also draw controversy following Sony’s most recent remake endeavor. PlayStation fans will be well aware of how a remake of The Last of Us was received, and the gripes that fans had about what Sony and Naughty Dog’s intentions were. If Horizon is committed to going down the same path, Guerrilla will need to steel itself for the same reaction.
Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Paves the Way for Spontaneous Remakes
The Last of Us’ remaster on PS4 offered subtle graphical improvements and brought the game to a then-current gen system after having recently released on PS3. But this summer, when it was announced that The Last of Us Part 1 would be billed as a remake on PS5, there was a lot more heated debate around whether its addressed improvements were demonstrative of its full $70 price tag.
Many fans reacted to The Last of Us Part 1’s perceived lack of improvements by wishing that Naughty Dog would concentrate its efforts on new IP or sequels instead of harping on players' nostalgia. If Naughty Dog’s penchant for remasters and remakes is followed by Guerrilla Games, Sony’s plans for future installments of all its beloved first-party franchises may be seen as a lucrative scheme.
The success of these remakes may be the final judge in terms of whether they continue or not, but it is important to note that these remakes do have the potential to provide players with a definitive edition of a beloved game - whether they meet those expectations or not. Remakes can allow for more accessibility options than were available in the past, for example, and it also opens the door to new players who may not have been able to play the original.
Horizon Zero Dawn’s Rumored Remake Stirs the Same Controversy
Either way, Horizon Zero Dawn has a long road ahead if its remake rumors are true. Guerrilla and Sony could legitimately have the best intentions in mind with wanting to update the original IP for current-gen PS5 hardware, but that is certainly not how many fans will view this effort.
The Last of Us Part 1 was bashed for being a remake of a nine-year-old game, whereas Horizon Zero Dawn is only five years old as of this rumor. Moreover, Horizon Zero Dawn is already backward-compatible on PS5 with a performance patch, lending more credence to the belief that its remake plans are somewhat redundant.
If nothing else, this may be another attempt to introduce new audiences to Horizon Zero Dawn before more sequels and spin-offs release, such as the aforementioned multiplayer game included in current rumors. Horizon having a standalone multiplayer game also follows the path that The Last of Us has carved out, and both are receiving TV adaptations, meaning Sony may be trying to create the same franchise formula structure across its most popular titles. These rumors will nonetheless stir the same controversy, and may only be rumors for a while as The Last of Us Part 1 stayed under the radar.
A Horizon Zero Dawn remake is rumored to be in development.