Though AAA games taking longer to make as time goes on, plenty of developers have emerged to help fill the gaps and ensure a steady flow of releases. Sony’s first-party library has grown bigger with the acquisition of Insomniac and Housemarque, giving studios like Naughty Dog and Guerrilla the opportunity to spend longer on projects while PlayStation fans have something else to enjoy.Horizonhas quickly become one of the biggest, most ambitious franchises in its list, withAloy’s journey across a ruined future Americacaptivating players for dozens of hours.
However, whileHorizoncontinues to be one of the best examples of open-world game design with strong sales to show for it, it has always suffered from a substantial problem. The franchise seems to be cursed with poor release timing, as it has become accustomed to launching alongside immense games that, at the very least, draw a lot of the attention away. Sony and Guerrilla have to remedy this issue for the third game, and while nobody can predict what will be a hit and what won’t be, finding a quiet time on the calendar would give it the best shot at the success.
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Horizon Has Been Overshadowed at Almost Every Turn
Horizon Zero Dawnandits sequelHorizon Forbidden Westoffer something truly special. Their sprawling open-world spaces offer presentation and scope to be truly admired. However,Horizon’s core mainline games have each been overshadowed by titles that are considered among the best games ever made. Spring 2017 was packed with anticipated releases likePersona 5,Mass Effect: Andromeda, and the Nintendo Switch console - a catalyst for the release ofThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild.
Horizon Zero Dawnsimply could not compete. Any newZeldagame is cause for excitement, butBreath of the Wildapproached the open-world action/adventure genre in a fresh and intriguing way that overshadowed Guerrilla’s more classical design philosophy.Horizonwould get another chance to be the standout game of its release window withForbidden West, but that hope was once againsquashed byElden Ring, the latest offering from much-loved developer FromSoftware in collaboration with George R.R. Martin. It’s a visual and mechanical marvel, and the huge sales despite being crushingly difficult was a testament to how fixated the industry was on The Lands Between. EvenHorizon Zero Dawn’s DLC The Frozen Wilds was given to audiences during a packed 2017 holiday season that includedAssassin’s Creed OriginsandSuper Mario Odyssey.
Horizon 3’s Release Date is Essential to its Success
Horizon Forbidden West’s DLC expansion Burning Shoresis set to arrive in April, but it may suffer from the same fate as its predecessors givenStar Wars Jedi: Survivorlaunches a few days later. Action-packed open-world games are a dime a dozen in 2023, and whileHorizonexhibits some of the genre’s best qualities, this doesn’t necessarily mean people will flock to it. Audiences may instead be drawn to the new idea, as was the case withBreath of the Wild, which can make it difficult for the Sony series to really compete.
There are often droughts in gaming release schedules, months passing without AAA launches to keep fans occupied. HavingHorizon 3hit shelvesduring one of these periods would be wise, as Sony and Guerrilla can seem like saviors without the risk of having their thunder stolen. Some might argue the series is simply cursed, but third time’s the charm, andHorizonis too good to play second fiddle.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now on PS4 and PS5.
