Former SIE Worldwide Studios president Shuhei Yoshida was surprised that Horizon Forbidden West didn’t sell more units than it did. 2022’s Horizon Forbidden West built on what fans enjoyed about the original Horizon Zero Dawn by taking protagonist Aloy on a new quest to discover the mystery behind a deadly plague within the ruined remains of the western United States. Reviews for Horizon Forbidden West were mainly positive, praising the game’s rich visuals and gripping combat while criticizing the plot.

While the Horizon games have faced issues like releasing around the same time as blockbuster hits like Elden Ring and negative review bombing campaigns, the series is fairly lucrative for Sony. In the UK, Horizon Forbidden West was the second-biggest launch for the PlayStation 5 at the time of its release, and its overall sales figures have since been bolstered by Forbidden West’s PC launch in March 2024. By April 2023, Horizon Forbidden West had sold over 8.4 million units, with Sony reporting that the overall Horizon franchise sold 32.7 million copies around that time.

Why Horizon Forbidden West Doesn't Have to Hurry Towards a Remaster Like TLOU2 Did
Why Horizon Forbidden West Doesn't Have to Hurry Towards a Remaster Like TLOU2 Did

In the wake of The Last of Us 2 Remastered and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Guerrilla Games should hold off on a Horizon Forbidden West remaster

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However, former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida expected Horizon Forbidden West to perform better, as revealed in a recent interview with Kinda Funny Games. This marks Yoshida’s first interview since stepping down as SIE Worldwide Studios President in 2024, and he said that Horizon Forbidden West’s sales numbers left him surprised as the game was the sequel to an established IP and these typically perform better than their predecessors due to having a built-in fanbase. That being said, he still loves the Horizon franchise and described Forbidden West as “bigger and great.”

Former PlayStation Head Shuhei Yoshida Thought Horizon Forbidden West Would Sell Better

While Horizon Forbidden West may have fallen short of some sales expectations, the series is still going strong with big plans for the future. Last year, a more lighthearted take on Horizon Zero Dawn was released in the form of the family-friendly LEGO Horizon Adventures, which was also the first Horizon game to be released on a Nintendo console. Several new Horizon projects are said to be in development, including a third mainline entry and an online multiplayer spin-off.

As for Horizon Forbidden West itself, both the base game and its 2023 Burning Shores DLC expansion recently reached a wider audience with the release of the previously mentioned PC port in March 2024. A live-action movie adaptation of Horizon Zero Dawn is reportedly in the works at Colombia Pictures in partnership with PlayStation Productions.

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9 /10

Horizon Forbidden West
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Action
RPG
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Systems
PC-1 PlayStation-1
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Top Critic Avg: 88 /100 Critics Rec: 96%
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Released
February 18, 2022
ESRB
T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
Developer(s)
Guerrilla Games
Publisher(s)
Sony
Engine
Decima
Franchise
Horizon
Steam Deck Compatibility
Unsupported
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
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Join Aloy as she braves a majestic but dangerous new frontier that holds mysterious new threats. This Complete Edition allows you to enjoy the critically acclaimed Horizon Forbidden West on PC in its entirety with bonus content, including the Burning Shores story expansion that picks up after the main game.

Explore distant lands, fight bigger and more awe-inspiring machines, and encounter astonishing new tribes as you return to the far-future, post-apocalyptic world of Horizon.

The land is dying. Vicious storms and an unstoppable blight ravage the scattered remnants of humanity while fearsome new machines prowl their borders, and life on Earth is hurtling toward another extinction.

It's up to Aloy to uncover the secrets behind these threats and restore order and balance to the world. Along the way, she must reunite with old friends, forge alliances with warring new factions and unravel the legacy of the ancient past.

Genre(s)
Action, RPG
How Long To Beat
29 Hours
PS Plus Availability
N/A
OpenCritic Rating
Mighty