Summary
- Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered needs a PSN account to play on Steam - causing inconvenience for some users.
- Despite backlash over the PSN requirement, Sony is adamant about enforcing it for all its games, including single-player ones.
- Concerns over pricing and the PSN requirement have affected the reception of the remastered before launch.
The upcoming Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered will require Steam users to have a PSN account if they want to play it. The Horizon Zero Dawn remaster was announced at the latest PlayStation State of Play event, giving fans the chance to relive Aloy's original adventure with enhanced graphics that better take advantage of modern hardware.
Even though the original Horizon Zero Dawn is seven years old at this point, it's still one of the most visually-striking video games of all time, and so many have called into question whether there's much of a point to the remaster. Regardless, that hasn't stopped Sony from moving forward with Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, set to launch for PC and PlayStation 5 on October 31.
Horizon Zero Dawn Has Been Removed From Epic Games Store
Ahead of the upcoming remaster, Sony delists Horizon Zero Dawn from the Epic Games Store, making the original 2017 title unavailable to purchase.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered has already been criticized for being what many have deemed a pointless remaster, and now it's under fire for its PSN account requirement. Like all new Sony games released on PC, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered requires users to sign in with a PSN account. While this isn't a big deal for some, others don't like the requirement, and it can create some serious inconveniences for those that live in certain areas. Regardless, Sony is insistent on enforcing the PSN requirement with its games, even single-player ones like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Requires a PSN Account on PC
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered can't seem to catch a break. Beyond the PSN requirement, there's also been some concern about its pricing. Sony announced that those that already own the original Horizon Zero Dawn would be able to upgrade to the new version for $10, but it then doubled the price of the original from $19.99 to $39.99. On Steam, Sony made it so the original Horizon Zero Dawn game can only be purchased as part of a bundle with the remaster for $49.99, a decision that has further irked fans.
Sony has faced severe backlash for its PSN requirement on Steam, and this has in turn impacted the reception of its games. Helldivers 2 was victim to a review bombing campaign that successfully saw Sony walk back the requirement, but all PlayStation-published games released after have enforced the controversial rule. Unfortunately, it seems as though PSN requirements are going to be a fact of life for all Sony games published on Steam moving forward. Fans either have to accept that or boycott PlayStation's Steam games if they feel strongly enough about it. It will definitely be interesting to see how it impacts the potential sales of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered when the game launches later this month.
Horizon: Zero Dawn
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 89 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- February 28, 2017
- ESRB
- T for Teen: Blood, Drug Reference, Language, Mild Sexual Themes, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Engine
- Decima
- Franchise
- Horizon
WHERE TO PLAY
Earth is ours no more. In an era where Machines roam the land and mankind is no longer the dominant species, a young hunter named Aloy embarks on a journey to discover her destiny. In a lush, post-apocalyptic world where nature has reclaimed the ruins of a forgotten civilization, pockets of humanity live on in primitive hunter-gatherer tribes. Their dominion over the new wilderness has been usurped by the Machines – fearsome mechanical creatures of unknown origin.
Explore a vibrant landscape rich with the beauty of nature. Travel through stunningly detailed forests, imposing mountains and the atmospheric ruins of a bygone civilization, all brought together in a world that is alive with changing weather systems and a full day/night cycle.
