Horizon Zero Dawn PS5 Remaster On The Way?

Multiple reports are stating that Horizon Zero Dawn is getting a PS5 remaster.

By Jason Collins | Published

This article is more than 2 years old

Fans of the Horizon series that have been dying to revisit the original game, the 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn, could gain the opportunity to play the game natively on PlayStation 5. Eight months after the release of the game’s acclaimed sequel, which initially split the critics, multiple reports now suggest that Horizon Zero Dawn might be getting its remaster for the PlayStation 5. So, it would seem that there’s cause for celebration but also a cause for criticism of the broader gaming industry.

According to IGN, the updated version of the game would feature all enhancements seen in Sony’s previous remasters of popular titles, including Spider-Man, The Last of Us, etc. This effectively means that the previous game, Horizon Zero Dawn, would feature improved visuals that would bring it up to par with its sequel. So, new character models, improved lighting, and smoother animation. In addition, the game would probably feature several accessibility features, as well as quality of life improvements and graphic modes.  

However, it’s still unclear whether Horizon Zero Dawn would be remastered or remade if the reports turn out the be true. The original The Last of Us launched on PlayStation 3 and got its remaster, The Last of Us Remastered for PlayStation 4, in 2014. But the game was also built-from-the-ground-up as The Last of Us Part 1 for PlayStation 5 a month ago. Admittedly, re-releases of recent hit games aren’t a novelty at Sony, and Horizon Zero Dawn might end up joining Spider-Man, Ghost of Tsushima, The Last of Us, and Uncharted 4 on Sony’s recent console.

The game just recently joined the PC platform, along with a multitude of Sony’s other timed exclusives, allowing PC gamers to enjoy some of the best titles Sony has to offer — like the God of War reboot game. Horizon Zero Dawn remake/remaster would give players a new reason to look back at the original game for at least another playthrough, maybe in a co-op mode. The multiplayer component was Guerilla Games and Sony’s dream for Horizon Zero Dawn, but it didn’t make the cut in the original game.

It’s entirely possible for Sony and Guerilla Games to implement the co-op mode in Horizon Zero Dawn remake/remaster, and its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West. However, numerous unverified sources have suggested that Guerilla might be withholding the feature for future projects, which would be a standalone spin-off or the next entry in the Horizon series. Sony did announce its plans to enter the live service gaming market right after it bought the studio that brought us Destiny 2.

Guerilla Games, Sony’s first-party studio, has previously hired a gaming director Simon Larouche to work on an undisclosed project. The fans are led to believe that the project in question might contain a multiplayer component since the director has a massive experience with multiplayer games, such as Rainbow Six: Siege, and MP components for Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Killzone 2, and Guardians of the Galaxy.

It’s worth noting that the Horizon Zero Dawn remake/remaster is still just speculation rather than fact. Lacking official confirmation from Sony, all details regarding the remake/remaster should be taken with a grain of salt. On a separate note, but as part of IGN’s report, Crystal Dynamics is conducting a survey asking fans if they’d like to see a return to the Legacy of Kain franchise. Legacy of Kain is an iconic action-adventure franchise with an incredible narrative, impeccable dialogues, and voice acting — it very well deserves a remake/remaster.