There have only been two mainlineHorizongames, but it’s clear Sony has bigger plans for the IP. Aloy’s journey from the mountain states of America to the dangerous west coast is littered with tense combat encounters and truly stunning scenery. The potential of the franchise is greater than just the single-player games that began releasing in 2017, and the announcement of anew online-centric title in Guerrilla Games' serieswill look to broaden its scope into an all-new genre and format. Little is known about the project, so speculation is rife.
Horizonfocuses largely on the USA, and traversing the sunny shores of what was once San Francisco is a genuine treat. Its art style and level of detail can be replicated anywhere, though, and the global threat of machines going rogue allows for much more potential elsewhere. The third game in the trilogy will likely be an ambitious experience that could literally shoot for the moon, but with a multiplayer entry the possibilities are endless. Be it across the Pacific or seeing the last remnants of Europe, the as-yet untitledHorizononline game would do well to sail away from America’s shores in search of something new.
RELATED:Horizon Forbidden West: What Threat is Aloy Pursuing Now
America is Horizon’s Single-Player Playground
Though the USA may stretch from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific with plenty of diverse environments, looking to other places is an enticing proposition, and would ensure that a multiplayer title steers clear of the mainline series. Aloy has mapped out the west, and the east coast would likely be similar, but questions that surround the rest of the world have largely been unanswered. An online game would be a viable way for players tosee more of the world inHorizonwithout impacting those who only choose to experience only the single-player games.
Alva offers a first glimpse at shores beyond America, as her home in the east is said to be very different fromwhat players experience inHorizon Forbidden West. Her role as a diviner leads to an endless search for information on the Old Ones, and her home is currently shrouded in mystery. It’s unlikely that Aloy will travel around Earth as there are limits to how large an open-world can be, so bringing players to another country in the online entry could satisfy curiosities of those who hope to see more beyondHorizon Forbidden West.
Horizon’s Online Game Has to Be Inclusive
The switch to online could bring an all-new audience to the franchise, and Sony surely hopes this is the case as it makes PlayStation more of a multiplayer haven with devs like Bungie. It could alienate people to set the game too close toAloy’s stomping grounds, relying on lore gleaned from RPGs that are hundreds of hours long. Heading away from the USA could separate this title from the series that spawned it, enough to make new fans feel welcome.
The rapid expansion of theHorizonseries over the next few years is a huge undertaking, and Sony surely believes that theHorizon Forbidden WestDLC, a VR game, TV series, and online project will capture as large an audience as possible. It has to strike a balance between remaining faithful to what has come before, while also finding a way to accommodate new players who have migrated toHorizonfrom other online experiences. A change in setting would perhaps be the most obvious and effective way to achieve this. America has been faithful to Aloy, but a different genre should mean a different playground to explore.
Horizon Forbidden Westis available now for PS4 and PS5.
MORE:Horizon Forbidden West’s Burning Shores DLC Has Room for CYAN to Return
