Rumors of a Horizon Zero Dawn remake for the PlayStation 5 have spread again after the title's removal from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog.
The rumors about the potential remake started in 2022 when reports suggested that Horizon Zero Dawn would be renewed for the PlayStation 5. At the time that the reports came out, many fans of the franchise were undoubtedly surprised.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remake
(Photo : Guerilla Games / Screenshot taken from Steam)
This was primarily because the original game was still relatively new and already ran well on the latest Sony console. Despite PlayStation's continued silence on the matter, a recent decision by the company suggests that the remake could very well be in development.
It was just announced that Horizon Zero Dawn will be removed from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog on May 21, 2024. After that date, the game will no longer be accessible to gamers who have a PS Plus Extra or Premium membership.
It will instead require a full purchase if you want to keep playing the critically acclaimed action-adventure game. The situation comes as every month, Sony removes several games from the Game Catalog and it's very much expected for this to happen again in May, according to ComicBook.
However, the fact that Horizon Zero Dawn is among the titles that will be removed from the catalog as it is a first-party title on the console. This means that the publisher could choose to keep it on PS Plus for as long as it takes and not be forced to remove it.
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Following the recent news, many fans have started to believe that this is Sony's first such indication of a potential Horizon Zero Dawn remake. Normally, the company would not want to try to sell a remake of the game if it is still available for free on PS Plus.
This means that removing it from the PS Plus Game Catalog makes players much more likely to see the remake after or if it is released. While it is a frustrating move, business-wise, it makes sense for PlayStation's side.
No Release This Year
Despite the rumors, it is highly unlikely that the Horizon Zero Dawn remake, if it does come, will be released in 2024. Sony has already confirmed that there will be no sequels or updates to any major existing franchise titles before March 2025, said TrueTrophies.
This means that such updates will not be coming to titles including Ghost of Tsushima, God of War, or The Last of Us sequels in the next year. The announcement came as Sony released its FY2023 Q3 earnings report.
It predicts a "gradual decline" in hardware sales over the next financial year and Sony reiterates its focus on live service games. The affected franchises that will not get any updates will also include Marvel's Spider-Man 2.
The rumors of a potential remake for Horizon Zero Dawn come as many fans are looking for an update of the gameplay in the title's sequel, Horizon: Forbidden West. Some players have argued that the original has a much better foundation compared to its sequel, according to GamingBible.
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