Sony Interactive Entertainment and Guerrilla Games have officially unveiled Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, a revamped edition of their beloved 2017 action-adventure game. Fans can mark their calendars for October 31, when this remaster will be available on Windows PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store, as well as on PlayStation 5. The news comes shortly after a leak via an ESRB rating.
Originally launched for PlayStation 4 in February 2017, Horizon Zero Dawn later arrived for Windows PC in August 2020, gaining a significant following. Over the past seven years, players have been captivated by the enigmatic world of Aloy, a hero on a quest of self-discovery in a future overrun by formidable machines. Fans of the game have formed an ever-growing community of cosplayers, virtual photographers, fan artists, and content creators whose creativity remains a source of inspiration.
Recognizing the leaps made in computer graphics over the years, Guerrilla Games saw an opportunity to update the game to match the visual standards of current-gen hardware. Therefore, they enlisted the talents of Nixxes to bring this vision to life. The result is a remastered version that promises to offer new players, as well as long-time fans, a breathtaking visual and auditory experience befitting their PS5 systems or high-performance PCs.
The remaster is not just about graphical updates; it also includes The Frozen Wilds expansion, bringing additional lands, skills, weapons, and machines into the fray. The extended content ensures that players can immerse themselves in a more expansive and visually upgraded world.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered comes packed with over 10 hours of re-recorded dialogue and motion capture, alongside a plethora of graphical enhancements. These improvements align the game’s visual fidelity with that of its highly acclaimed sequel, Horizon Forbidden West. Players can expect stunning 4K graphics, lightning-fast load times, and an environment that ranges from frozen mountains to dense jungles and arid deserts, all rendered in exquisite detail.
Character models and rendering have been brought up to date, ensuring that the game’s cast is as engaging as the story they inhabit. Enhancements to animation, lighting, and textures aim to provide new and returning players with an engrossing experience.
Audio has also received a significant overhaul. Utilizing PS5 Tempest 3D Audio Tech and Dolby Atmos rendering, the remaster offers an immersive soundscape. The sound design features hundreds of improvements, both in the game and its cinematic sequences, enhancing players’ auditory experience.
Taking full advantage of the PS5’s capabilities, the DualSense controller’s haptic feedback and adaptive triggers bring a new level of immersion to the game’s combat, exploration, and traversal mechanics. Custom haptics throughout the game provide tactile feedback that enhances the overall experience. An optional accessibility feature also uses sound and haptic feedback to alert players to interactable elements.
The remaster supports native PlayStation 5 Pro, enabling ultra-high fidelity graphics at high frame rates. On the PC version, players can enjoy support for ultra-wide resolutions and performance-enhancing technologies like NVIDIA DLSS 3 and AMD FSR 3.1.
Accessibility features from Horizon Forbidden West have been carried over, including remappable controls, haptic cues, and various assist toggles. These enhancements ensure that all players can enjoy the game to its fullest extent.
For those who have already traversed the world of Horizon Zero Dawn, the remaster supports old save games, making it easy to dive back into New Game+ or experiment with Photo Mode using previously unlocked outfits and customizations.
Pre-orders for Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered open on October 3 for both platforms. Current owners of the original game or its Complete Edition will have the option to upgrade to the digital remaster for $9.99. This includes players who added the game to their libraries during the PlayStation Play At Home initiative. Physical PS4 game disc owners can access this offer by inserting their disc into a PS5 console, though this option is not available for those using the PS5 Digital Edition disc-free console.
Newcomers can purchase the game for $49.99, securing the Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition. Whether you’re a returning fan or new to Aloy’s journey, this remaster promises to deliver an unparalleled adventure.
