Since the announcement of Horizon Forbidden West, the definition of the game has shifted greatly from what Sony Interactive Entertainment initially marketed the title to be. At the time of its unveiling, it was a featured release for PlayStation 5. However, it was later pressed that the Guerrilla Games sequel will instead be a cross-generation title for both PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5.
However, not all is bad. Developer Guerrilla Games later went on to press that there is emphasis on the last-generation version, but, the PlayStation 5 format of Horizon Forbidden West will find some advantages that make it a fulfilling release on the new hardware. Amid the growing excitement for its presumed release later this fall, it was shortly squandered when Bloomberg Tech’s Jason Schreier later indicated the release being pushed into 2022.
Since, neither Guerrilla Games nor Sony Interactive Entertainment addressed the matter. But during Gamescom Opening Night Live, it was revealed that the game is shipping later in February as Guerrilla Games verified the choice to push the game’s release.
It’s been a few months since we shared the first Horizon Forbidden West gameplay experience during State of Play, where we showed you a glimpse of where Aloy’s journey will take her next and showcased exciting new elements like swimming, free climbing, expanded melee combat, and more. At that time, Horizon Forbidden West had just passed a major milestone and we had entered the final stage of development; on track, but a bit uncertain if we’d be able to polish the game to the level of quality we strive for.
It’s no surprise that our teams were hugely impacted by the global pandemic; we have been adjusting to new workflows, protocols, and other challenges, while keeping our teams safe and prioritizing a healthy work/life balance. While the decision to move the game’s launch to 2022 certainly wasn’t easy, we’d like to take a moment to thank all of our fans for their unwavering support; we know how much you’ve been looking forward to reuniting with Aloy and her friends, continuing her story, and exploring a new and more dangerous world. Your passion, fan art, cosplay, virtual photography, and videos have meant the world to all of us.
Mathjis de Jonge, Guerrilla Games’ Game Director
Additionally, Guerrilla Games upon scheduling the release date for Horizon Forbidden West for next year, the team also goes on to address that it will be launching pre-orders later on September 2nd. In the meantime, PlayStation 5 owners can take advantage of a new 60 frames per second free update that launched on Wednesday.
Now with Horizon Forbidden West being officially slated to arrive this coming February, that leaves one less title to await for a planned launch. Previously, Sony Interactive Entertainment confirmed that both God of War: Ragnarok & Gran Turismo 7 will both be shipping in 2022 and with PlayStation 4 versions respectively. You can read the full report by heading here.
Are you excited to get your hands on Horizon Forbidden West?
Horizon Forbidden West ships on February 18, 2022 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Source: PlayStation Blog