Even though many feel like 2021 was a slow year for gaming, PlayStation has still offered quite a few exclusives in 2021. In the past twelve months, the PlayStation launched Returnal, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, Kena: Bridge of Spirits, and Deathloop, as well as enhanced Director's Cut editions of Death Stranding and Ghost of Tsushima. Blockbuster titles like God of War: Ragnarok, Gran Turismo 7, and Horizon Forbidden West among others were delayed into 2022, but it hasn't been a terrible year all things considered.
There have been some great new games in 2021, and there was a good selection of launch titles available with the PS5 last year, with games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Demon's Souls being big system sellers. However, some PlayStation fans are still waiting on that first generation-defining exclusive. Even though there have been several solid launches, it's been a slightly slower year for gaming in general due to delays caused by Covid-19, and developers are still recovering. With a ton of games getting delayed to 2022, though, players are ready for more big exclusives, and Horizon Forbidden West's February launch will set the tone for PlayStation's upcoming release schedule.
PlayStation's 2021 Holiday Season is Lackluster
Unfortunately for Sony, Horizon Forbidden West's delay is having a huge impact on the holiday 2021 season. Developers normally like to release something big around the holidays to maximize sales during a time when everyone is shopping, but PlayStation doesn't have any standout titles coming before the new year. As a result, Xbox is dominating the space with the highly anticipated release of Halo Infinite, while Nintendo has Pokemon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl as its holiday bestseller.
The delay for Horizon Forbidden West makes for a disappointing 2021 holiday season for PlayStation fans, but it's important to remember that delays happen for a reason and the game will ultimately be better for it. It's also important for gamers to keep looking forward, because PlayStation is looking to bounce back with its early 2022 releases, and Horizon will be the biggest next-gen launch yet. Forbidden West can't fill the holiday void many PlayStation gamers are feeling right now, but the first few months of 2022 will hopefully make up for it.
The Horizon Series Has Been Growing in Popularity
Horizon Zero Dawn was one of the major successes of the PS4 generation, and PlayStation has doubled down on Guerrilla's beautiful, post-apocalyptic IP. Aloy's popularity has only been growing due to collaborations with Fortnite, Genshin Impact, and even Fall Guys.Horizon Forbidden West has been nominated for Most Anticipated Game at the Game Awards two years in a row now, and the gameplay trailer revealed a stunning world featuring many of players' most-requested improvements.
Forbidden West is looking to be PlayStation's biggest exclusive launch since the PS5's release last year, and all the marketing PlayStation has been doing for both Horizon and Aloy as a character has increased anticipation for Forbidden West. Fans have high expectations, and it's important not to let them down with this release. Aloy is being positioned as a major PlayStation mascot alongside the likes of Kratos and Nathan Drake, so there's a lot to live up to. Forbidden West will have a huge impact on PlayStation's year, but it'll also have an impact on the future of Horizon as a franchise.
How Horizon Forbidden West Sets the Tone for 2022
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Because Horizon Forbidden West is the biggest exlusive launch yet, and the first major PlayStation launch of 2022, it's going to set the tone and expectations for the rest of the year. PlayStation needs to use Horizon Forbidden West to show players that its exclusives are well worth the wait and showcase what's possible for the rest of the generation. At the same time, it needs to prove that PlayStation exclusives are worth the $10 price hike for PS5 compatibility, an increase that a lot of players still are not happy about since Microsoft is providing free next-gen upgrade paths. So far, the increase hasn't felt entirely justified.
Forbidden West looks like it'll be a blockbuster success, but it really does need to be. If Horizon Forbidden West disappoints, PlayStation will be starting the year off on a very sour note that'll last at least until God of War: Ragnarok releases later in the year. This is one of the big games PlayStation fans have been anticipating since the PS5 console was revealed in 2020, and while gamers are incredibly excited about what the rest of 2022 has to offer, hype for everything else could be dampened if Forbidden West doesn't deliver.
Hopefully, Forbidden West will be exactly what PlayStation fans have been hoping for: a gorgeous open-world RPG with incredible combat, exploration, and narrative design. Horizon Forbidden West has the potential to launch PlayStation into an incredible 2022, which is already packed with games both from PlayStation's first-party studios and other develoeprs.
What Fans Can Expect From PlayStation in 2022
After Horizon Forbidden West launches on February 18, the next title on everyone's minds will be God of War: Ragnarok, which just might be the most anticipated game of 2022. A release date hasn't been announced yet, but because it was originally slated to release in 2021, fans are hoping to see it in at least the first half of the year. Horizon Forbidden West and God of War: Ragnarok together could really make or break PlayStation's 2022. If both achieve their full potential, it'll be an incredible year even if nothing else comes out.
Fans can also look forward to Ghostwire: Tokyo, a first-person horror title, as a timed PS5 exclusive, while PlayStation's racing franchise, Gran Turismo 7, launches on March 4, 2022. Other PlayStation exclusives include Forspoken, which should be launching in the spring, Stray, and Sifu. Fans are also hoping to see Final Fantasy 16 launch in 2022 even though it hasn't officially been announced. Pragmata, the mysterious timed exclusive coming from Capcom, was recently delayed to 2023, but hopefully some more information about the game surfaces next year.
In 2022, fans are also hoping for official announcements about the next projects from Sucker Punch and Naughty Dog, both of which launched exclusives at the end of the PS4's generation. Sometime next year, fans should get an idea on what they're working on. Sony reportedly has over 25 games in development, and fans only know of about half of them, so there should be many reveals and announcements to look forward to in 2022 in addition to the great launch lineup.
Sony has been secretive with release dates for its exclusives recently, which can be frustrating for some fans, but the good news is that when Sony does announce release dates, it tries to stick to them. Even though most of the PlayStation exclusives for 2022 don't have specific launch dates yet, when they are announced, fans can be confident that the chances of additional delays are small.
Horizon Forbidden West launches February 18 for PS4 and PS5.
