Highlights

  • Horizon Forbidden West takes players to new locations on the West Coast, such as the Golden Gate Bridge and Las Vegas Strip, making the game's world truly memorable.
  • The sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn reinvented the setting, progression system, and gameplay loop, and more DLC for Forbidden West could provide a satisfying experience until the third game arrives.
  • PlayStation needs a strong first-party presence in 2024 to showcase its great franchises, and releasing another DLC for a critically acclaimed game like Forbidden West could help steady the ship and engage players.

Horizon Forbidden West is a big, ambitious, and beautifully crafted game and one that shows that no feat is too tough for Sony's first-party franchise to overcome. Taking Aloy to the Coast gave it a distinctive feel over its predecessor, but one thing each title has in common is a hearty DLC to supplement the main experience.

Horizon Zero Dawn has The Frozen Wilds whereas Forbidden West has Burning Shores, with each giving players more reason to go back to their expansive open worlds. That said, Forbidden West might be well served breaking convention and giving players something new in 2024, as the gaming landscape is ripe for something new from Guerrilla before the third entry's arrival.

Horizon God of War Aloy Kratos side by side
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Horizon Has More of the West to Discover

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Horizon Forbidden West takes players to the Pacific Ocean, and in doing so, plucks real-world locations like the Golden Gate Bridge and the Las Vegas Strip to make its world truly memorable. Though these spots are recognizable to many, they aren't the only worthwhile areas of the West Coast that could be explored in finer detail. Other cities like San Diego or Seattle could be viable places to add to the story of Forbidden West.

Such places might be an underwhelming setting for the third mainline game, though. Horizon 3 might be best served looking for somewhere completely new to set the story to show the scope of the threat that Aloy and her companions face, but the West isn't fully explored, and it would be a shame to not get back to it, as the threats could be different and the landscapes more diverse depending where in the USA the good guys are.

Zero Dawn was Reinvented with the Sequel

2017's Horizon Zero Dawn was a big, ambitious, and very well-executed product, meeting and exceeding players' expectations despite being overshadowed somewhat by the release of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild. Those who did take the time to experience Aloy's maiden voyage into the wilderness were treated to something special, but Guerrilla Games still thought it wise to make significant adjustments to the setting, progression system, and gameplay loop, making it half a decade between mainline games.

Based on history it's likely the developer will keep its ambitions high, and more DLC for Forbidden West could be a sufficient hold-over until Nemesis arrives in the third game. The series is already being subjected to a Netflix show as well as a multiplayer game, and a story DLC could remind people that the series' roots are in gaming and the single-player space.

PlayStation Needs a First Party Presence in 2024

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There are a few notable PlayStation-exclusive games that are launching in 2024, from Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to Helldivers 2, but there's little on the first-party front. Spider-Man 2 carried the load for Sony in 2023, but with the turn of the new year, a more prominent presence is needed to show players that the PlayStation 5's future is looking as bright as its past. PlayStation needs a big 2024, given it has a plethora of great franchises under its umbrella like God of War, Spider-Man, The Last of Us, and more.

Spider-Man 2 was the only full first-party, non-VR release from Sony in 2023, and did not receive any accolades at The Game Awards 2023 despite being nominated.

With the recent leaks shedding light on the future of Insomniac and the cancelation of Naughty Dog's The Last of Us multiplayer game, it's been a turbulent few months for PlayStation, and more DLC for a game that has already received strong critical acclaim could steady the ship by giving players something to sink their teeth into while leaning into a pre-made gameplay system that Sony and Guerrilla already know works well.

2024 Could be the Quiet Period Horizon Needs

Horizon needs an empty release window to reach the playerbase it deserves. 2024 being slim for first-party exclusives could be the perfect opportunity to slide in a DLC story that anyone can get on board with to help the third game right out the gate when it launches, hopefully soon.