Horizon
News, coverage and analysis tracking Horizon across the outlets.
Latest coverage
The Witcher 3 Remastered: Why It’s So Hard to Put Down
The free remaster of The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt has revitalized interest in the decade-old title, driving its highest Steam concurrent player count. Despite some bugs, the game's immersive world design, organic exploration, and high-quality writing continue to captivate players, making it difficult to put down.
Pulling focus: Must AAA pander to the distracted? | Opinion
This opinion piece argues that soaring AAA development costs and the resulting risk aversion are leading to games that pander to distracted audiences rather than demanding their attention. The author criticizes the over-reliance on market research and focus groups, suggesting this process can stifle creativity and lead to homogenized, forgettable titles. While acknowledging the need for accessibility, the piece advocates for trusting players and creating experiences that reward engagement.
Final Fantasy 7 Revelation’s Director Kept Coming Back To The Witcher 3 For Inspiration
Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth director Naoki Hamaguchi revealed that The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Horizon served as significant inspirations for the game's cinematic storytelling and player agency. Hamaguchi frequently revisited The Witcher 3 for its excellence in delivering satisfying, cinematic moments within gameplay mechanics. Square Enix aims for Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth to feature a "planetary scale" world upon its April 2027 release.
If you thought Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth was bloated, you're not going to like Revelation - but I'd much rather have too much to do than too little
This article discusses the open-world design of Final Fantasy 7 Revelation, drawing comparisons to Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth and other open-world titles like The Witcher 3. While acknowledging the potential for bloat and excessive tutorials, the author expresses enthusiasm for director Naoki Hamaguchi's ambitious vision and the game's expanded mechanics.
Physint goes from PlayStation to Xbox as Sony "unexpectedly" drops Hideo Kojima's Metal Gear Solid…
Xbox has announced it will publish Hideo Kojima's upcoming action-espionage game, Physint, after PlayStation unexpectedly canceled the project. Kojima stated that PlayStation Studios informed him of the cancellation in mid-June, prompting a three-month search for a new partner, which led to the collaboration with Xbox. The article also touches on Sony's recent strategic decisions and Xbox's own challenges.
Rapport: Sony skrotar live service-inslagen i Horizon Hunters Gathering
Sony and Guerrilla Games have reportedly canceled the live service elements for Horizon Hunters Gathering, opting instead for a more traditional co-op campaign experience. Development was restarted in June with a new goal to remove live service features, and the project faces potential cancellation by December if it fails to impress stakeholders. Meanwhile, work on Horizon 3 has also begun with a small team.
Games Inbox: Are online video game fans too negative?
Readers discuss the intense negativity surrounding games like Marvel's Wolverine and Grand Theft Auto 6, questioning whether online fans are too critical. Other topics include the decline of attract modes in modern games, Sony's struggles with live service titles, and the retro gaming market.
Horizon 3 is reportedly still years away as a small team continues to plan the single-player sequel
Horizon 3 is reportedly still years away from release, with the majority of Guerrilla Games developers focused on the multiplayer spin-off Horizon Hunters Gathering. A small team is planning the next single-player installment, which is expected to have a longer development cycle than previous titles. This comes as PlayStation continues to invest in live-service games, with mixed results.
PlayStation Reportedly Reboots Horizon Multiplayer Spinoff Following Negative Feedback
Sony has reportedly rebooted its live-service game, Horizon Hunters Gathering, following negative feedback from playtests. The multiplayer spinoff of the Horizon franchise is undergoing significant changes.
Caravan SandWitch is free on Epic, and 2024's indie darling is a must-play
Caravan SandWitch is currently available for free on the Epic Games Store until August 20. This narrative-driven game features a hopeful post-apocalyptic setting on the planet Cigalo, where players traverse the world using sci-fi tools to find a missing sister and build community with its inhabitants. It is praised for its gorgeous environment, worldbuilding, and atmospheric soundtrack.
Wolverine Uses Blind Rage And Violence To Make Combat Feel Authentic
Marvel's Wolverine for PlayStation 5, developed by Insomniac Games, focuses on authentic and brutal combat mechanics that tie into Wolverine's rage and mental state. The game utilizes a familiar action-adventure template, emphasizing narrative-driven character development and exploring themes of self-discovery. Early gameplay showcases a rage meter that enhances combat effectiveness and visual feedback, aiming to deliver a satisfying experience that mirrors the character's ferocity.
New Fallout game reportedly led by Josh Sawyer would be "good" for both Obsidian and Bethesda "in many ways," says former New Vegas creative lead
Former Fallout: New Vegas designer Chris Avellone expressed excitement over reports that Josh Sawyer is directing a new Fallout game at Obsidian Entertainment. Avellone believes this project would benefit both Obsidian and publisher Bethesda by potentially increasing the release cadence of major titles, given Bethesda's historically long development times. While John Gonzalez, a key writer for New Vegas, has returned to Obsidian, his specific role on the new Fallout project remains unclear due to recent Xbox restructuring.
Former PlayStation head tells Xbox to either be a good publisher or make a good platform with exclusives: "Nintendo…
Former PlayStation head Shawn Layden advises Xbox to commit to either being a competitive platform with exclusive content or a major multi-platform publisher. He argues that trying to be both is a flawed strategy, citing Nintendo and PlayStation's reliance on exclusives. Layden also points to Microsoft's frequent layoffs and the confusing decision to acquire major franchises only to release them on rival platforms.
Xbox needs to make a choice, says former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden: be a publisher or a platform, but you can't be both
Former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden argues that Xbox must choose between being a major game publisher or a platform holder, stating it cannot effectively be both. He highlights the need for exclusive content to support a platform, contrasting it with the multiplatform approach required for a top publisher, a dilemma exacerbated by recent Xbox layoffs and strategic shifts.
Ex-PlayStation boss explains why PC releases were a good thing, as reports claim Sony is ending blockbuster launches
Former PlayStation President Shawn Layden explained the strategic benefits of releasing games on PC, even if delayed, to increase intellectual property awareness across various media. Reports suggest Sony may be shifting away from this strategy, focusing PC releases on live-service titles rather than narrative blockbusters, a move Layden believes could hinder future projects.
Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO hasn't given up on live-service games just yet
Despite numerous cancellations and underperforming titles, Sony Interactive Entertainment president Hideaki Nishino has reaffirmed the company's commitment to live-service games. Nishino stated that the genre is still relatively new and that Sony wants to continue taking on challenges within it, aiming to revitalize the market with both first-party and third-party content. Sony plans to release its own live-service title, Marvel Tōkon: Fighting Souls, this year.
On Sale
Several games are currently on sale on Steam, including the Horizon franchise, Bellwright, Bang-On Balls: Chronicles, and Felvidek. Discounts range from 34% to 65%.
Tencent Looking to Offload Game Dev Investments, Even at a Loss
Chinese company Tencent is reportedly looking to divest from several of its Japanese game development investments, even if it means taking a financial loss. This move is attributed to the current industry downturn and Tencent's focus on AI development. While specific studios are not all named, Marvelous is mentioned as one of the companies Tencent seeks to exit. Despite these potential sales, Tencent has stated its continued commitment to the video game industry and its presence in the Japanese market.
After Years of Live-Service Chasing, Single-Player Games Are Winning Again
The article discusses the shift in the gaming industry from a strong focus on live-service games back towards single-player experiences. While live-service games can be highly lucrative, many publishers struggled to implement them successfully, leading to a resurgence in demand for complete, finished single-player titles. This trend is evident in recent showcases from Sony and Xbox, which highlight promising single-player games as key platform definers.
PlayStation CEO responds to reports Sony is abandoning PC, seemingly confirms big single-player games will be PS5…
PlayStation CEO Hideaki Nishino has indicated that Sony will prioritize PlayStation 5 exclusivity for its in-house developed single-player games, while live-service titles will continue to be released on both PS5 and PC. This strategy shift suggests a move away from the multiplatform releases previously seen with titles like Horizon and The Last of Us, aligning with reports that PlayStation is re-evaluating its PC release strategy for major first-party games.
