Horizon Zero Dawn

## Development

### Developer(s)

Guerrilla Games
Nixxes Software (Epic Games Launcher, GOG.com, Steam)
Virtuos (Epic Games Store, GOG.com, Steam)

### Writer(s)

John Gonzalez
Ben McCaw

### Composer(s)

Joris de Man
The Flight
Niels van der Leest
Jonathan Williams

## Release

### Platform(s)

Epic Games Launcher
GOG.com
PlayStation 4
Steam

### Release Date

**PlayStation 4**
NA: February 28, 2017
PAL: March 1, 2017
JP: March 2, 2017
**Epic Games Launcher, GOG.com, Steam**
WW: August 7, 2020

### Rating

**ESRB:** T
**PEGI:** 16
**CERO:** D
**ACB:** M

### Genre

Action role-playing

***Horizon Zero Dawn*** is an action role-playing game developed by Guerrilla Games and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. The title was released on February 28, 2017 in North America for the PlayStation 4, with a European release following on March 1, 2017. The title received a port for the Epic Games Launcher, GOG.com, and Steam on August 7, 2020. It is the first title in the *Horizon* franchise.

Set approximately 1000 years after the 2010's, *Horizon Zero Dawn* focuses on Aloy, a young hunter of the Nora tribe once branded an outcast by her people. After the tribe is attacked and Aloy proves herself, she is sent to stop those attacking her people and determine the cause of recent "corruptions" experienced by the mechanical beasts of their world. During her journey, Aloy learns more about her past, as well as her purpose.

*Horizon Zero Dawn* was met with critical and commercial success, with praise being given to its story, gameplay, and performances. The title has become one of the best-selling titles on the PlayStation 4, and has been nominated for numerous awards. The title also gained notoriety for its close release to another major open-world title, *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild*. *Horizon Zero Dawn* received a DLC story expansion, *The Frozen Wilds*, on November 7, 2017 for the PlayStation 4 edition; the DLC was included in all PC releases of the game. A sequel for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, *Horizon Forbidden West*, was released in 2022.

## Synopsis

In the post-apocalyptic 31st century, the world is in ruins and ruled by robotic beasts. Humanity has regressed to a tribal civilization, and is forced to survive against the mechanical threats roaming the wilds. Aloy, a young woman from the Nora tribe, is living under the care of Rost, after both were cast out by their tribe. After the tribe is attacked by a group of cultists known as the Eclipse and numerous corrupted beasts, Aloy proves herself, and sets out to quell the attacks occurring by her people, and discover the cause of the beasts' corruption.

As Aloy travels the wilds, she encounters other tribes such as the Carja and the Oseram, and both receives aid from and aids the groups. She additionally learns more about the downfall of the old world, as well as the circumstances of her own birth. As her efforts continue, she soon faces a threat not only to her tribe, but to the entirety of the human race. Aloy must then race to prevent disaster, as an artificial intelligence known as HADES attempts to wipe all of humanity clean using the robotic beasts as its proxy.

## Development

*Horizon Zero Dawn* first began development after the release of *Killzone 3*, which released for the PlayStation 3 in 2011.

## Notes and references

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 ***Horizon Zero Dawn***
2. ↑ Sliva, Marty (17 June 2015). E3 2015: Horizon: Zero Dawn's Incredible Balance of Action and RPG. Ziff Davis.