ESRB leak suggests Horizon Zero Dawn making PS5 return

2017's Horizon Zero Dawn looks like it's about to get another facelift for the PS5.

18th Sep 2024 11:42

Images via Guerrilla Games

Horizon Zero Dawn Remaster

We sometimes feel sorry for the Horizon franchise. While Sony's first-party lineup contains some gaming Goliaths, there's a sense that Aloy is pushed to the side while The Last of Us and God of War steal the spotlight.

Despite there only being two games under the Horizon series' belt, Aloy has made quite a name for herself. Maybe not always for the right reasons, as the vocal minority have branded her 'ugly' or claimed she has a 'hairy' face. Well, the haters could be about to cope and seethe with the franchise's return to PS5. 

Horizon Zero Dawn PS5 remaster rated for release

A new ESRB rating has seemingly spoiled the surprise of a Horizon Zero Dawn remaster for PS5 and PC. There were rumbles about a Zero Dawn remaster before (p*ssing off Bloodborne fans), but since then, things have gone quiet. 

The ESRB listing is still live at the time of writing, highlighting a Teen rating due to "small puffs of red blood," "fictional drugs," and a mention of pornography. Unfortunately, there's nothing about how in-depth this remaster is or what graphical improvements it'll include. 

Following its release in 2017, Horizon Zero Dawn has been playable on PS5 via Sony's backward compatibility, while it was also given a PC release in 2020 - albeit based on the PS4 version. Assuming a PS5 remaster is on the way, it would bring it up to date with 2022's Horizon Forbidden West. 

Although there's no release date on this rumoured remaster, it's a little convenient that Sony has just announced the PS5 Pro. Sony's showcase used Forbidden West as an example of a title that will be using the Pro's new features, so it doesn't take a genius to figure out the remaster could be a PS5 Pro launch title. 

The news is obviously fueling the fires of the "Sony stop remaking games challenge." The Last of Us, Marvel's Spider-Man, Resident Evil 4, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are just some of the games that have had a facelift. The problem is that there are fears that a HZD remaster will be akin to 2024's The Last of Us Part II Remastered without bringing much new to the table. 

As Zero Dawn also received a PS5 update in 2021 that gave us the elusive 60 FPS and 4K checkerboard, we're not sure what else can be done here. Still, with rumours of a remaster ramping up since the title was removed from PlayStation Plus, it looks like the mystery is finally be solved. 

Tom Chapman

About The Author

Tom Chapman

Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.

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