Horizon Zero Dawn Makes Big Change Ahead of Remastered Release

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Horizon Zero Dawn Makes Big Change Ahead of Remastered Release

Key Takeaways

  • Horizon Zero Dawn is no longer sold individually on Steam.
  • Steam users can now only purchase it in a bundle with the upcoming HZD remaster.
  • The bundle is priced at $49.99, matching the standard price of Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition.

As a seasoned gamer with years of experience under my belt, I must say I find the recent development with Horizon Zero Dawn intriguing, to say the least. The decision to bundle the original PC port with the remaster on Steam is certainly an interesting move by Sony and Guerrilla Games.

In simpler terms, if you’re a Steam user, you won’t be able to buy the initial PC version of Horizon Zero Dawn separately anymore because it has been packaged with the game’s upcoming remaster on Steam. Instead, you can only get them together as a bundle.

Just a short while ago, it’s worth noting that the situation unfolds, following the removal of “Horizon Zero Dawn” from the Epic Games Store around early October 2024. This action appears to have been taken in anticipation of the launch of the “HZD Remastered”, set for release on October 31st.

Original Horizon Zero Dawn PC Port Is No Longer Sold Separately

A short while later, Sony decided to include the original game in its upcoming remastered version on Valve’s platform for sale. The page for Horizon Zero Dawn on Steam now only shows an option to buy this newly formed bundle. This two-piece set costs $49.99, which is the same as the standard price of the 2020 PC release of Horizon Zero Dawn. The alteration took place quietly, with neither Sony nor Guerrilla Games making any announcements about it by October 4th.

For now, it seems that the required package is exclusive to Steam. The game Horizon Zero Dawn: Complete Edition hasn’t resurfaced on the Epic Games Store after its removal, but can still be bought separately on the PlayStation Store. However, the PlayStation Store has been at the center of some debate lately. Sony increased the price of Horizon Zero Dawn from $19.99 to $39.99 following the announcement of its remaster, making the complete edition of the original game more expensive.

The controversial choice appeared to stem from a goal to align the original game’s price with the remaster’s $49.99 cost, considering the $9.99 upgrade for current owners. New buyers would have enjoyed a $20 discount by purchasing the 2017 game and the DLC update instead. Offering the upgrade at $30 could have been a viable option, but it might not have been as appealing given the enhancements in the new game version.

Let me tell you about the exciting features of the remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn. Enhancements include sharper textures, enhanced lighting, and smoother animations. Interestingly, Guerrilla Games has redone around ten hours of dialogue motion capture for this project. If you’ve seen the previews, you might notice that the game’s color scheme seems to align more with Horizon Forbidden West. In addition to the remaster, fans can look forward to LEGO Horizon Adventures, set to release on November 14th, which is another installment in Sony’s popular franchise.

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2024-10-04 18:34