How Horizon 3 Could Bring the Franchise’s Themes of Cloning to a Head

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Summary

  • The Horizon series has a history with cloning, from Aloy’s origins to the Far Zeniths’ misuse of the technology.
  • Horizon 3 may deepen the cloning plot, with Aloy potentially cloning herself or others to fight Nemesis.
  • Aloy’s team may grapple with the ethical dilemmas surrounding the possible use of cloning to battle the looming threat.

Guerrilla Games introduced a daring post-apocalyptic universe and concept with their first release, Horizon Zero Dawn, back in 2017. Since then, the franchise has grown to be one of Sony’s flagship titles, and the 2022 sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, further developed the lore and storyline. Although not officially confirmed, a third Horizon title is highly likely, set to wrap up the current narrative in a significant manner.

As Aloy and her companions gear up to confront the looming menace of the AI entity, Nemesis, following the events of Forbidden West, they will probably require every ounce of help and resources at their disposal. The risks have never been greater for our heroes, and with the recurring theme of cloning being a key plot device in this series, it’s plausible that the next installment might delve even deeper into this aspect as the main group weighs their choices.

Previously, a Massively Multiplayer Online Game called Horizon was intended, but whether it was scrapped or not remains unconfirmed as no definitive announcement has been made yet.

Horizon 3 Might Bring the Series’ Cloning Angle Full Circle

Horizon’s Relationship and History With Cloning

From the start, the concept of cloning was integral to the storyline of Horizon. For a millennium after Earth was devastated by Ted Faro’s self-aware war robots, humanity devolved into a primitive, tribal lifestyle. Despite belonging to the Nora tribe, Aloy’s unique appearance raised questions, as she wasn’t born through traditional means.

Exploring deeper into ancient ruins, Aloy uncovers her real background and destiny. It turns out she is a genetic copy of Dr. Elisabet Sobeck, the scientist who initiated the Zero Dawn program as it became apparent that the Faro Plague would consume the planet. Sobeck’s GAIA project aimed to revive Earth’s ecosystem, and its calculations suggested creating a clone of Sobeck; hence, Aloy came into existence.

In Horizon Forbidden West, the story revolves around the Far Zeniths, remnants of Earth’s elite who managed to escape destruction by utilizing advanced technology to extend their lives. These Zeniths even cloned Elisabet Sobeck, but the result, dubbed Beta, showed a marked difference from Aloy due to the Zeniths’ mistreatment. Aloy liberates Beta and repels the Zeniths. During their confrontation, they uncover Nemesis, an AI fusion of the Zeniths’ digital consciousnesses. This rogue AI, driven insane, seeks out the Zeniths and now poses a threat to Earth, intent on annihilating humanity.

It’s been pointed out that it seems unusual for Sony to turn Aloy into an AI chatbot, considering her portrayal within the game series.

How Horizon 3 May Take Cloning to its Logical Conclusion

In light of the fact that cloning technology brought about Aloy, Beta, and the chain of events leading to the current Nemesis predicament, Aloy and her comrades might contemplate taking the next significant action in the third installment. With the destiny of Earth hanging precariously upon her once more, and her own status as a clone within a strategy that has thus far proven successful, Horizon 3 could involve Aloy and her allies collaborating with GAIA’s restored capabilities, and possibly generating copies of themselves to counterbalance Nemesis.

In this scenario, Aloy and her companions might grapple with the moral complexities of following such a path. Although it could potentially be the most effective strategy to defeat Nemesis, it’s a delicate matter that echoes the idea of retaliation breeding further conflict, with potential unintended outcomes. However, recurring to cloning once more may also represent their final, desperate attempt to safeguard humanity from its greatest danger yet. Consequently, Horizon 3 could delve deeper into the ethical and philosophical implications of cloning in the upcoming sequel.

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2025-04-12 19:08