One Piece of Horizon Content Already Destined for the Third Game

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Summary

  • The Horizon franchise has expanded to various media like comics, tabletop games, and spin-offs.
  • The Frozen Wilds and Burning Shores DLCs were incorporated into Forbidden West.
  • Fans can expect a potential story DLC for Horizon 3 themed around elements and new machines.

Over a period of more than eight years, Guerrilla Games has significantly broadened the Horizon series across multiple platforms. Starting from the initial game Horizon Zero Dawn, the Horizon universe has grown to encompass various forms of media, including comic books, tabletop games, two spin-offs like Horizon Call of the Mountain and LEGO Horizon Adventures, and a film adaptation in development. However, it was actually the story DLC for Horizon Zero Dawn, The Frozen Wilds, that marked the first expansion of the Horizon universe. With the release of Burning Shores DLC for Horizon Forbidden West, fans can anticipate Guerrilla to continue this trend by creating a story DLC for the likely future Horizon 3 game.

Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West’s DLCs Explained

Approximately four months following the debut of Horizon Zero Dawn, Guerrilla Games disclosed at E3 2017 that a story expansion pack called The Frozen Wilds would be available. This expansion was released in November of the same year. The events of The Frozen Wilds occur after Aloy initially explores territories beyond Nora, as depicted in the quest “A Seeker at the Gates,” but prior to the pivotal Battle of the Alight. In this extension, Aloy journeys to a northern mountain region called the Cut, inhabited by the Banuk, a tribe with shamanistic beliefs.

In this scenario, Aloy finds herself aiding both the Banuk tribe and an old artificial intelligence named CYAN in their battle against corrupted devices created by the renegade Project Zero Dawn AI, HEPHAESTUS. Over the course of her journey, she acquires some new weapons – Forgefire, Icerail, and Stormslinger. Additionally, she comes across several new machine types such as Fireclaw, Frostclaw, and Scorcher.

2022’s “Horizon Forbidden West” featured several elements from The Frozen Wilds, including the Fireclaw, Frostclaw, and Scorcher. However, during the 2022 Game Awards, Guerrilla Games revealed that Horizon Forbidden West would also receive an expansion themed around elements, titled “Burning Shores.” This expansion takes place after the end of Forbidden West and follows Aloy as she journeys to post-apocalyptic Los Angeles to eliminate the last Far Zenith, Walter Londra, who deceives a portion of a Quen fleet into believing he is a god. With the aid of a Quen woman named Seyka, Aloy and Seyka are able to defeat Londra and his reactivated Horus war machine. Throughout her journey, Aloy acquires the Far Zenith Specter Gauntlet and encounters new machines such as the Bilegut, Stingspawn, and Waterwing.

In addition to the standalone releases, The Frozen Wilds and Burning Shores expansions were also incorporated into the full versions of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, as well as the 2024 remastered edition of Horizon Zero Dawn.

What Players Could Expect for Horizon 3’s Story DLC

At present, details about the plot, gameplay mechanics, and launch date for Horizon 3 are scarce, as Guerrilla Games is preoccupied with developing Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, LEGO Horizon Adventures, a multiplayer Horizon game focusing on story, an unannounced MMO in the same franchise, and speculative rumors of another Horizon title. Given this workload, it’s possible that Horizon 3 might not be available for several months, if not years. However, enthusiasts can speculate about potential DLC features based on patterns observed from The Frozen Wilds and Burning Shores expansions. These patterns suggest that a DLC for Horizon 3 could have an elemental theme and either unfold within the main storyline or occur directly afterwards.

In simple terms, the Downloadable Content (DLC) for Horizon 3 may introduce a limited number of fresh machines and potent weapons not available in the standard game. This content could potentially be included in an ultimate edition or remastered version of Horizon 3. However, Guerrilla Games might deviate from traditional DLC patterns in Horizon 3, such as setting the DLC in the past or featuring a different protagonist. These changes could stem from Horizon 3’s ending, where players anticipate Aloy’s demise or retirement. The developers could also release multiple story DLCs if Horizon 3 marks Aloy’s final appearance.

The Potential Setting and Theme of Horizon 3’s DLC

Given the recurring motifs in the mainline Horizon series’ DLCs, players might speculate about the setting and theme for the next expansion. Previous DLCs have centered around elements like ice and fire, so this third one could explore other classical elements such as air, earth, or water. Although the specific location of Horizon 3 remains a mystery, these elements can still provide a focus for a DLC. For instance, if the theme is earth, the DLC could unfold in an intricate network of caves and ancient ruins underground. Conversely, it could be set on high mountain ranges with ruined cities, or in a submerged city or island region if water is the chosen element.

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2025-04-30 03:36