
The initial reaction to Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered was extremely negative. In the aftermath of US ratings board ESRB leaking the game, an enormous 59% of you said you wouldn’t buy it at all in a Push Square poll. However, there’s been a dramatic swing following the game’s official announcement during State of Play, with 60% of you now saying you will pick it up after all.
The deciding factor which appears to have steered the discourse is the $9.99 upgrade, which will allow existing owners of the title to grab it for a small fee – even those who got free copies during Sony’s Play at Home programme. A humongous 58% of you said you’re willing to pay the upgrade fee, with just 18% of existing owners deciding against it.
Developed by Nixxes, in collaboration with Guerrilla, this sounds like a pretty meaningful update. In addition to all of the graphical upgrades, over 10 hours of dialogue has been re-recorded, while some of the mocap has been recaptured, too. You’ll even be able to transfer your save data from the PS4 version if you want to, allowing you to pick up your progress where you left off.
It’s a reminder that, while kneejerk reactions are natural, sometimes it’s best to wait for the full story to emerge before making your mind up on something. Clearly there’s been a dramatic shift in the perception of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered now it’s been officially announced, and we imagine it’s going to do extremely well when it launches on 31st October.
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Comments 77
9,99 for an upgrade like this? Take my money please!
Looks like a cool remaster. Piqued my interest in the franchise. Curious if it’ll come to steam, steam deck will be a fun way to experience this. It was already a great way to experience and re-experience many a Sony title.
Unfortunately playing this fancy looking version of Horizon Zero Dawn would require me to actually replay Horizon Zero Dawn so that’s a nope.
$10 for better visuals, new dialogue and dualsense feature at 60 fps is a no-brainer.
Things turn after people see something instead of just judging it blindly? That's a new concept for most...
I feel like this was more than I was expecting, and for $10 a pretty good deal for when I eventually replay it.
It’s very cool, cause my daughter just started the game and the remaster will make her experience much better I believe. And those ten bucks for such upgrade is fair price.
For a $10 upgrade? I'll definitely be getting this. Never got around to playing the expansion for Forbidden West, so this will give me a reason to play through the series again
Nice, got it free back when they gave it out and I have never gotten around to playing, so £10 to upgrade seems fair
The 10 dollar update is definitely a positive, going to update and get my autopop platinum. Also might replay the story, it been 7 years
'It’s a reminder that, while kneejerk reactions are natural, sometimes it’s best to wait for the full story to emerge before making your mind up on something.'
Probably best for websites to not endlessly source knee jerk reactions and quotes from users on resetera and X for articles and give it a bigger platform, then.
The game didn't win over fans. The £9.99 upgrade price won over fans. I mean, i will be getting it too at that price but would never have paid full whack.
honestly i was pretty happy nixxes does a good job , the game looks great , one thing i disliked was talking to people just felt weird. and for 10$ its a no brainer.
If remasters of AAA games from the ps4 such as this have a £10-£15 price if you own the original version then to me it's acceptable especially when they look this good compared to the original. The prices Sony charged for the countless last of us remasters etc was disgusting and there should have been heavy discounts for the owners of the originals.
B-b-but, woman protagonist no buy, r-r-right?
It's amazing what the announcement of a cheap upgrade does for public perception. It definitely shut me up about this remaster.
Wow, nice try.... Watch the ElAnalistaDeBits YouTube comparison... This is a very modest upgrade that amounts to meshing the Aloy face changes made in the sequel as well as denser foliage cover and slightly improved image clarity via a resolution bump. Watch that comparison and come back and tell me it's the remaster quality that sells this.....
To be real here what won people over is the fact that it has a $10 upgrade path for people that have already played the game.
Question, can PushSquare see the username that gave a vote?
@riceNpea its what they do best.
I'm still in the same boat I was before the State of Play. Don't care about the price, which is what was expected, nor the re-recorded dialogue and such. I'm a huge fan of the series, but that doesn't mean I'll pay for a remaster when I've already played the game twice. Maybe it'll change down the road someday if I get the urge to replay it, but there is nothing radical announced to change my mind currently.
The new poll also has way less people who’ve voted, and I am sure some of the people who voted on the first poll didn’t bother voting on the second. (I.E me)
I prefer this to West, story was better imo. 2nd, although looking amazing was just too much. Will get a remaster 👍
It's like Sony know what they're doing when it comes to the Playstation and gaming 🤔
I don't know if I'd say I've been 'won over,' still believe it's an unnecessary remaster. Admittedly, however, I wasn't going to buy it before, now I will since it's only $10 to upgrade my PS4 copy.
@Onearmbandit
Felt the same way, surprisingly. I love Horizon Zero Dawn, it's among my favorite games last gen and maybe a top 3 new IP from that era but Forbidden West just didn't click with me at all. Poor story and I didn't like Aloy nearly as much. Writing as a whole was meh. The gameplay is perfectly fine but given how important narrative is to Horizon, it wasn't enough to make up for that failing.
@Fluberuper I also would bet most who voted the first poll were console warriors but regardless who cares. All this has proved is how annoying and emotionally stunted gamers are.
It's a reasonable deal, but problem is if you already played it, plus there's a sequel out already that's more impressive already, with more fleshed out outposts etc, from what i read..
There's also the problem of ssd storage space when it's a ps5 version game, which costs a bundle to upgrade to something beefy still.
And, the 1st game ps4 version is already updated to run smooth and cleaner, in backcompatibility.
Worth it if you haven't played it, and prefer play the 1st game before the sequel.
@Gamer83 yeah I found West just bloated. I really liked the story of Dawn and was intrigued on every quest.
Meanwhile, Nintendo fans are paying a premium to play barebones 3DS remasters on the Switch (looking at you, Luigi’s Mansion).
@EchoRange We've had female protagonists for like forty years at this point.
@Gamer83 I mean besides the past story the story in FW was way better imo. FW had the opposite problem of ZD where the present day tribal story was way better in FW compared to ZD but the past story wasn’t quite as good in FW as in ZD. What puts FW over the top is it had way better and more memorable sidequests and characters compared to ZD which the majority of were very weak. It’s going to be kind of hard going back to ZD with it’s combat not being as deep or having has many options as FW not to mention the world and level design was so much better in FW but I’m excited for this remaster nonetheless
Yeah, duh... cuz about 90% of us only have to pay $10 to get it lol! #moderngamejournalism
I loved my first outing in HZD, but that was mostly because of the amazing world building and intriguing lore. Never been so happy to get snippets of information from terminals, logs and npcs.
Gameplay was serviceable and the open world design was more of the same as I've seen in countless other games. All in all I enjoyed my experience. But not enough to revisit the world in the sequel and certainly not enough to replay the game for some prettier graphics.
Glad I experienced it, but it was a one and done for me.
@Yousef- don’t play this through steam deck man. Get a PS5. You’ll need one for GTA anyway lol
Was gonna buy it either way, but for 10 bucks, Guerrilla made the decision easier.
@Mikey856 I got a series so I’m good 😂
Mainly got it for gta iv and other 7th gen stuff but otherwise yeah
So far I have replayed Death Stranding and TLOU2 for a second platinum thanks to these remasters and the fair upgrade price. I will likely do the same here. This is a smart way to get an extra rip on these games at a time when profitability on single-player exclusives are at a low. I also consider it extremely fair to purchasers.
Maybe I'd play it if they replaced the protag with Eve and some skimpy outfits xD
Visually it is a big improvement, at $10 or whatever it is in £ i'm happy to buy it.
It's got to the point where playstation users are now actually praising pointless remasters no wonder Sony thinks a they can sell a 700 console with no disc drive hell they coulda charged 2000
10$ upgrade. Im ok with that. Beats spending 60$ again.
Will I upgrade for the small fee.. yes.. Will I play it .. well probably not straight away, but it's nice it's there for when want to dip back in.
This is the reason why we can't have new things
Still not getting it but good for those that want to.
I platinumed it. Beat it twice. Loved it far more than Forbidden West. Don't have the time to re-platinum it again when there are other new games I could play.
And this is exactly why I'm fed up with all the whiny drama queens who constantly go off on one as soon as they hear something they don't like. As this case has proven, people need to look at the big picture and wait until they have all the info before throwing toys out of prams. But then, that's the internet... innit?
Still won't bother. I loved the game and played it through twice, including the hardest setting. But I just don't have the time or willpower to go through it all again.
Maybe somewhere waaaaayyy down the line if I ever get inspired enough to do it again, but for now... nope.
Still not worth it to me. I read a lot of people preferred the story in the first but as I only played it once on release I can't even remember it and I just recently got around to finally playing Forbidden West. Gorgeous game but same old open world bloat. Neither game is amazing with the best thing about both being Sylens (sp) great character.
Still not for me personally - I've played it twice in full, and with the time investment involved in that I am not likely to go a third round even with a glow-up - but the pricing certainly saved it.
Would prefer a new experience instead of more endless remasters, so I won't be spending money on this. Instead of playing the same games over and over I'll try out something I've never played before and maybe find a new favorite.
Ok improvements but no way even though no interest in the game and had my time with it would I pay $10 for better animations and a visual upgrade. Guerilla devs have far bet things to focus on with Horizon 3, but they have to deal with this and the changes of the first game why? Why dedicate time to this?
I have Complete Edition but I have no interest to upgrade. I like 1.0 versions & bug fixes not altering things every time they blink. XD It's just silly.
For newcomers it's great. For old fans I mean even if HZD is better than FB to some I get that I do I mean just wait for Horizon 3 to come out, play something else in your backlogs. For $10 it's cheap for sure but how many will play it, how much does it do other than offer to an old game and is just a $10 donation at this point really. Sony clearly earned it. They are giving something in return yes but do most people notice? I mostly don't care for animation changes I don't care if they are human, dog, lizards in a medical ad I just don't care I focus on the gameplay but whatever I guess if people want more realistic animations that's fine it's a good upgrade and sure put the old game in line with FB for animations but why bother? Did it really need it? Did it bother Guerilla that much or Sony that much?
I'd get a game cheap play it and move on. Unless maybe a challenge run then sure but otherwise eh tons to play, others to get for $10 cheap and enjoy those.
Can't wait for the $10 8K upgrade years later, the 8K streaming tier, they prepping us or something like streaming services do already? But to go harder and test video game fans wallets? Clearly they wouldn't. XD
We know they have mo cap for most games that are coming up anyway. Unless people play the old ones who cares but oh remaster money, people playing them again because clearly nothing else to play or think about at all/news articles for it to be clear about and emotional attachment to the game and will gladly play it for the enth time again.
I have better things to play, waste my money on then replaying a game again because of visuals, new animations and oh how good the game is. People and PS4 gen I'm sorry I just had no interest in it's heavy hitters personally. The game were fine not the best things over played or seen. The world is great, that's it. Guerilla do a good job but people are too emotional or happy to give money to Sony I swear. These characters are 'fine' the worlds are better then the gameplay, characters or writing and that's it. I just don't care for them.
Is mo cap over old school animations an upgrade oh for sure but at the same time why would I pay $10 for that and a visual upgrade? Just make it an update LIKE THE LAST PS5 UPDATE THIS GAME GOT OH BUT WE CAN'T DO THAT WE HAVE TO CHARGE FOR IT THIS TIME YOU GREEDY ANNOYANCES AT SONY.
Milking customers at every corner Sony seriously and zombie customers too eager and weak willed to do so with eh at best products, why not give them $100 donations they earned it clearly for existing this week.
I'm too gameplay focused so to me animations/visuals can be whatever and I couldn't care less I'm too busy being focused on other things then visuals/animations unless it's in footage/trailers not the full package, they already worked enough for me to not be unconvinced with old school animation techniques or 1080p.
@Dampsponge
That and the mass opposition and hatred towards new things
I got the ps4 game. I will get the free upgrade.
But i skipped on the sequel cause the original bored me and i didn't get very far.
I might try it again, but tbh i am kind of tired of open worlds and their menial repetitive tasks and grindy nature.
Maybe not popular to say here, but i burned out of ubisoft open worlds and Sony ones haven't been that much better. It all feels like different shades of Assassin's Creed and I've been there and done that.
I loved the reactions! Before the show: "omg ***** these remasters, that's all we get is remasters ***** ass poop"
After the show: OMG did you see that remaster?!! Holy ***** take my testicles!! Even though I've had particular game in my collection for 20 years & could play it at any point. OMG *****!!"
I think I'll pass. I've had the game in my collection for ages and still never finished it. Not sure why, I just found it boring and I hate that since its very rare that I don't gel with a 1st party game from Sony.
$10 for what sounds like significant upgrades and work done (aka not just a resolution boost)? Absolutely! I love the technology of games, so upgrades that make use of the PS5's power are always welcome.
@nessisonett I've finished 2 playthroughs and never touched the sequel. I enjoyed Aloy as a character yet the game barely passed as ok at best. 2 playthroughs as I made a new profile on my PS5 otherwise 1 playhtrough was more than enough
They either learned from the over-aggressive pricing of TLoU Part I and Part II remake/remasters, or this remaster is really not as intricate as those since it’s one-seventh of the price.
From the start, I said Sony had an opportunity to either make $10 or $0 from me. Luckily, they made the right decision for both of us.
@nessisonett same. I never replay a game once I've beaten them because I already know what will happen.
I still can't believe the upgrade on pc requires a psn login
I have played it and would rather spend money on something else.
@EchoRange
Go away-----》》》》》
Nah.
1111122222223333333
@Steel76 it is such a boring game. Sony milking over and over again that sad IP. Instead to do something new
If I find myself with a lull of games I may replay it but likely not. I spent so much time on it in 2017. I couldn't get into forbidden west. Just can't see replaying this unless I have nothing else to play
I’ll upgrade if it’s a shared trophy list, just so I can finish off the dlc on this (and ng+ run). But if it has its own list, it’s a big no. Never really liked Horizon, and can’t bother playing it all again.
We are the angry mob
We read the papers everyday
We like who we like, we hate who we hate
But we're also easily swayed
@Fluberuper Yeah. Seems people need a reminder that a poll isn't automatically statistically significant. Anyone who had taken a single statistics course is gonna sigh and shake their heads at this. Ever heard of non-response bias, Push Square?
But the purpose of the headline and article is to generate interest and engagement, not useful information, so there we go. Mission successful.
Is this upgrade also out on PC ??? But I may just after it if it takes advantage of the PS5 power and it gets a guaranteed 60fps
Keywords are key here, nobody is going to buy it at full price if they already have it. Most said ok a 10 buck upgrade bc they know at this point the thing is going to be the same as TLoU in sales. But still the majority of gamers who played it arent going to even give the 10 bucks to upgrade it. So, you can twist it around all you want with 70 bucks bad, 10 buck upgrade ok. Thats just common sense with us all, something the devs and media seems to be clueless and waging war against us customers. Is a few yrs old game a good ideal to remake or remaster, and the answer is the same thing. Not buying it.Playstation said it was to give new devs a chance to create without the new game stress. And it was all devs that wasnt green at all. And this is just another cash grab bc they dont have anything new to make, this will be them 10 yrs from now stuck on the same franchises like Ubisoft.
People were reacting before anything was clear. And this site stoked the fires to. It is the world we live in.
Honestly can’t wait to replay but I might wait an extra week till the Pro is in the house: we are secretly that kind of annoying 4K/60fps people (but try not to be obnoxious about it)
I replay a lot. I dont know exactly if and when I'd upgrade, but it'll be after playing through Forbidden West (I think because I had the game spoiled vaguely, I am not so keen).
I do think this is great for those who got it for free. Many will almost want to honor that in some sense. It is a win for Sony for sure.
That's because people are assh...
Like the PS5, I won't pay 500 euros for the console, but then I would buy it for 800 on resale.
Not sure if that counts as a win when you only got 2500 votes the first time and a 1000 votes the second time around, because 1500 people had already tuned out...
I didn't expect to be impressed with the improved looks tbh but it sure looks good. What seals the deal is the $10 buck upgrade path.
Personally I'm still in the fence about it but it's a nice option to have
@Steel76 Same as the game was meh at best. Did a 2nd playthrough but won't do a 3rd
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