In Horizon Forbidden West, players will take the bow and spear of hunter Aloy to further explore a ruined Earth half-recovered from the post-apocalypse caused by biomass-eating robots

We knew for a fact that a sequel to "Horizon Zero Dawn" was almost certainly in the works, but Sony's June 11 announcement of the game for the PS5 took the covers off it Unfortunately, no word on an exact release date for "Horizon Forbidden West" was given, but it appears that development is well underway

We don't know much about Horizon Forbidden West yet, but here's what we can read from the footage so far [Horizon Forbidden West is not a PS5 launch title According to a newly released video by the film's director, Mathijs de Jonge, Guerilla Games is "aiming" to release Horizon Forbidden West in 2021, which is not in time for the PS5's "Holiday 2020" launch It will not be

It is not yet known when Horizon Forbidden West will be released in 2021, but it is possible that it will be released in late 2021 If the game becomes larger and requires further refinement, it could even be delayed to 2022

We know from "Horizon Zero Dawn" that the Forbidden West is a region of North America beyond the land of the Karja people, a dangerous land filled with killing machines Add to this images of glistening beaches and mountainous terrain and glimpses of San Francisco landmarks such as the abandoned Golden Gate Bridge, the Ferry Building and the Transamerica Pyramid, and we can see that "Horizon Forbidden West" is set on the post-apocalyptic West Coast of the United States

De Jonge said that while the overall size of "Horizon Forbidden West" will be "a little bigger" than its predecessor, it will take advantage of PS5 SSD technology, effectively avoiding the need for loading screens

Speaking of beaches, the trailer showed players running underwater in Alloy's scuba gear, avoiding crocodile-like robots and exploring submerged buildings But the game also seems to involve climbing snow-covered mountains and exploring caves filled with long-lost technology

It will also once again be possible to not only kill dinosaur robots, but also to hijack them and use them as mounts to travel around the open world

As mentioned above, "Horizon Forbidden West" will wear the boots of Nora Hunter's Alloy and seems to follow the ending of "Horizon Zero Dawn" This is revealed by the appearance of Sirens, a somewhat mysterious character from the previous film who is knowledgeable about Hades, an AI whose goal is to exterminate life on Earth

The AI not only made robotic dinosaurs and creatures go berserk, but also caused an epidemic of corruption that contaminated the surrounding land That corruption seems to have returned in "Horizon Forbidden West," and Alloy notes that it needs to be stopped before it wreaks havoc on a world that is recovering from the first apocalypse

A new fanatical hostile cult also seems to present a hurdle that Alloy must overcome She will also have to throw herself into the fray, as a woolly mammoth robot in the hands of the cult has been unveiled

That's all we know, but we expect there will be a few plot twists, as well as hidden items, quests, and places that will provide more insight into the world before it was essentially doomed by a little silly programming

Whether it is a PS5 launch title or a game that will have to wait a few years, all that is required of "Horizon Forbidden West" is to build on the highly acclaimed "Horizon Zero Dawn"

With the power of the PS5, dual-sense controllers, and 3D audio capabilities, "Horizon Forbidden West" should look, feel, and sound very impressive

Ideally, there would be nothing to say if there were more RPG elements, better shaping the story and allowing you to interact with the world However, "Horizon Zero Dawn" still feels fresh today, so if Gurrila Games can simply evolve its formula with "Horizon Forbidden West," it could very well be a winner