Horizon Zero Dawn has not come out yet, but people are already seeing it as the next big hit. People like the Sony executive himself.
Sony Interactive Entertainment UK product manager Jon Edwards excitedly called the game's protagonist Aloy as "PlayStation icon of the future."
Horizon Zero Dawn is a PlayStation 4-exclusive title coming to NTSC on Feb. 28 and PAL regions on March 1. It is developed by Guerrilla Games and distributed by Sony.
Aloy, Sony's Woman "Icon Of The Future"
Aloy is the game's main protagonist. She is a youthful, agile, determined, and skillful huntress who is out to uncover the secrets of her machine-dominated world.
Yes, she is a she — a strong-willed woman inspired by strong women in pop culture.
The fact that she is a woman initially gave worries to Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida. When he first introduced Aloy and the game during E3 2015, Yoshida said he was "nervous" to see the people's reaction to her.
Aloy as a female lead has always been the "team's vision" according to Yoshida. "Is it risky to do a female character?"
However, Sony's Edwards said Aloy being a woman is "not at all" an issue. He said that Guerrilla Games is focused on making "a curious and determined character" that will be appealing and believable to players.
"It just so happened that the character ended up being female," Edwards said. He added that Aloy is set to survive in a future world that has humanity reverting to its tribal past as mysterious robotic beasts rule the wilderness.
"Aloy is spirited, adventurous and driven," he said.
"She's a PlayStation icon of the future."
A Delayed Perfection
Horizon Zero Dawn was initially planned for release in 2016. But the developers wanted to polish the games even more. Edwards said Guerrilla Games wanted more time to "deliver their ambitious vision" for the game.
The delay was also strategic in terms of marketing. It allowed the game to be optimized for PlayStation 4 Pro, Sony's PS4 version that allows 4K and HDR support. The game released a video demonstration of the game playing on 4K resolution and the developers could not be any happier and more proud.
"You will notice subtle details such as branches swaying in the wind and more details to the machines," hes said, adding that the HDR mode adds a "whole new level of beauty to the different ecosystems."
Optimism is high, but Edwards is not careful not to count its mechanical beasts before they hatch, so to speak. He said nothing has been announced yet he thinks "there's a lot of potential for this to be an exciting new franchise" for Sony and Guerrilla Games.
"We'll just have to wait and see."
