Hardcore PlayStation Fans Seem Dead Against a Horizon Zero Dawn Remake or Remaster

Maybe HZD is a game many don’t want to replay.

It's just incredibly hard to justify this. No one plays Horizon Zero Dawn on their PS5 and thinks it needs any kind of remaster. This would be a poor release in the best of times, but this is a time when Sony's first party output is incredibly limited, and when some of the very few games they are releasing are just touched up versions of games that are very playable on the PS5 already, it just baffles me.

“If this supposed remaster ends up being a free upgrade, then would the reaction be anywhere near as negative?”

I don’t think it would be negative at all.

I have played through HZD three times now, most recently when the 60fps patch released and it honestly felt like a new game. I’m not sure I’d play it again anytime soon, possibly never again, but if a free upgrade came out I could totally see myself playing it again in a year or two. I would definitely not pay for that privilege though and still think at this stage it isn’t really necessary.

As they should be don't get me wrong the game is a masterpiece and one of my favourites but it's barely 5 years old, can be played on current hardware and has a 60fps update this just a waste of time and money that could be spent and other things

Pointless remaster, and this remaster is a worthless what kind of stupid idea.

@thefourfoldroot1
Those who haven't played yet, can play the game on the Psplus, or just buy the game for a really good price
No reason to force a "remake/master" of a barely 5 years old game.

@thefourfoldroot1

I am confused have they delisted the game on the PS store and removed the Ps5 patch if not then anybody that hasnt played it can still play it. I havent played it (will attempt to at some stage its in my ever growing backlog!) and I think its a complete waste of resources

It's just way too soon, the game still looks better than 90% of games coming out these days. When you have all these PlayStation classics that aren't available on current gen, it's a waste of time and resources.

I like Zero Dawn more than Forbidden West, and wouldn't mind a remaster or remake someday. Just not now and not so soon after Forbidden West and possibly Call of the Mountain. Once they've remastered the obvious stuff I want like Bloodborne and Sly Cooper and much more time has passed, then we'll talk.

@MaajorVit
Yes, they can. And still can after this. In fact, it will likely be even cheaper given a lot of second hand copies of the slightly inferior version will hit the second hand market once this releases.

A waste of resources would be justified if you told me that the resources being used are explicitly preventing new content or a new game from being developed. Tell me their plans people.

Sony are getting very greedy, so I wouldn't trust them to release a free upgrade. The PS5 has almost been too successful - Sony were at their most generous end of PS3/start of PS4 when they had to regain ground against Microsoft.

I’m gonna defend Sony a little with these remasters. I’m currently replaying god of war 2018 to get ready for god of war Ragnarok next month and you see the limitations of ps4 while playing the game on your ps5 I see sh*t ton of far distance pop in and low detail textures in some areas of the game. I think Sony need to offer 10$ upgrade for theses remasters to people who already own theses games.

@bindiana
Yes, you are. I’m not even sure what you’re confused about though so I can’t help. The original game was released physically so it will still be available in perpetuity. Releasing this better version will not change that, apart from the original will likely become cheaper.

Do we really need another topic on this even though the game has not probably announced yet? I also think that this game is a waste of resources but I have run out of ways to joke about it.

How old the game is not factor for Sony, it is more likely the system it was released on, and they know it can be better than the patches provided for a version on a previous generation console. Either way, I don't care, I welcome it.

Can these people who are against a remaster remember not to buy (or worse, preorder) it, then? If these remasters sell poorly, Sony will stop making them

I agree a remaster would be ridiculous. But the real issue is that people need to vote with their wallets. If unnecessary remakes (i.e. TLOU) sell well enough, then of course there will be more like it.

Meh; if one doesn't like it then don't buy it.

They can do multiple things at once (other than correct VRR I guess). So remaking whatever isn't taking away from anything else. This ain't an all or nothing situation or some fifo queue.

Strange that a perfectly reasonable response is considered “not constructive” if it in any way disagrees with the article.

Let’s try again in as standard a tone as possible.

Hardcore gamers may be against it because they are more likely to have played the game.

Those who haven’t might appreciate a better version. The old version isn’t taken away from those who have it. If people who haven’t played it still want the old version it will be even cheaper.

The poll is not very well constructed as it links not being interested with it being a waste of resources, whereas many might just not be interested as they have played it.

I will not mention anything about the motivation behind this article this time.

I imagine it will be similar to 'Spider-Man' which was "remastered" for PS5. Apart from replacing Peter with a new face, it was essentially a beefed up version of the game, including making better use of the PS5's SSD for instant transitions (vs load screens on PS4 version when entering enemy factories). Maybe like 'Spider-Man' it will be a bundle, throw HFW in there too.

I would put this question to the articles "Hardcore PlayStation Fans", do you think that the 'A team' of Guerrilla Games would be working on this? This will likely be getting knocked out by either a small percentage of the studio, while everyone else is working on HFW DLC or new IP, or another Sony studio entirely is handling it.

Like with the TLoU remake, vote with your wallet. If/when I eventually get a PS5, it will likely be part of PS+ Extra/Premium and when that happens, I doubt people will be opting to play the original PS4 version.

I'm big fan of HZD (see my Avatar), but personally I've bought it enough; with the original release on disc then the 'Complete Edition' later (was under £10 for digital copy). As a £70 re-release, no chance, but as I said before I suspect it will end up on PS+ Extra/Premium at some point.

I think they should release it and carry on milking their player base.

Remasters of PS3 games was OK as the PS4 couldn't run the games.

But these remasters for the PS5 just seems like a potty idea - the only ones I could see supporting it are those with more money than sense. I mean, it's not as if they haven't already patched the game to give the tub 'o' lard a few more bells and whistles?

Either that or Sony are really running out of decent IP ideas and are keen to keep rehashing the same stuff over and over? They'd be better off bringing some more of the 'lost' PS3 titles over (I'm looking at you Motorstorm, Modnation Racers, LBP 1 & 2)

Heck; I've only played like 3 hours or so of it anyway so IF Sony would huck me the remastered code for like 10$ I'd take it.

I'd argue it's not just hardcore Playstation Fans that have an issue, but the more vested gamers in general.
EA dead space remake has been rightly called out for launching at £70, but I can't help but feel Last of Us Part 1 PS5 and it's sales have played a part in that.
If Sony remaster all their recent games, charge £70 for them and they sell well, that behaviour will spread to others (and it already is to some degree).
I feel that Sony today is only interested in people with high disposable income who are willing to pay for the same experience over and over because "it's that game from the TV I've been watching"

Ignore it and Play more 3rd party games (tons available)

We just recently got Sony games on PC yet always had games to play before that happens. No need for "Sony's resources" to justify our PCs

Seeing how PS gets basically every game PC gets... you are just as covered until Sony makes something you like.

Again people will vote with their wallets..if you wanna buy the same game 2 or 3 times then you need some therapy. As said before tons of other games to invest for your entertainment.

Much ado about nothing. Will be a minimal effort remaster so they can put PS5 on the box and PSN shop page. Basically a port with new lighting and better loading.

I'd rather just get new games.

I'm very pro Sony but let's be real. They're not even giving free PS4 to PS5 upgrades on upcoming games. I really don't see them doing a remaster of the original Horizon for free.

@Shepherd_Tallon Thanks for continuing to make sense when so many others take business decisions as a personnel affront.

A company like Sony can and will do what it wants. If people don't like it they can bow out and go elsewhere, no one forces anyone to do anything and Sony don't owe these people anything at all.

Fact is, Sony continue to make more money and roll out their product as fast as they can produce it despite the FUD in comment sections like this.

Do I personally want another HZD? Not really, though I'll look if they make one, I'd prefer something new. Am I bothered at all, of course not, I'll have free choice and if people don't buy these remakes they would soon stop making them.
The reason they make them is because people want to buy them, not the people in cess pool of comment sections, but real people for whom gaming is just a bit of entertainment they consume with everything else. Those are the customers you need to be on side - people like us on here don't have a big effect on their business at all I'd suggest.

I say again, this is 100 % designed to be sold alongside the tv show. Like it or not, this isnt designed for us. It's to try and profit from new interest driven by those unfamiliar with the ip before the show comes out. No point getting angry aout it

@sketchturner Thank you! I say this all the time and it goes out one ear and through the other for most people. If people want Call of Duty or Assassin’s Creed, or remakes and remasters to stop coming out every single year then they need to stop buying them. Speak with your wallets because that’s all corporations and businesses want.

@RBMango YES Bloodborne and ESPECIALLY SLY!!!

Is it a remaster or full blown remake? If it is just a native PS5 remaster like Spider-Man, Cyberpunk, Final Fantasy VII Remake, Jedi Fallen Order, Control, or any of the countless other PS4 games that were ported to PS5 with some native upgrades, I don't see the issue and we collectively might be hung up on semantics. I think even Jedi Fallen Order got a 60 fps patch on the PS4 version for PS5 before they released a native PS5 version with more upgrades.

I just keep seeing it described as a remake, which on the heels of The Last of Us Part 1, makes me think that is what this is: a ground up remake of a 5 year old game. That seems unneeded. I guess I fall in the "more info needed" camp.

@pip_muzz totally agree , Sony have priced out most ppl now it's not just companies that are struggling at this time , and the funny part is there is another cheaper choice and they don't seem to see that ,it's not just short term it will move players from Sony it's the long term also ,I really think they are shooting themselves in the foot when they are doing short term remasters when they could be spending that money on adding new customers....eg who wouldnt want a sly cooper remake ? Lots of ppl would and some of them ppl would play to show to their kids what they loved when younger ..there u go another generation hooked on sly

where does it stop?

please dont say its for new players getting the best experience. thats rubbish. if they bought a ps5, they have a high chance of doing HZD already (physical used is 10quid) as its on ps+ and your going to play it before HFW (prob came with console). nobody bought ps5 played HFW and thought i must wait for HZD remake as 4k 60fps isnt enough.

IF it's a free upgrade - or even a $10 upgrade, I think most people would be fine with it. But...I think Sony is showing us who they are, now.

This isn't the same Sony that stepped up to the podium and said "two ninety-nine." This isn't the same Sony that went through the list of things people hated after the XBox One announcement and showed how the PS4 would be different.

This is the Sony that said they want new games to cost more for the PS5, that charged that new higher price on the LoU remake, and who thinks a 1% return on buying games is just a wonderful Stars benefit we should all be thanking them for.

Playstation were the only ones of the big 3 giving us fresh new IP each gen, it was probably the biggest draw for alot of gamers. Xbox would shove Halo, Gears, Forza down your throat ad nausea, Nintendo the same with Mario, Zelda & reselling you the same old games til the end of time.
Playstation always seemed to be above that, giving you good reason to upgrade to the latest console with great new IP to demonstrate it.
Now, they seem just as boring as the other 2, and that's really disappointing. And all these TV shows coinciding with games? It just feels like what MS attempted to do with Quantum Break, somehow feeling even more desperate for relevance.
Announce some new (non Marvel) games already, stop thinking you're Nintendo, & just pull your head out of your ass.

@4kgk2 £10 would be great, but it'll be a £70 release that's for sure. If they do a PS5 remaster with a multiplayer mode, I'll warm to it but whats the point if its full price?

If they handle it like they did Miles Morales and Spider-Man Remastered then it's a good move. I think there's just a lot of outrage because we saw TLOU I and that was £70, and that's probably what Sony will do.

If this remaster is £40 for the multiplayer and then also includes the remaster of HZD then I won't be mad at all. Let's see.

@Titntin ofc sony will do what makes cash.

but guess what we as consumers can say we dont like what a company is doing, just as the person who wants it will buy it.

I've been playing a bit of it again on the PS5 recently and thought to myself it still looks amazing and feels great to play even after HFW so it's really not needed at all.

Love the series but the remake/remaster isn't for me. There are plenty of other IPs I'd have prefered to see instead but more importantly new games.

I get that they want to do it for the TV series but it feels like it's just filler while they work on other games. That they can't get the other games finished soon enough to keep releasing something new. I remember during the PS4 days they released games like almost every month that kept me spoilt with choices so we were eating good back then.

Now it's like they are leaving us hungry so that makes it tempting to buy the remake/remaster when the TV series comes out but on the other hand I want something new and if i don't get anything new to play then it only sends me to their competitors to fill that void. That is if there isn't enough third party games I'm interested in (but I do have a big backlog to work on so I'm good!)

I remember Death Stranding remastered directors cut for PS5 only cost me £5 cause already had the physical standard PS4 version. If they did something similar to this at just 5 or £10 upgrade then I'll be on board for sure. Obviously I think it's to early for this but I wouldn't mind playing HZD again for a tiny fee if you already own the original HZD. Realistically need to know more cause there's literally nothing officially confirmed

People do realize that this remake/remaster is for people that haven't played the game yet, similar to how The Last of Us Part 1 is for newcomers and to coincide with the TV show. I'm excited to see how it turns out and for people to try Horizon out.

I'll even try it out if Sony doesn't make it $70, it should be $30-$40 tops. I can understand people's frustrations but this is for newcomers and for the Netflix show.

there are so many great games that have been made that are stuck on old hardware that need a remake

"It'll be very, very interesting to see what the reaction is like if and when Sony makes an official announcement."
If I'm allowed to make suggestion to Sony I'd tell to reveal it alongside something else and not just on its own. Let people focus more on, say, HFW DLC than this (to many) dissapointing and unnecessary remake.

It will still sell like crazy regardless of what anyone says. Sony have a mastered a brilliant release strategy of dropping games at just enough intervals to keep their first party fans always hungry and begging for more but never fully starving. That’s why they buy anything and everything and always swear it’s the greatest game ever.

Sony only cares about milking whales who buy everything with their logo on PSN

The game is only 5 years old NOW, but by the time it’d actually be released on PS5 or VR, it’d be likely 8-9 years old, so it’d be more in line with how old TLoU Part I is when it was released on PS5.

@ThomasHL They also said the PS3 almost bankrupted them.

I think people feel a bit too much of a sense of ownership and control over these things. Whether you’re arguing that devs could be “working on something else” or you “don’t want to have to pay again for a current gen experience,” it’s really not up to devs to cater solely to our whims and desires.

If they deem there to be enough of an interested audience, which frankly doesn’t have to include all of us to be worthwhile, nobody’s forcing our hands.

The lack of awareness when it comes to the rampant entitlement and self-absorbed expectations is growing tiring. If we don’t like something, we just don’t buy it… but not everyone has to care that we’re not buying it. 😅

@Titntin The worst kind of fans are hardcore fans especially the gaming kind. No respect for the workers, death threaths, extremely vocal about everything and really cant handle equal rights.

And as much as i like this site its great at feuling the rage with everything. Who remembers the hate campaing that Returnal wasnt worth full price before it even released.

@xjulianvel I have to agree with you on that we all have our moments of entitlement but lately its with everything and its getting old fast.

@Gloamin pushsquare will milk this cow as long as they can.

@Flaming_Kaiser not all hardcore gamers are the same hate filled horrors you make out but i agree as much as i like this site it sure does like to stir it up..

If is 100% free then I certainly wouldn't be complaining, I would actually give them some credit. A $10 upgrade fee is really pushing it and I guess I could consider the argument that devs put some hours making it so we should pay something.

If super greedy money hungry, money starving Take-Two can just charge $10 to upgrade your GTAV copy to PS5 there's no reason Sony can't do the same or better.

@xjulianvel "it’s really not up to devs to cater solely to your whims and desires."

Is cute that you think the devs have a say in this, the orders come directly from the top. Jim says he wants a remaster of HZD and
wants to charge full price Guerrilla can only nod in agreement and say "yes sir, right away sir,"

You really think Naughty Dog wanted to charge $70 for their remaster? You get Neil alone in a room and he would probably tell you that new games should have still cost $60.

“ If this supposed remaster ends up being a free upgrade”
Lolololololololol I’m dying. There’s no way in helk that this will be a free upgrade. It wouldn’t be billed as a remaster but tater an optimization. A full remaster is something that expects a premium price tag.

@BranJ0
Uncharted, legacy of thieves
Horizon forbidden west
Gt7
The last of us remake
God of war ragnarok
All this year.... Who's limited?

Can’t wait for the Knack remaster.

I don’t think it is needed, and I will not buy it. I was a day one purchaser of the original on PS4, and the sequel on PS5. I have the complete version of the 1st game courtesy of the play at home promo. But the reason they are doing this is because people will line up and buy it!! Despite all the complaining, it will sell glorious numbers! Speak with your wallet people! It is the only language any corporate entity understands!

I gave HZD around 10 hours and even remaster won't make me to finish this game. That game is simply bad (my opinion).

Sony has no clue what their players want. I'll tell you one of the first things I want, fire Jim Ryan.

@Juanalf Please don’t patronize me. I can follow your logic just fine without the air of superiority.

I’m sure there are certain directives initiated by executives. However, just like in the film industry, it’s common for studios to pitch ideas to executives hoping for them to get the green light. Example: Bend Studio pitched a sequel to Days Gone that was shot down. Ideas come from the top down and bottom up all the time.

The gist of what I’m saying is that it’s unreasonable to act like anything is being forced on us. There are hundreds of thousands of games and nobody is making anyone buy them. Nor are the studios (or execs) saying their target audiences are specifically people who have already played an earlier version of any games they’re considering remastering.

The opinions that tend to be shared here and on social media are from those who have already played the games in question and are demanding something else. I imagine it’s hard for people to step outside of themselves and think objectively about this stuff, but it’s not impossible.

Thanks for the discourse. Best wishes.

Dreadful idea — Sony needs to get their virtual head out of their bum, lol.

1926 People care to much about something like this. And i would love to know how many "fans" voted against it that didnt even like the game. 🤪

@Juanalf Didnt GTA 5 ask money two times already? And dont they make tons of cash of online?

@Northern_munkey This site makes them look like it and you probably know that they are extremely unlikeble on so many fronts.

@Gloamin That is how i see it Push is really going out of their to make it toxic environment. But i saw it happen a long time ago with Returnal im not going to say but check there articles about it.

@Flaming_Kaiser yeah sure there is a certain element that go out of their way to be horrible cretins but to label all gamers the same is unfair..pushsquare seem to be quite inconsistent in how they deal with them too..on one hand they let them say pretty much what they want then get all heavy with those that respond when provoked..its a strange site sometimes.

@Northern_munkey Agreed with that Ionmagi around i can disagree.

@BranJ0 excellent response and can only imagine the remaster will tie in with the Movie/Series and a £70 remaster.

@Flaming_Kaiser i agree 100% on that one

COUGH BLOODBORNE COUGH

@Northern_munkey that they will, and keep deleting comments about it. I thought it was the opposite of "unconstructive" feedback tbh.

Instead I'll leave a comment bashing people for being complete shills for even thinking of buying this SCAM REMAKE. Who in their right mind could do such a thing!? Sony need to get their head on straight and Jim Ryan is personally ruining my day /s

Think you need to drop the hardcore tag and call us what we are, older OG gamers, geeks and fans of technology of a certain age just disappointed that the steep curve of innovation and development in games, consoles and tech we enjoy all plateaued a while back.

I'll be 43 in two weeks and my first console predates the C64, was a small box with 8 built in games that utilised an already black screen by adding a white dot and lines which you could move and represented a tennis racket. Add some goals you have football, move them sightly forward you had ice hockey. Then C64, master system, SNES, mega drive all improved on level design, character movement that came before.

Being a fan of Sony's innovation long before PlayStation with the Walkman, discman, TV's, hi-fi etc and never wanting the phaff of a PC I picked up PS1-4 at launch but breakthroughs in world building, character movement peaked once the PS3 was fully unlocked and it's just been refinement since then. SD to HD was huge but the jump to 4k really not so much. Due to accident I needed to a new TV in the run up to PS5 and got the Sony XH90 they recommended as being all compatible and the Atmos soundbar to match which both had numerous software glitches, then the PS5 launches with more glitches and no Atmos seemingly just to play a slightly prettier version of something you've already paid for and played to death. At that point a friend picked up 2 PS5'S and I grabbed his old Pro to experience 4k gaming for the first time and while it looks a bit better it's hardly innovative.

Now in a world where a new generation of gamers are happy to lap up and pay £20 for costumes and beanie babies firing guns and you read comments from people who have played a game multiple times and no interest in playing it again but then claim they'd be all over it if more shiny and the character can now do a backstep and shimmy to the left it's all rather underwhelming. Coupled with the cost of producing these now overly shiny games there's not much left other than further refinement and more exploitive nickel and diming tactics.

I've got the means and had many opportunities to grab a PS5 but every time I've just thought there really is no point and just a waste of money for slightly prettier already played games and quicker load times. I've got my fingers crossed for the PSVR2 & PS5 to bring a full VR F1, GT and other racing games to the home console market if not I'll be moving to the phaff of a PC for the next step I want and need from home gaming.

I do find it all incredibly ironic that the youngsters with their push for veganism and a less polluted world waste so much energy, time and money on a shinier version of something they already have. Let alone the waste in producing and shipping everything needed to see it.

So yeah not hardcore, just old, tired and underwhelmed by an industry bereft of anything that's really new and exciting anymore.

I defended Sony remaking The Last of Us. That is arguably the best Playstation exclusive to date, it’s a lot of folks absolute fav game an Naughty Dog wanted to make it how they wanted to make it for PS3 but were held back by tech restraints. This is too much! This game is only about 5 years old an altho good it’s not on the same level as TLOU. This would be totally pointless imo. I’d rather they remade all the Uncharted games, Uncharted 1, 2, 3 and 4 are fantastic games. 2, 3 and 4 are way better than Horizon.

"The insinuation, for many fans, is that Sony is wasting resources on re-releasing games that are already just fine."

Basically how I'm feeling about this whether it's a free upgrade or not. Just doesn't seem warranted and a "waste" of resources...