Horizon’s Online Game Can Take Tribes to New Heights

Over the years, the Horizon franchise has continued to be a major point of focus for Sony, as it’s one of the company’s newest original IPs. Horizon has spawned two entries, Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, and a third chapter is in its early development stages. The franchise has staked its claim as a single-player series, but developer Guerrilla Games is also subverting expectations in a bold way with an online spin-off, too.

For a while, Guerrilla has been quite secretive about the online Horizon project, but this change of pace could be an exciting shake-up. Until now, the Horizon franchise has followed protagonist Aloy as she journeys through the series’ unique take on a post-apocalyptic world. Horizon without Aloy may take time for some fans to get used to, but the online spin-off could prove to be a great way to dive deeper into the many tribes that exist across the region.

horizon 3 latest rumor disappointing not surprising

Horizon 3’s Latest Rumor is Disappointing, But Not Surprising

The next mainline Horizon game is apparently going to follow in Horizon Forbidden West’s footsteps, which, while disappointing, isn’t surprising.

Horizon’s Online Game Has the Chance to Give Players a Deeper Look Inside Its Tribes

The Horizon Franchise Has Featured Seven Unique Tribes

Nora
Carja
Oseram
Banuk
Tenakth
Utaru
Quen

It’s unclear if Horizon‘s online counterpart will feature the option to choose which tribe players are part of, but it’s incredibly easy to imagine as a possibility. Not allowing tribe choice could prove to be a missed opportunity. If getting to choose one’s desired tribe is part of Guerrilla’s game plan, then not only would it give players more character freedom, but it would also open the door to a treasure trove of lore potential.

While nothing has been confirmed, the online Horizon game is expected to arrive before Horizon 3.

Tribes Have Only Been Seen Through Aloy’s Eyes

With each new tribe that is introduced throughout the franchise, Aloy’s perspective has always been front and center. While Aloy has been central to the story, seeing everything through a single perspective can be limiting. Each tribe is bound to boast their own finer details that can easily be overlooked by outsiders, and that gives the online Horizon project an exciting opportunity. Tribes are an important part of Horizon‘s lore, and diving as deep as possible into each unique society may be the best way for the game to really set itself apart.

Of course, the Horizon franchise has plenty of material to work with when it comes to the seven different tribes, but it could also be a great way to make this online offering even more immersive, too. Getting to really immerse oneself in a tribe’s culture might be the key to making an online Horizon game a success. Since the franchise was built on a single-player focus, switching to multiplayer is a big risk, but the promise of a more intricate look inside the series’ world might be its strongest selling point.

Horizon‘s online spin-off could also potentially introduce brand-new tribes.

Horizon without Aloy may take time for some fans to get used to, but the online spin-off could prove to be a great way to dive deeper into the many tribes that exist across the region.

Horizon’s Lore is Its Biggest Draw

There are many who enjoy Aloy as a main character, but when it comes to the most interesting aspect of the franchise, it’s the world that Guerrilla has brought to life. A tribal post-apocalyptic landscape that is ravaged by rogue AI machines is a compelling starting point, and the online Horizon could be the best way to showcase more of that world’s history and formation.

Right now, there’s no telling when Guerrilla will be ready to officially reveal its multiplayer Horizon spin-off. There’s always a chance that The Game Awards at the end of this year could feature a big announcement, but that remains to be seen. The wait continues, and as Guerrilla remains silent about the project, it’s a hot bed for speculation.