Many Horizon fans are still eagerly awaiting an update on what lies in store for the next chapter in the series. Developer Guerrilla Games is busy working on expanding the franchise in some major ways, like an in-development multiplayer spin-off, but the most anticipated project is the third mainline Horizon entry.
Horizon 3 has yet to be officially announced, but Forbidden West made it clear that Aloy’s story isn’t over yet. With the introduction of Beta, another clone of Elisabet Sobeck, she and Aloy are now sharing a sibling-like bond. Aloy and Beta are bound to be featured working alongside one another in Horizon 3, but when it comes to the lead of the story, Guerrilla Games will hopefully be sticking with the former.
Horizon 3 Needs to Stick With the Franchise’s Single-Protagonist Streak
There’s no telling how Aloy and Beta will be utilized in Horizon 3‘s story, but the door is now wide open for the latter to be introduced as a second playable character. While Aloy is far more physically capable, Beta’s strength lies in her intelligence, which could pave the way for more complex stealth mechanics and puzzles. This could be compelling if handled correctly, but after offering players two games with only one playable character, it may be too late for Guerrilla Games to make the leap to dual protagonists.
As of now, there is no official word on when Guerrilla Games plans to release Horizon 3. It’s even possible that the third chapter could be used as a launch title for the PS6, but this is purely speculation.
Other Sony Heavy-Hitters Have Been Embracing Multiple Protagonists
- The Last of Us
- God of War
- Marvel’s Spider-Man
The Last of Us Part 1 puts players in the shoes of Joel until they get to experience controlling Ellie later on in the game. In Part 2, Ellie and Abby take center stage. God of War Ragnarok is a stepping stone for Atreus, while Marvel’s Spider-Man introduced Miles Morales, eventually giving him his own spin-off game, which made way for the two to be dual protagonists in the sequel.
Marvel’s Spider-Man 1&2 also use MJ as a third playable character for various stealth missions.
The ways these three franchises handled introducing multiple protagonists were all incredibly natural and made sense for the story. If Guerrilla Games has ambitions of using Aloy and Beta as dual protagonists, the developer simply may have waited too long to make that a smooth transition. Horizon 3 needs to end Aloy’s story on a satisfying note, and introducing a second playable character into the mix could quickly become far too distracting. Even if Horizon 3 used a different character as a second protagonist instead of Beta, it would still be too jarring of a change, since the past chapters have already established a solo formula.
If Guerrilla Games has ambitions of using Aloy and Beta as dual protagonists, the developer simply may have waited too long to make that a smooth transition.
The Horizon Franchise Can Still Explore Other Characters
With the secretive multiplayer Horizon game in the works, Guerrilla Games has the opportunity to showcase fresh characters through this spin-off instead of overcrowding Aloy’s narrative. Horizon Online is just as mysterious as Horizon 3 at the moment, but it has the fascinating benefit of expanding the franchise’s lore beyond Aloy.
Since Zero Dawn launched back in 2017, Aloy has maintained a presence as one of Sony’s newest mascots, and making her share the spotlight in the third chapter of the series is bound to feel strange. There’s no way to know for sure, but Horizon 3 could easily give Aloy a send-off. If that’s the case, then the character deserves to close out the franchise front and center.
Horizon Forbidden West
9/10
- Released
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February 18, 2022
- ESRB
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T for Teen: Blood, Language, Use of Alcohol, Violence
- Engine
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Decima
