With the successful launches of Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered and LEGO Horizon Adventures, Guerrilla Games can now turn its sights towards new projects, namely the eagerly anticipated Horizon multiplayer game and the next installment of the series, Horizon 3. Since the release of Horizon Forbidden West in 2022 and its subsequent Burning Shores expansion in 2023, fans everywhere have been buzzing with theories about how this captivating trilogy might conclude. Many speculate that Aloy might voyage across the Pacific Ocean to garner assistance from the technologically superior Quen Empire or that Sylens might manipulate ancient 21st-century technology to counter the looming threat of Nemesis. However, one fascinating narrative angle for Horizon 3 could be to delve into how the established tribes process the revelations of humanity’s past, rather than simply introducing new factions into the mix.
The Horizon series has long captivated players by weaving a tale of rebirth among the ruins of a fallen world. Thousands of years ago, Ted Faro deliberately obliterated the APOLLO subroutine from Project: Zero Dawn, plunging humanity into a dark age. With no access to the vast wealth of old-world knowledge, early tribes invented mythic explanations for their surroundings. The Nora, for example, revered ancient security systems as the All-Mother, while the Carja deified the sun. Without historical context, these tribes perceived the monstrous machines roaming their lands as divine retribution.
Yet, some pockets of civilization found ways to glimpse the forgotten past. The Quen emerged from these shadows, equipped with ancient Focus devices that granted them limited access to technological wisdom, enabling the rise of their empire. The Tenakth stumbled upon museum relics, unlocking strategic military insights of the ancients. Meanwhile, the Oseram manipulated remnants of old-world tech, such as the illusionary magnificence of Las Vegas, inspiring their own technological advances. Scattered throughout these lonely landscapes are Focus devices, offering occasional windows into bygone technological marvels, reminiscent of Sylens’ journey in Horizon Zero Dawn.
As Horizon 3 looms on the horizon, the narrative could explore the burgeoning awareness of humanity’s past. Through Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, Aloy’s relentless pursuit of truth unearthed staggering revelations, catalyzed by her Focus, exchanges with Sylens, and her genetic connection to Dr. Elisabet Sobeck. By the end of Forbidden West, Aloy had secured a valuable copy of APOLLO from the spacefaring Far Zenith, integrating its data with Project: Zero Dawn’s A.I., GAIA. This breakthrough allowed Aloy and her companions to deepen their understanding of the past, a crucial endeavor in their preparations against Nemesis. In the Burning Shores expansion, Erend returns with Focus devices to arm the Oseram with this newfound knowledge, anticipating the challenges ahead.
However, the path of enlightenment is fraught with potential conflicts. Long-established tribal societies might resist these new truths, reluctant to shed centuries of ingrained beliefs. Figures like the Sun Priests of the Carja and other Utaru leaders, who derive authority from religious dogma, might staunchly oppose the dissemination of these revelations, fearing a loss of power.
In particular, the Quen might present an unmistakable threat to Aloy’s mission. Their society, founded upon the hoarding of ancient secrets, is highly stratified, with access to knowledge limited to the elite. The Oseram and Tenakth, conversely, may embrace the advantages new information can afford, bolstering their advancements. Although Aloy has demonstrated her worth repeatedly across the series, bridging the gap between entrenched prejudice and cooperation will be a formidable challenge as she seeks to unite the tribes against Nemesis.
The Horizon series, which brings us the likes of the Nora, Carja, Oseram, Banuk, Utaru, Tenakth, and Quen, paints a vivid tapestry of post-apocalyptic life. As Aloy traverses these lands, each tribe represents a unique facet of a world struggling to reconcile a majestic yet perilous rebirth. With engaging storytelling and thrilling adventures lying ahead, players can barely wait to plunge anew into the mysteries that only Horizon 3 can unravel.
