Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Falls Short on Steam: A Disappointing Launch Experience

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, released on October 31, 2024, has disappointed many gamers, struggling to compete with its successful predecessor. With peak concurrent players around 2,500 and numerous technical issues, including audio problems and crashes, it has failed to resonate with the PC community. Critics argue the remaster is unjustified so soon after the original, especially given its high price and lack of significant improvements. Competing releases may have further diluted interest, leaving fans concerned about the franchise’s future.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered has sparked quite a debate among gamers since its announcement, and following its recent release, it appears to have missed the mark for many players. Despite hitting the market just recently, its performance has been underwhelming, with the original game still outperforming it effortlessly on platforms like Steam, even years after its initial launch.

Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered: A Sequel That Struggles to Compete

Launched on October 31, 2024, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered has not managed to impress as much as its predecessor, which debuted four years earlier. The expectations for a remaster were high, especially considering the trend of successful remakes in recent years, yet this title has not lived up to those hopes. Its performance at a time when it should shine is surprisingly lackluster compared to the original.

In just a week since its release, the remaster peaked at around 2,500 concurrent players, dwindling to just 1,800 daily at the time of writing. For comparison, the original title boasted over 56,000 players at launch in 2020, with more than 1,900 fans actively engaging in the last 24 hours. These figures only reflect the Steam community, and while the game is also available on PlayStation 5, it’s speculated that its performance there may not be much better. However, without concrete data, this remains conjecture.

There’s a growing concern that Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered has not resonated with the gaming community on PC, leading to potential repercussions for Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the title. History shows that poor sales can often lead to staff downsizing, which is a troubling prospect, particularly when no announcements regarding such outcomes have been made yet.

Technical Issues and Player Frustration: The Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Experience

When evaluating Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, it’s clear that its performance on PC has not been well received. Players have reported various issues, including significant audio problems and even crashes, leading to a general sense of disappointment. Ironically, while the original game was stable, the sequel, Forbidden West, faced similar challenges at launch, requiring patches to improve stability. Many anticipate that a similar solution will be needed for this remaster, though it should have been addressed prior to launch.

Another critical factor contributing to the lukewarm reception is the perception among many fans that releasing a remaster only four years after the original is unjustified. Horizon Zero Dawn was already a visually stunning game, and players feel that the improvements in this remaster do not warrant the €10.00 fee for those who already own the original. This sentiment echoes a previous remaster of Until Dawn, which also struggled to gain traction due to perceived inadequate enhancements compared to its price point of €59.99, leaving players frustrated with Sony’s approach.

The timing of the release may have compounded the issue, as it coincided with the launch of Dragon Age: The Veilguard, creating a competitive environment that likely diluted interest in Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. As anticipation builds for a potential third installment in the franchise, fans are left wondering if their hopes for Alloy’s journey will be realized or if they will be left in the lurch.

With Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered now available, its low player engagement highlights a growing trend of dissatisfaction among fans of the franchise. It begs the question: can PlayStation break this cycle of disappointment with future releases?

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