Guerrilla Games Goes All-In on PS5 for Horizon Forbidden West Expansion: Burning Shores
Burning Shores, the Horizon Forbidden West expansion, is set to be a treat for PlayStation 5 owners, as developer Guerrilla Games claims that the incredible post-apocalyptic version of Los Angeles will be available only on the latest console.
PS5 makes it possible
Director Mathijs de Jonge explains (Via Playstation Blog) that making the DLC exclusive to the PS5 allows the developers to focus solely on optimizing the gameplay experience on the latest hardware, which features superior processing power and fast streaming technology. As a result, the urban ruins of Los Angeles and its surroundings are densely packed with detail and require a significant amount of memory and processing power to run smoothly. The end result, however, is an immersive game world in which players can explore on foot, swim, and even fly over the landscape.
The amount of memory and processing power provided by the PS5 hardware is one of its primary advantages. Guerrilla Games can now create specific fight scenes and other in-game activities that require more memory and processing power than older hardware could. De Jonge specifically mentions a fight scene that requires a lot of memory and processing power, which he claims is both technically and creatively possible thanks to the PS5.
Burning shores
Burning Shores is set to be a paid expansion that will be released on April 19. The DLC takes place after the main game concludes, and players can expect new characters and adventures in Los Angeles' post-apocalyptic world. While Burning Shores is only available on the PlayStation 5, the main game Horizon Forbidden West is available on both the PlayStation 5 and the PlayStation 4. However, according to de Jonge, the new expansion was only possible due to PS5 exclusivity.
Strong commitment
Sony has a strong commitment to the Horizon franchise, with several other games and projects in the works. Horizon Call of the Mountain, a PlayStation VR2 game, was recently released, and rumors of an online game based on the Horizon series are still circulating.
Meanwhile, Guild Wars studio NCSoft is said to be working on a Horizon MO, though no official confirmation has been provided. Finally, Sony is collaborating with Netflix on a Horizon-based series that will introduce a new audience to the immersive world of Aloy.