Before working on Horizon: Zero Dawn, Guerrilla Games was famous for its work on the shooter game Killzone. The last installment of Killzone was called Killzone Shadow Fall, released in 2013. This installment led Sony to face legal action after one player, named Douglas Ladore, filed a lawsuit accusing them of false marketing related to the game’s resolution of 1080p.
However, it seems that Guerrilla Games’ decision to start working on the Horizon series was a deliberate choice to move away from the Killzone series, as stated by their art director. In an interview with The Washington Post, the art director, Roy Postma, who worked at Guerrilla for 24 years, mentioned that after the release of Killzone Shadow Fall on the PS4, the studio decided they no longer wanted to work on the Killzone series. Instead, they chose to start working on a new series with more colorful environments, contrasting the dark worlds of Killzone.
“We’re done with it as a team.” “As a studio, we needed to refresh our color palette. It was, by design, the opposite of Killzone.”
Postma also pointed out that the diverse nature of the Horizon games means they appeal to a wider audience. He said:
“I think the themes represented in this story and the characters can be relevant to all ages and people, like finding a family of friends and finding your place in the world.”
In another part of the article, Kate Bryant, product manager for Lego branded games, explained how the upcoming Lego Horizon Adventures game will help expand the series’ reach to a wider audience, especially younger players.
“The game has been redesigned through a Lego lens in a way that has the same level of appeal, but also more silliness and accessibility, and could be something a 10-year-old can experience.”
“[It’s] not just suitable in the sense that it’s not too scary or violent… Aloy can resonate with this broad audience because she has the strength of character that can appeal to younger audiences.”
The Lego Horizons Adventures game, developed by both Guerrilla and Stue Gobo, will be released on PS5, PC, and Nintendo Switch on November 14.
