As a long-time gamer who has been around since the days of Atari, I must say that I find Sony’s latest move with Horizon Zero Dawn rather puzzling. It seems like they are trying to milk every last penny out of their fans without much regard for our wallets or patience.
Although there’s no news about a follow-up to “Horizon Forbidden West” yet, Sony has shared that they will soon launch an upgraded version of the original “Horizon Zero Dawn” for both PlayStation 5 and personal computers (PC). The release date is set for this month.
For those who already own the initial game, there’s an opportunity to upgrade it for $10. However, purchasing the complete game will set you back approximately $50. Some strategizing players are choosing to buy the original game now and then only pay the $10 upgrade fee, but Sony has anticipated this move. They have made it clear that getting the remastered version at a reduced cost is not an option.
Sony Raises Prices on Original Horizon Zero Dawn
Online reports indicate that Sony stealthily boosted the cost of the original “Horizon Zero Dawn.” Although the game dropped to $20 since 2020 and sometimes even to $15, Sony has now officially raised its price significantly, setting it at $39.99.
If someone chooses to purchase the original Horizon game initially and later opt for the upgraded remaster, they’ll find that both options cost approximately $50, which is identical to the price of the complete remastered version.
Sony Being Slick?
Currently, some enthusiasts are expressing discontent towards Sony, as they believe that individuals might feel compelled to purchase a seven-year-old game at its original price due to unexpected demand.
It’s clear that Sony foresaw some enthusiasts might attempt an alternative method to acquire the remaster, and in hindsight, they did make a shrewd move. However, it reflects poorly on the company, particularly for those budget-conscious fans trying to save money on the remastered version.
The Last of Us Part I
Horizon isn’t the initial title to go through the process of being remastered. The Last of Us Part I also underwent a remake, having originally been released in 2013 (and previously receiving an update labeled as ‘remastered’), and fans were disappointed when no upgrade choice was provided for those who already owned the game.
Naughty Dog argued that The Last of Us Part I wasn’t just a simple upgrade of an older game for PS5 with a fresher look; it was a complete rebuild from scratch. On the other hand, the Horizon remaster might retain several original game elements, which is why they opted to provide an upgrade package instead.
Physical vs. Digital
Some argue that the ongoing issue with Horizon underscores the importance of continuing to produce physical game releases. The drive towards digital distribution grants corporations unlimited control over the pricing of games, but a physical release allows the gaming community to determine prices and share or sell titles as they see fit.
It’s possible that the remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn might be discounted during a sale at some point in the future. However, fans may need to exercise patience as it could take some time for such a price drop to occur.
The remastered version of Horizon Zero Dawn is set to launch for PC and PS5 on Oct. 31.
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2024-10-02 23:13