Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Might Get Review Bombed on Steam

Sony's struggle with the PSN requirement for Steam releases seems like a never-ending matter now, and it's continuing with Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. Sony removed the controversial requirement from Helldivers 2 after its breakout of negative reviews, but the regulation is still in place for all PlayStation-published games launched after then. It appears that PSN requirements will always be an issue for Sony titles on Steam from now on.

Adding fuel to the fire, Sony confirmed that Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered requires a PSN account, which has been a source of criticism for what many see as a needless remaster. Horizon Zero Dawn will be remastered and unveiled at the PlayStation Sept 2024 State of Play, giving players another opportunity to experience Aloy's first adventure on more current hardware with improved visuals. And like other new PC games released by Sony, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered requires players to join in with a PSN account.

The response to Sony's games has been negatively affected by the outrage the studio suffered due to its PSN requirement on Steam. Although this may not be a major concern for some, others are opposed to the requirement and believe it will cause significant problems in certain regions. Even with single-player games like Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered, Sony's decision has been firm on PSN's requirement to play the game.

Critics were skeptical about the remaster's purpose since Horizon Zero Dawn is already seven years old; the game remains one of the most visually impressive games ever made. However, it hasn't halted Sony's plans to release Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered on October 31 for PC via Steam and Epic. Users of Steam who also own a PlayStation Network account will not be able to play the forthcoming Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered.

Besides the PSN requirement, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered's pricing has also been a cause of concern. While Sony did offer a $10 upgrade for existing Horizon Zero Dawn owners, the company later doubled the price of the original, increasing it from $19.99 to $39.99. Sony further annoyed the fans by making the original Horizon Zero Dawn game unavailable on Steam unless purchased in a bundle with the remake for $49.99.

The original 2017 Horizon Zero Dawn is no longer for sale on the Epic Games Store as Sony removed it in anticipation of the upcoming remake, which further indicated Sony's intention to shell out cash from the game. So, as things stand between Sony and the Steam community right now, where the gamers are rejecting nearly all of Sony's titles since the Helldivers 2 issue, a change of heart seems doubtful, and Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered might likely get a negative review bombed on Steam.