Same Game, Better Graphics. Is Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered Just a Cash Grab?

fortressofsolitude.co.za:

If there’s ever been a controversial franchise for Sony, that would be Horizon. Though Alloy’s outings have received near-universal praise from critics and fans, for some reason, Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, can’t seem to break the same glass ceiling as God of War, Uncharted, The Last of Us, or other of Sony’s most successful hits. Still, the franchise is iconic enough to warrant more than a few revisions and updates, the latest being the aptly-titled Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered. Controversial doesn’t begin to describe the launch of this visual update for a game that already boasted some of the most impressive visuals gamers have ever seen.

This remaster is far from cheap, with a steep price tag of $49.99 for new players ($10 for returning ones). In a year that’s seen countless re-releases – including the long-awaited returns of Lollipop Chainsaw, Shadows of the Damned, and even Red Dead Redemption – seeing a game from just seven years ago getting the “remaster” treatment feels wrong, especially considering how Sony has neglected some of its more iconic franchises.

Currently, Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered shows fans’ reactions on Steam are “Mixed.” The most common complaint appears to be the most obvious one: did this game really need a remaster? As it stands, most players would likely answer that question with a resounding “No.”

When we hear the term “Remaster,” one can’t help but notice that the only games in dire need of such makeover are those whose visuals no longer hold up to modern standards. On the other hand, remasters are also a great way to bring older games to newer hardware. Zero Dawn suffers from neither of those issues.

Something that still stings about these unnecessary remasters is how they replace their legacy counterparts in digital storefronts. You can no longer buy the original Horizon Zero Dawn on Steam, meaning that new players are forced to pay $49.99 for a seven-year-old game. If that sounds like an awful deal,