The release of Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered has been widely criticized, with poor reception right from launch. The newly remastered version of the 2017 original seems to have missed the mark, especially when it comes to player interest on PC.
Recent data on concurrent player counts reveals that fewer players are engaging with Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered than with the original Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition on Steam. This shortfall is significant, as the remastered version’s peak player count failed to reach even 3,000 players. In contrast, the original version continues to attract a larger audience, highlighting the remaster’s struggle to appeal to PC gamers.
While players on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 might find value in upgrading to the remastered edition, the incentive is notably lacking for PC players. The PC version of the original game had already received extensive visual enhancements and was well-optimized through years of patches. In contrast, the remaster has reportedly introduced new bugs, and it has restricted availability in certain regions due to PlayStation Network (PSN) requirements. These PSN-related restrictions have removed many countries, particularly across Asia and the Middle East, from accessing the game on Steam.
This outcome raises concerns about Sony’s strategy for PC releases. The delays in bringing their titles to PC, compounded by the recent PSN account requirements that began with Helldivers 2, appear to be deterring players. The imposed regional restrictions have led to decreased player counts and sales for PlayStation titles on PC, suggesting that Sony’s PC strategy may need reassessment.
The upgrade to Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered has also been viewed as underwhelming. Although it costs only $10 for existing players to upgrade, Sony had previously raised the price of the Complete Edition ahead of the remaster’s release, sparking backlash among fans.
