Summary
The original version ofHorizon Zero Dawncurrently has more concurrent players on Steam than the newly-released remaster. Though their active player counts are close,Horizon Zero Dawn Remasteredis seemingly less popular among PC fans than the original version.
On October 31,Horizon Zero Dawn Remasteredofficially became available for PC and PS5. This upgraded version brought the 2017 RPG up to the graphical fidelity ofHorizon Forbidden West, featuring new animations as well as quality-of-life and accessibility features. That said, the remastered version has not been incredibly well-received, especially on PC, whereHorizon Zero Dawn Remasteredsits at Mixed reviews on Steam.
The player numbers on PC currently reflect the lukewarm reception to the remaster. Since the time of its release,Horizon Zero Dawn Remasteredpeaked at 2,548 players, with around 1,741 players at the time of this writing. Conversely, the originalHorizon Zero Dawn Complete Editionhad just under 2,000 concurrent players at press time, with a recent peak of 2,872. This means an average of 200-300 more players have been playing the original version, rather thanpaying $10 to upgrade toHorizon Zero Dawn Remastered.
Of course, these numbers only include the PC version ofHorizon Zero Dawn Remastered. While it is possible the PS5 player counts could be similar, fans have reported several problems with the PC port, ranging from audio or graphical issues to full-blown crashes. Though theHorizon Forbidden WestPC port was excellent, the first game’s Steam version suffered from similar issues before Guerrilla Games was able to stabilize the release, so some PC gamers may be waiting until it puts out a few moreHorizon Zero Dawn Remasteredstability updatesbefore upgrading.
The fact thatDragon Age: The Veilguardwas also released on October 31 did not doHorizon Zero Dawn Remasteredany favors. The originalHorizon Zero Dawnwas released a week beforeThe Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, andHorizon Forbidden Westcame out just ahead ofElden Ring, makingDragon Age: The Veilguardthe latest top-selling gameto curse theHorizonfranchise release dates.
The third and presumably final mainHorizongame has not been formally announced, but considering thousands of players are still playing the first entry in one form or another, fans are looking forward to the conclusion of Aloy’s trilogy. Hopefully, theHorizonsequel won’t be released ahead of another Game of the Year contender, and its inevitable PC port will be free of the issues from whichHorizon Zero Dawnand its remaster have suffered.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience the critically acclaimed Horizon Zero Dawn™ with stunning new visuals and upgraded features. In a far future where colossal machines roam the Earth, pockets of humanity survive in unique tribes among the lush, overgrown ruins of our long-lost civilization.
