Summary
- Guerrilla Games intentionally moved away from the Killzone franchise to Horizon according to art director Roy Postma.
- The Horizon franchise appealed to a wider audience than Killzone, featuring a more colorful and diverse environment to work in.
- With Guerrilla focusing on Horizon projects, a Killzone comeback seems unlikely unless Sony finds a new developer for it.
In a recent interview for LEGO Horizon Adventures, Guerrilla Games art director Roy Postma reveals why the studio moved away from the Killzone franchise. Originally launching on the PlayStation 2, Killzone was labeled by many to be Sony's attempt to take down Microsoft's popular Halo series. While many would argue that the series never quite reached those heights, the Killzone series quickly developed its own fanbase of players.
Taking place in a futuristic and fictional world, the Killzone series pits two factions, the Interplanetary Strategic Alliance against the militaristic Helghan Empire. Offering a full story campaign experience, the shooter also shipped with competitive PvP game modes as well, which was a staple of many shooters during this era. However, following the launch of Killzone: Shadow Fall on the PlayStation 4 in 2013, the franchise has largely been dormant, with Guerrilla Games switching gears with the open world action title, Horizon: Zero Dawn.
Two Classic PlayStation Franchises Need a Revival Now More Than Ever
There's never been a better time for Sony to revive two beloved PlayStation franchises from the PS3 era, especially after the failure of Concord.
As it turns out, the complete shift away from the Killzone franchise was intentional. In a recent interview with the Washington Post about the upcoming LEGO Horizon Adventures game, Guerrilla Games art director Roy Postma admitted that the studio was seemingly tired of the gritty and gray worlds of Killzone and wanted to work on something a bit more colorful and diverse. Postma explained that, “We were done with it as a team. As a studio, we needed to refresh the palette. It was, by choice, the opposite of Killzone.”
Will Guerrilla Games Revisit Killzone In the Future?
Part of the appeal of working on the Horizon franchise for Guerrilla is that it appeals to a wider audience, with its themes and characters. Considering the immense popularity of the Horizon franchise as well as how well the series has sold for Sony to this point, it seems the future of Killzone remains in doubt. Postma's comments seemingly indicate that the studio is largely done with it, preferring the more diverse and unique world the Horizon franchise offers. Still, it's entirely possible that the Killzone franchise makes a comeback, perhaps taking advantage of Sony's live-service model push in some way, though it likely won't be from Guerrilla with its multiple Horizon projects in the works.
"We were done with it as a team. As a studio, we needed to refresh the palette. It was, by choice, the opposite of ‘Killzone.’ I think the themes that this story and the characters represent are relatable for all ages and people, like having a found family of friends and finding your place in the world."
With Activision Blizzard a fully owned Microsoft studio, many PlayStation fans worried that the Call of Duty franchise would eventually be taken away, becoming exclusive to Xbox for consoles. In terms of replacing the massively popular shooter, there were many in the community who felt that a Killzone revival could be Sony's answer to Call of Duty, though it seems that a new developer would need to take the reins for a future installment. For now, Microsoft continues to indicate that Call of Duty isn't leaving PlayStation anytime soon, and fans can get their fix soon when Black Ops 6 officially launches.
Killzone: Shadow Fall
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 73 /100 Critics Rec: 35%
- Released
- November 15, 2013
- ESRB
- M For Mature 17+ // Blood, Game Experience May Change During Online Play, Intense Violence, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Guerrilla Games
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Computer Entertainment
- Engine
- Decima
- Franchise
- Killzone
WHERE TO PLAY
Guerrilla Games and Sony Computer Entertainment bring you another installment in the first-person shooter franchise known as Killzone. Taking place thirty years after the events of Killzone 3, the events of Killzone Shadow Fall are set in a time of planetary colonization. The game focuses on the conflict between the Vektans and the Helghast -- two rival colonist factions inhabiting a remote planet.
For 3 decades, both factions have lived side by side, separated by an enormous security wall. But now, their Cold War is about to run hot. It is up to Lucas Kellan, a member of the military intelligence unit dubbed the Shadow Marshals to try to protect the fragile peace that exists.
A new warrior for a new era of war, Kellan's missions will range from quiet infiltrations to all-out combat. Players will need to be methodical and ready to adapt, as any misstep could lead to mutually assured destruction. Lucas will still rely on classic weapons like the M82 Assault Rifle, stA-18 pistol, and others from previous Killzone games along with a host of new weapons and tactics for fans to master.
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4
- Genre(s)
- FPS
- How Long To Beat
- 10 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
- OpenCritic Rating
- Fair
