Guerrilla Games, the studio known for the PlayStation-exclusive Killzone series and, more recently, the Horizon series, in a recent interview explained why they shifted focus away from Killzone.
A new interview with The Washington Post details Guerrilla Games’ decision to move on from the Killzone series after the PS4’s Killzone: Shadow Fall and focus on the Horizon series, led by protagonist Aloy. Guerrilla Art Director Roy Postma used the interview to describe the team’s fatigue after working on the Killzone series for over a decade, explaining that “as a studio, we needed to refresh the palette.” He referred to the Horizon series as “by choice, the opposite of Killzone.”
The relatability of the Horizon series also played a role in the team’s shift in focus. Postma said, “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,” referring to the latest release in the Horizon series, LEGO Horizon Adventures, which was co-developed by Guerrilla Games.
It’s worth noting that since the release of the PlayStation 4 launch title Killzone: Shadow Fall, fans haven’t seen any indication of a new release in the franchise, and they now have a clearer picture of why. The developers wanted to create a title with a broader potential audience than what PlayStation may have previously considered as the answer to the PlayStation-exclusive FPS. Aside from the PS4 title, Killzone did make a cameo appearance (like many other PlayStation licenses) in ASTRO BOT, where a small bot resembling a Helghast soldier can be found in-game.
With Guerrilla Games seemingly rededicating themselves to the Horizon series, fans will likely have a long wait before any announcement of a new Killzone game, as it’s been over 10 years since the last release.
