Guerrilla Games' Horizon franchise has evolved into PlayStation's crown jewel, with Horizon Zero Dawn achieving unprecedented success by outselling the entire Killzone series within six years. This Amsterdam-based studio has since dedicated nearly all resources to expanding the IP, delivering 2022's Horizon Forbidden West alongside spin-offs like 2023's VR exclusive Call of the Mountain and 2024's whimsical Lego Horizon Adventures. With these projects completed, Guerrilla now focuses on two clandestine titles: a stylized multiplayer spin-off and the highly anticipated Horizon 3, which will conclude Aloy's trilogy. Yet this final chapter faces an unexpected hurdle—surpassing the staggering visual benchmark set by Kojima Productions' Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, a masterpiece running on Guerrilla's own Decima engine that redefines current-gen graphical possibilities.
Horizon's Legacy and the Road to the Trilogy Finale
Horizon Zero Dawn's triumph reshaped Guerrilla's trajectory, transforming the studio from a respected FPS developer into a narrative powerhouse. The franchise's expansion demonstrates remarkable strategic vision:
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Mainline evolution: Zero Dawn (2017) → Forbidden West (2022) → Horizon 3 (TBA)
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Spin-off diversification: Call of the Mountain (VR, 2023) → Lego Horizon Adventures (multi-platform, 2024)
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Cumulative sales exceeding 40 million units worldwide 💥
The upcoming trilogy finale faces immense pressure, not just narratively but technically. As a veteran Horizon player, I still recall the jaw-dropping moment when Zero Dawn's robotic dinosaurs first emerged from lush forests—a visual landmark that now feels almost quaint compared to recent advancements.
The Decima Engine Connection: Guerrilla and Kojima's Symbiosis
Few realize the intimate technological bond between Horizon and Death Stranding. Guerrilla's proprietary Decima engine, rarely licensed externally, became the foundation for Kojima Productions' work through a unique partnership:
| Project | Release | Decima Engine Utilization |
|---|---|---|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 2017 | Baseline implementation |
| Death Stranding | 2019 | Enhanced open-world streaming |
| Horizon Forbidden West | 2022 | Cross-gen optimization |
| Death Stranding 2 | 2025 | Revolutionary overhaul |
Guerrilla provided crucial technical support, creating an unexpected rivalry between sister PlayStation studios. Playing Death Stranding 2, I was awestruck by how fluidly Decima renders dynamic sandstorms swallowing deserts—a quantum leap beyond Forbidden West's already impressive biomes.
Death Stranding 2's Graphical Dominance: The New Gold Standard
Released mere days ago, Death Stranding 2 has established itself as this generation's visual pinnacle. Its technical achievements on base PS5 hardware are mind-bending:
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Native 1440p resolution at rock-solid 60 FPS
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Photorealistic Australian outback environments with hyper-detected flora
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Physics-driven water interactions surpassing Hollywood VFX
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Subsurface scattering on character skin that mimics real light penetration
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Near-instantaneous loading transitions between massive zones
Comparatively, Horizon Forbidden West—constrained by PS4 compatibility—couldn't leverage PS5's full potential. During my 50-hour DS2 playthrough, I constantly paused to admire how sunlight fractured through coastal waves, each droplet rendered with individual physics—an obsessive detail Horizon 3 must match.
The Looming Challenge for Horizon 3
Guerrilla now contends with paradoxical pressure: outperforming a title using their own technology. Key hurdles include:
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Cross-gen limitations removed: Horizon 3 must be PS5-exclusive to maximize Decima's capabilities
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Environmental complexity: Death Stranding 2's destructible ecosystems raise expectations for Horizon's robotic fauna
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Performance optimization: Maintaining 60 FPS while exceeding DS2's texture density
As a series loyalist, I'm torn between excitement and concern. Horizon's vibrant, post-apocalyptic world deserves a triumphant technological showcase, yet Kojima's team has set an astronomically high bar. If Guerrilla fails to deliver comparable facial animation subtleties or real-time weather systems, even the most compelling narrative might feel visually underwhelming.
Personal Reflection: The Weight of Expectations
Having played every Decima-engine title, I'm haunted by Death Stranding 2's technical sorcery. Horizon Forbidden West's lush jungles once felt revolutionary, but now appear slightly static against DS2's living, breathing ecosystems. Guerrilla must embrace radical innovation—perhaps implementing neural-network-driven creature behaviors or ray-traced global illumination that adapts to solar flares. My heart roots for Aloy's saga to conclude with unprecedented splendor, yet my skeptic eye wonders if any studio can consistently push boundaries at this pace. The ultimate victory would be Horizon 3 making us forget comparisons entirely through sheer artistic mastery.
FAQ: Decima Engine and Horizon 3's Future
Q: Why does Death Stranding 2's success pressure Guerrilla?
A: Both franchises share the Decima engine, creating direct technical comparisons. DS2's visuals establish new player expectations that Horizon 3—as PlayStation's flagship franchise—must meet or exceed.
Q: Can Horizon 3 realistically surpass Death Stranding 2's graphics?
A: Absolutely. With PS5-exclusive development and 3+ years of engine refinements since Forbidden West, Guerrilla has the tools. The question is whether they'll prioritize graphical ambition over gameplay scope.
Q: Will Horizon 3 suffer from being cross-gen?
A: Extremely unlikely. Industry trends and insider reports confirm it'll be PS5-only, freeing developers from last-gen hardware constraints.
Q: How might Death Stranding 2's tech influence Horizon 3?
A: Expect enhancements in:
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Dynamic water/physics systems
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Facial animation fidelity
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Environmental destruction
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Loading time elimination
Guerrilla and Kojima's teams historically share technical breakthroughs, making cross-pollination inevitable.