Guerrilla Games made a conscious decision to move away from the Killzone series and embark on the Horizon: Zero Dawn franchise, according to art director Roy Postma.
In an interview with the Washington Post, Postma, who has been with the studio for 24 years, explained that after the release of Killzone: Shadow Fall on PS4, the team felt it was time for a change. Postma stated,
“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.”
Importance: Guerrilla Games had a clear vision, which has led to the remarkable success of the Horizon franchise. However, seeing both the Horizon and Killzone franchises thriving simultaneously would have been the best of both worlds, offering a richer experience for their diverse fanbase.
The switch to Horizon: Zero Dawn marked a clear departure from the dark, gritty environments of Killzone, opting instead for a more vibrant and colorful world.
Postma also highlighted that the diverse themes in the Horizon games have helped the series appeal to a broader audience. He thinks the themes that Horizon’s 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.
While it’s understandable from Postma’s perspective, we still believe that Guerrilla Games shouldn’t have treated Killzone so harshly, as the franchise’s loyal fanbase deserves better.
At the moment, Guerrilla Games seems entirely focused on the Horizon series, with several projects in active development. While Horizon has undoubtedly become one of PlayStation’s most valuable assets—standing alongside major exclusives like The Last of Us and Uncharted—it’s disappointing to think that Killzone might never see the light of day again due to this shift in focus.
We sincerely hope that Guerrilla Games revisits the Killzone franchise in the future, as it’s been over a decade since the last major entry in 2013. It would be incredible if they could divert some attention back to this iconic series.
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