Horizon Franchise Surpasses 38 Million Copies Sold Globally
▼ Summary
– The Horizon franchise has sold over 38 million copies globally since its 2017 debut with Horizon Zero Dawn.
– Sony accuses Tencent of copying Horizon in its upcoming game Light of Motiram, citing the franchise’s success and accessibility.
– Horizon Zero Dawn and its sequel, originally PlayStation exclusives, were later released on PC, with a remastered version launched last year.
– The Horizon series includes DLC, a VR game (Call of the Mountain), and a Lego spin-off (Lego Horizon Adventures).
– By comparison, Sony’s God of War franchise has also surpassed 38 million units sold, with Ragnarök becoming the fastest-selling PlayStation title.
The Horizon franchise has reached a staggering milestone, surpassing 38 million copies sold worldwide since its debut in 2017. This achievement highlights the enduring popularity of Guerrilla Games’ post-apocalyptic action-RPG series, which began with Horizon Zero Dawn and expanded with its sequel, Horizon Forbidden West. The sales figures emerged in a recent legal filing by Sony, which accused Tencent of copying elements from the franchise for its upcoming game, Light of Motiram.
Sony’s legal documents emphasize the franchise’s massive success, stating that Tencent would have undoubtedly been aware of Horizon’s influence when developing its own title. While Zero Dawn and Forbidden West initially launched as PlayStation exclusives, both later became available on PC, broadening their audience. A remastered version of Zero Dawn also debuted last year, further boosting the series’ reach.
Beyond the mainline games, the Horizon universe has expanded through DLCs, a VR spin-off titled Call of the Mountain, and even a playful Lego adaptation, Lego Horizon Adventures. The franchise’s versatility has clearly resonated with players, contributing to its impressive sales figures.
For context, Sony’s God of War reboot surpassed 23 million units sold by 2022, while its sequel, Ragnarök, set a record as PlayStation’s fastest-selling first-party title with 5.1 million copies in its first week. By late 2023, Ragnarök alone had exceeded 15 million sales, bringing the franchise’s total close to Horizon’s current numbers.
Earlier this year, Ashly Burch, the voice behind protagonist Aloy, shared her thoughts on AI in gaming, dismissing fears that actors could be entirely replaced by synthetic voices. Her insights add another layer to the ongoing conversation about creativity and authenticity in the industry.
Image credit: Guerrilla Image credit: Sony Santa Monica
(Source: EUROGAMER)
