In a recent interview, Shuhei Yoshida, who oversaw PlayStation Studios during a pivotal period, offered his thoughts on Horizon Forbidden West. The title arrived in 2022 for both PS4 and PS5, continuing a franchise that has anchored Sony’s first party slate for years. Yoshida noted that the game’s commercial performance did not meet the expectations tied to such a well-established brand, a point that sparked industry discussion about how pedigree translates into sales in a crowded market. He did not diminish the achievement, describing the project as a large and brilliant undertaking that aimed high and delivered on scale and ambition even if the headline figures were more modest than hoped.
Despite the sales gap relative to forecasts, Yoshida framed Horizon Forbidden West as a natural continuation of a proven family of games. He argued that a pedigree of success should have a direct impact on buyer interest, and he suggested that market dynamics, timing, and audience reach can complicate the path to blockbuster numbers. Even so, he praised the sequel for its ambition and execution, underscoring that the effort represented a substantial achievement within Sony’s studio ecosystem.
Sales data confirms the reality of the situation: Horizon Forbidden West moved 8.4 million copies. The PC release followed later, and the port became the publisher’s sixth-largest Steam release, a strong indicator of cross‑platform appeal. The Steam version earned an 89 percent positive rating from roughly 13,700 user reviews, reflecting a favorable reception from PC players who often bring a different perspective than console audiences.
Horizon Zero Dawn, meanwhile, had sold about 24.3 million copies by 2023. The game debuted on PS4 and later appeared on PC, with a remaster released subsequently. The trajectory of that first entry illustrates how Sony’s IP can extend life beyond the initial platform, reaching new audiences and sustaining interest while new installments arrive.
Shuhei Yoshida led SIE Worldwide Studios from 2008 through 2019, guiding its growth during a period of expansion for Sony’s platform ecosystem. He later moved to oversee PlayStation Indies before departing Sony earlier this year.
Sony has announced a film adaptation of Horizon Zero Dawn, signaling the company’s intention to extend the franchise beyond games into cinematic storytelling and broader media.
An industry snippet highlights how hardware demands can shape performance discussions around a high‑profile title, underscoring the relationship between GPU capabilities and frame rates on the latest graphics cards. The note, attributed to VG Times, serves as a reminder that technology refresh cycles influence both development and player experience across platforms.
Taken together, the Horizon franchise continues to evolve beyond its console releases. The combination of PC ports, a forthcoming film, and ongoing leadership changes at Sony’s studios reflects a strategy to diversify reach while maintaining the core identity of a saga that fans have followed for years. Horizon Forbidden West remains a milestone in Sony’s ongoing effort to pair strong brand heritage with cross‑media expansion, even as sales figures spark debate about the balance between pedigree and market realities.