Price Surge for Horizon: Zero Dawn Following PS5 Remaster Announcement Sparks Controversy

In recent news, the pricing of the acclaimed game Horizon: Zero Dawn on PlayStation 4 has seen a significant increase after the announcement of its remastered version for the PS5. This change raises some eyebrows regarding Sony's pricing strategies and the game's accessibility for players.

Sony has elevated the price of the PlayStation 4 title Horizon: Zero Dawn following the announcement of its remastered edition for PlayStation 5. Reports highlight that in the UK, the cost has surged from £15.99 to £34.99, while in the U.S., it moved from $19.99 to $39.99 on the PlayStation Store.

The game had maintained its previous pricing for an extended period as part of the PlayStation Hits collection. Other notable titles, such as God of Battle and The Last of Us Enhanced Edition, have continued to be available for the standard price of $19.99.

This price adjustment coincided with the reveal of the game’s remaster during Sony's 2024 State of Play presentation, where a modest $9.99 upgrade option was offered to existing players. The full price for the remastered version stands at $49.99, making the increase essentially a tactic to dissuade players from purchasing the PS4 version at a lower price and then upgrading for an additional fee.

Additionally, it should be noted that Horizon: Zero Dawn was removed from the PlayStation Plus Extra Games Catalog earlier in May. Consequently, the game transitioned from being available for free to a $19.99 price tag, and now it has reached $39.99 within the span of just a few months, or $49.99 for those seeking the enhanced version.

The remastered PS5 edition of Horizon: Zero Dawn is set to launch on October 31, featuring ten hours of newly recorded dialogue along with various visual improvements.