Horizon Forbidden West possible release date might be revealed very soon

Horizon Forbidden West PS5 release date
(Image credit: Sony)

Update: Horizon Forbidden West's story trailer showcases an epic quest to save a dying planet.

After Horizon Forbidden West game footage was shown off in PlayStation’s latest State of Play, the one question on everyone’s mind is “when is the release date?” 

It was the one piece of information PS5 owners really wanted from the event, and unfortunately, developer Guerrilla was extremely tight-lipped when it came to specifics. That was until the dev took to Twitter just after the showcase ended and gave players a most welcome update. 

According to Guerrilla, while there isn’t yet an “exact release date” for the hugely anticipated PS5 exclusive, “development is on track” and the studio will “have an update for [players] very soon." 

This could mean only a few weeks to wait before further information as there are a number of gaming events already scheduled for the next month, including E3 2021 and the Summer Games Fest.

Around 12 minutes of direct game footage was shown off during the State of Play event. In this presentation, we got a look at some of Horizon protagonist Aloy’s new abilities, including a grapple device and a tool that lets her breath underwater. We also got a first look at several new animalistic machine types and saw a boss battle with a gigantic mechanical mammoth. 

The footage looked phenomenal on PS5, so no wonder players are eager to know the release date. Hopefully, the wait for more information is short, and fingers crossed when we do get a launch date it’s not too far away either. 

When will Horizon Forbidden West release?  

Horizon forbidden west

(Image credit: Sony)

While we don’t yet have an exact release date for Horizon Forbidden West, we have a few clues that could tell us when we can expect to once again be let loose in a vast open-world overrun with feral machines. 

Sony previously announced that the sequel to 2017’s Horizon Zero Dawn is scheduled to launch at some point in 2021. A PS5 advert confirmed that the game is “anticipated second half of 2021," but there is always the chance that the title could slip into 2022 if Guerrilla decides it needs more polish before launch.

Hopefully, that won’t be the case. And the good news is that the tweet above does state “development is on track,” which would suggest Horizon Forbidden West is still on course to hit its 2021 release date, for now at least. 

If the game is going to launch this year, we would expect to have a solid release date by the end of the summer. If we’ve still not heard anything by then, the likelihood of the game launching in 2021 would start to look rather bleak. 

A release date towards the end of the year would be most welcome for gamers still trying to hunt down a PS5 console, as the console has got even harder to get hold of the last few months. Make sure to check out our PS5 restock guide for the latest stock information as we get it. 

For anyone who is unable to secure a next-gen PlayStation before the release date of Horizon Forbidden West, don’t worry, it’s been confirmed the title will also launch on PS4

Rory Mellon
Entertainment Editor (UK)

Rory is an Entertainment Editor at Tom’s Guide based in the UK. He covers a wide range of topics but with a particular focus on gaming and streaming. When he’s not reviewing the latest games, searching for hidden gems on Netflix, or writing hot takes on new gaming hardware, TV shows and movies, he can be found attending music festivals and getting far too emotionally invested in his favorite football team. 

Read more
PlayStation logo on a phone in front of a State of Play logo.
PlayStation State of Play live updates — Metal Gear Solid Delta, MindsEye, and more announced
Helldivers 2 screenshot
Every PlayStation movie and TV show confirmed at CES 2025 — 'The Last Of Us' season 2 update, Helldivers movie and more
Grand Theft Auto 6
GTA 6 leak may have just revealed the game's release date
Grand Theft Auto 6 artwork
GTA 6 — everything we know so far
Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet screenshot
7 biggest announcements at The Game Awards 2024 — Elden Ring: Nightreign, The Witcher 4, Naughty Dog's new game and more
Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller in The Last of Us season 2
‘The Last of Us’ season 2 finally gets release window — and you can watch the new trailer now
Latest in Gaming
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Thursday, March 13 (#641)
NYT Strands on a cellphone
NYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #375 (Thursday, March 13 2025)
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Wednesday, March 12 (#640)
Switch 2 console and logo
New Nintendo patent teases a big upgrade for Switch 2 — here's what we know
Horizon Forbidden West on PC
AI-powered PlayStation characters are being tested at Sony — what we know
NYT Strands on a cellphone
NYT Strands today — hints, spangram and answers for game #374 (Wednesday, March 12 2025)
Latest in News
Sonos logo on a smart speaker
Sonos halts work on rumored super streaming device — what's next?
NYTimes Connections
NYT Connections today hints and answers — Thursday, March 13 (#641)
HomePod with display concept render
Apple HomePod with display now rumored for late 2025 launch
The Apple Watch Series 10 on display at the device's launch in September 2024
Apple Watch sales plummet 19% as smartwatch market declines for first time
Google's Project Astra working on prototype smartglasses in an advertisement
Google just acquired this eye tracking company — hinting at the return of Google glasses
iPhone 17 Air render
iPhone 17 Air could be just 5.5mm thick — but 9.5mm when you throw in the camera bump