Horizon Movie: PlayStation's Potential Blockbuster

Following the successful cinematic adaptation of Uncharted in 2022 and the critically acclaimed HBO series The Last of Us, a Horizon movie was inevitable. PlayStation Studios and Columbia Pictures have officially confirmed a film adaptation of Horizon Zero Dawn, bringing Aloy's captivating origin story and the game's vibrant, machine-filled world to the big screen. While still in early development, the film has the potential to be Sony's first major video game box office triumph—provided it stays true to the source material.

Recent years have witnessed several successful video game adaptations on both the big and small screens. The Super Mario Bros. and Sonic films, aimed at family audiences, set a high bar for critical acclaim and box office success. On television, Sony's The Last of Us joins Netflix's Arcane and Amazon Prime's Fallout as fan favorites. Even adaptations with mixed reviews have achieved box office success, like the Tom Holland-led Uncharted, which grossed over $400 million.

However, challenges remain. While the "video game curse" is largely a thing of the past, some adaptations still falter. Uncharted, while popular, wasn't the faithful adaptation many fans hoped for. Last year's Borderlands film and Amazon's Like a Dragon: Yakuza series suffered from poor critical and box office performance due to their significant departures from the source material's storylines, lore, and tone. They failed to capture the essence of the games that captivated fans.

These failures highlight a broader issue with adaptations. Netflix's The Witcher, for example, took significant liberties with its source material, altering events, characters, and overall tone. While adaptations require changes to suit a new medium, these examples feel like entirely different entities. This disappoints fans—the pre-built audience—and often signals the project's eventual failure.

The announced Horizon film isn't the first attempt at bringing the franchise to screens. In 2022, Netflix announced a series, and rumors circulated about a "Horizon 2074" project set in the pre-apocalypse. This polarized fans who desired a faithful adaptation of the original game's successful story and iconic robotic creatures, which a pre-apocalypse setting would lack. Fortunately, that Netflix project is no longer in development, and the focus has shifted to a theatrical release.

Given the extensive CGI required, a cinematic release is a smart move. The larger budget of a Hollywood film allows for a more faithful realization of the story and world, maximizing their potential on the big screen.

If the Horizon film receives the same care and attention as The Last of Us (TV), it has the potential to be PlayStation's first major cinematic success. The success of Fallout, Arcane, and The Last of Us demonstrates the importance of faithfulness to the source material—not just visually, but in tone and story. Gamers value authenticity. While The Last of Us introduced new storylines, it largely adhered to the game's narrative structure, resonating with both fans and newcomers. A similar approach for Horizon could yield similar results.

Faithfulness to the original game isn't merely about fan expectations. Horizon Zero Dawn won "Best Narrative" at The Game Awards 2017 and "Outstanding Achievement in Story" at the 2018 DICE Awards, highlighting the story's quality. Set in 31st-century North America, it follows Aloy, a member of the Nora Tribe, as she unravels the mystery of her origins and their connection to the old-world scientist, Elisabet Sobeck, her doppelganger. Aloy, Erend, and Varl are compelling characters, and their relationships are richly developed across both games. The story explores attempts to save Earth's climate and the rogue AI that created the robotic creatures. The enigmatic Sylens adds further intrigue.

The intricate detail of each community and settlement creates a unique and immersive world, perfect for a film franchise. Similar to how James Cameron's Avatar explored the Na'vi culture, a Horizon film could delve into the Nora Tribe's survival strategies. The unique combat encounters—featuring Sawtooths, Tallnecks, and Stormbirds—offer visually stunning potential. Rival tribes and those loyal to Hades provide conflict and suspense, creating engaging challenges for Aloy and her allies. Horizon's rich storytelling requires minimal alteration to succeed on screen.

Horizon's compelling story, unique world, and cinematic aesthetic position it for success. The expansive narrative of Forbidden West offers further potential for a long-term franchise. By retaining the elements that made the game successful, a compelling adaptation is achievable. With more Sony titles slated for film and TV adaptations (Ghost of Tsushima, Helldivers 2), this approach could establish PlayStation's dominance in a new medium. However, deviating from what made Horizon great could lead to negative fan reception and financial difficulties, as seen with Borderlands. Sony must recognize the potential and deliver a faithful adaptation.