How the Tribes in Horizon 3 Could Evolve from Zero Dawn and Forbidden West

With the recent releases of Horizon Zero Dawn: Remastered and LEGO Horizon Adventures, Guerrilla Games can now turn its focus toward developing the eagerly awaited Horizon multiplayer game and Horizon 3. Following the success of 2022’s Horizon Forbidden West and its 2023 expansion, Burning Shores, fans have been buzzing with theories about how the Horizon series might reach its conclusion. Aloy might sail the Pacific to collaborate with the advanced Quen Empire or perhaps Sylens could leverage ancient 21st-century tech to combat Nemesis. Yet, one intriguing angle Guerrilla might explore in Horizon 3 is how existing tribes grapple with humanity’s history, rather than simply introducing new tribes.

Since Ted Faro’s catastrophic deletion of the APOLLO subroutine from Project: Zero Dawn, humanity has remained in a state of primitive ignorance. The 21st-century ruins and colossal robotic creatures that dot this post-apocalyptic world stand as silent witnesses to this loss of knowledge. Lacking access to historical data, early societies constructed their beliefs much like ancient civilizations once did. For instance, the isolationist Nora worship automated security systems as the divine All-Mother, while the Carja revere the sun as a god. Misinterpretations of ancient ruins led many tribes to mistake robots and AI for malevolent spirits punishing their forebears.

However, not every tribe remains completely in the dark. The ancient Quen discovered numerous Focus devices, allowing them slight insights into old-world wisdom and aiding the development of their technologically sophisticated empire. The Tenakth, on their part, gained military knowledge from ancient museum artifacts. Meanwhile, the Oseram managed to repair some old tech, such as holographic displays in what was once Las Vegas, using these as a springboard for their own inventions. These civilizations occasionally stumble upon active old-world facilities via scattered Focus devices, just as Sylens did in Horizon Zero Dawn.

In both Zero Dawn and Forbidden West, Aloy’s understanding of ancient knowledge has grown, thanks to her Focus, guidance from Sylens, and her genetic status as a clone of Dr. Elisabet Sobeck, Project: Zero Dawn’s ingenious creator. By Forbidden West’s conclusion, Aloy procures a copy of APOLLO from the off-world Far Zenith humans and integrates it with GAIA, allowing her companions to study humanity’s past to devise strategies against the looming threat of Nemesis. The Burning Shores expansion sees Erend planning to return to the Oseram with Focus devices, intending to prepare them for this existential battle.

Erend and Aloy’s initiative to distribute ancient knowledge, although well-meaning, could spark tension with entrenched tribes. Many of these post-apocalyptic societies have adhered to their beliefs for generations and may resist acknowledging that their cultural narratives were mere fabrications. Especially resistant could be the religious leaders of the Utaru and Carja tribes, like the Sun Priests, who might view such revelations as challenges to their authority if their deities are exposed as non-divine.

The Quen might react aggressively to the dissemination of knowledge too, given that their culture controls ancient information tightly, with only the elite accessing it. Aloy’s educational agenda might threaten the very fabric of the Quen Empire’s power structure. Conversely, the Oseram and Tenakth could be more receptive to ancient knowledge, recognizing its potential to advance their technology and warfare strategies. Despite Aloy’s solid relationships with various tribes throughout the Horizon series, she may still face cultural prejudice in Horizon 3 as she seeks their full support in the battle against Nemesis.

Throughout the Horizon saga, we’ve encountered seven distinct tribes: the Nora, Carja, Oseram, Banuk, Utaru, Tenakth, and Quen. Each has added to the rich tapestry of the game’s narrative world.

In this expansive journey, Aloy ventures into perilous new terrains, confronting awe-inspiring machines and puzzling new tribes. Set in a future where humanity’s remnants face fierce storms, a relentless blight, and aggressive new machines at their doorsteps, the mission is unequivocally clear: Aloy must unearth the secrets to counter these threats and restore balance. Along her path, she will reunite with old allies, forge new pacts, and uncover the mysteries left by the ancient past.