Summary
LEGO Horizon Adventuresco-developer Guerrilla Games has clarified its somewhat controversial decision to launch the game on Nintendo Switch, stating that it was an intentional move. PlayStation formally revealedLEGO Horizon Adventuresat the recent Summer Game Fest presentation as a lighter, family-friendly spin-off of the brand’s critically acclaimedHorizonseries.
The game’s cheerful nature and beautiful visuals are undoubtedly characteristic of aLEGOtitle, but many were shocked to seeLEGO Horizon Adventuresconfirm a Nintendo Switch releasealongside PlayStation 5 and PC. This marks the very first time an in-house PlayStation IP will make its way to the Switch, that too day and date. Unsurprisingly, the multiplatform release sparked lots of debate among fans, wondering whether it could’ve been a licensing mandate byLEGO. The game is also being partly developed by Studio Gobo, which may have diminished Sony’s bargaining power further as Guerrilla isn’t the lead studio.
The rationale isn’t unreasonable as Sony has struggled with exclusivity for licensed IP in the past, most notablyMLB The Showand its Xbox release mandate. However, Guerrilla Games narrative director James Windeler has seemingly dispelled that notion in a recentinterview with VGC, stating that the decision to launchLEGO Horizon Adventureson Switch was a “unique opportunity” for the team and a “natural fit” for its ambitions with the game. Windeler continued, “I keep mentioning it, but we want this to be for everyone, and the Switch is really a platform that allows us to broaden the audience.”
LEGO Horizon Adventures Was Developed With the Switch in Mind
Windeler explained how this ethos is evident throughout the game via design choices such as simplifying the control scheme and the story, whittling down the franchise’s serious themes, introducing the classicLEGOhumor, and more. He also confirmed thatLEGO Horizon Adventurescan be played on a single joy-con, which should make for very approachable gameplay.LEGO Horizon Adventureswill also bring back customizationin a big way, allowing players to not only adorn characters like Aloy and Varl with unique costumes, but also decorate the main hub of the game with a Ferris wheel, disco floor, and more.
I keep mentioning it, but we want this to be for everyone, and the Switch is really a platform that allows us to broaden the audience.
The messaging around Sony’s exclusivity approach for its first-party games has been a hot topic in recent memory, as the company announced during a corporate strategy meeting in May that itslive-service titles will be simultaneously released on PC and PS5. However,LEGO Horizon Adventuresisn’t billed as a live-service game, yet it’s launching on PC and Switch day and date, which is an unexpected deviation from Sony’s prior commitments. It remains to be seen if PlayStation will consider more such multiplatform releases in the future, especially ifLEGO Horizon Adventuresreports strong sales numbers.
LEGO Horizon Adventures
WHERE TO PLAY
In a far future, where giant mechanized beasts roam a landscape reclaimed by nature and humans live in primitive tribes, an ancient evil seeks to destroy the world…Join hunter Aloy as she leads a colourful crew of heroes on a quest to save the meadows, forests, and mountains of Earth from a man called Helis, who leads a gang of sunworshippers that follow an Ancient Evil shrouded in mystery.Dive into a thrilling adventure alone, or with friends with couch co-op or online play, customize your home in true LEGO style, and uncover stunning secrets from Aloy’s mysterious past along the way.
