While there have been a number of landmarks and references to the old United States of America in Horizon Forbidden West and its predecessor, the recent Burning Shores DLC has made the most overt nod to the world that came before in its latest trailer. The Horizon franchise takes place in a future where humanity was all but wiped out, leaving the last traces of civilization to be overcome by nature and the beast-like Machines that were once tasked with terraforming the planet.
As such, eagle-eyed players can spot the remains of several important real-world locations in Horizon Forbidden West, and each of the world’s tribal communities are located in a specific part of the United States. For example, the Nora tribe that Aloy hails from lives in Colorado, while the Sun-worshiping Carja dwell in what was once Utah. Post-apocalypse Wyoming serves as the setting of Zero Dawn’s The Frozen Wilds DLC, while Horizon Forbidden West takes Aloy to ruined versions of Nevada and California. However, it can be hard for most players to recognize the real-world locations that can be explored in the Horizon games since most of the buildings and landmarks have been reduced to broken ruins that Aloy can climb and transverse in her quest to uncover the truth behind the world that was.
Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores Clearly Takes Place In LA
This quest will continue in Horizon Forbidden West’s upcoming Burning Shores DLC, which was formally announced at December’s The Game Awards 2022. During the stunning Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores trailer, Aloy is shown flying above the titular location on the back of a Sunwing, ultimately soaring past the famous Hollywood sign overlooking what remains of Los Angeles. At the very end of the trailer, the sign is completely destroyed by a hulking Machine that Aloy will presumably have to fight, but its presence among the Burning Shores is one of the Horizon franchise’s most overt references to the real-life United States to date.
The Burning Shores Are Already Mentioned In Horizon Forbidden West
The Hollywood sign isn’t the only recognizable landmark within the Burning Shores, as players can use Horizon Forbidden West’s ridable Sunwing mount to spot the remains of Memorial Bridge and Hoover Dam in the base game. However, any attempts to actually enter the Burning Shores are met with an ominous warning to “turn back.” The Burning Shores are said to span the real-life San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, though they have since become “a place of flames and brine” that few travelers dare to enter. Sure enough, the Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores DLC trailer shows a world flowing with lava, and the gigantic Machine at the end will likely be a formidable threat to Aloy.
All the same, the presence of the Hollywood sign in Horizon Forbidden West's upcoming, PS5-exclusive Burning Shores DLC removes any doubt about where it takes place and is one of the most clear-cut nods to the real United States in the series so far. While the sign itself might not survive the events of the Burning Shores expansion, players will still be able to explore what remains of Los Angeles when the DLC launches for the PlayStation 5 on April 19, 2023.
Source: Guerrilla/YouTube