The PlayStation 4 is dominating the video game console market, with Sony recently announcing that more than 40 million units have been sold worldwide since its initial release in 2013. And what makes that kind of commercial success even more stunning is that it's been achieved without a true wealth of 'killer apps' or system-exclusive games.

The Order: 1886 was a disappointment, and even though Until Dawn and Ratchet and Clank were critically praised, Sony’s lack of a successful marketing campaign arguably allowed sales to fall short of potential. However, along with Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End, there's no doubt that are quality games only experienced on PlayStation - and Horizon Zero Dawn has been hotly tipped to be another. But the brand new IP that's anticipated by many fans is now making players wait even longer.

The developer Guerrilla Games (known for the Killzone series, with PS4 launch title Shadow Fall being their last release) is clearly taking a step away from their future-warfare-shooter pedigree, with Horizon looking to be something completely different. But with the studio's track record, some are already hoping that the fascinating new character has potential to be the next face of PlayStation - no doubt due partly to the setting, as she's mainly been seen hunting robotic dinosaurs.

So it brings no shortage of disappointment to see Managing Director of Guerilla Games, Hermen Hulst, post on the PlayStation blog the reasoning behind the delay, now set to hit store shelves on February 28. 2017.

 “We know many of you have been anxious to play the game since we first announced it. However, we also want to ensure that Horizon Zero Dawn lives up to the visuals and gameplay quality that our games are known for. The new date affords us the extra time required to deliver fully on our ambitious vision for Horizon Zero Dawn. We realize that this decision may not please everyone. At the same time, we’re confident that the advantages of the additional development time afforded by the new date will become clear in the coming months, as we start to share more cool details and videos from Horizon Zero Dawn. We really, really appreciate your patience and continued support, and look forward to bringing you the best game we possibly can in February 2017.”

With one blog post, the title has dropped out of many gamers’ ‘Most Anticipated Games of 2016’ list and straight into the version for 2017, which is already filling out quite nicely after Mass Effect: Andromeda, Yooka-Laylee and the next Legend of Zelda all also received delays to next year. It’s not like gamers are lacking in titles to play and this news has already got fans speculating as to whether the extra development time will contribute to optimization for the much-rumored much-rumored PlayStation 4.5...

The new trailer giving a glimpse into the protagonist's story probably won't soften the blow, but it's welcome all the same (embedded above). In the footage, the mystery of Aloy’s origins is explored, along with her journey as an outcast and the first steps that lead her onto a dangerous quest. But exactly how the story fits into its post-apocalyptic setting, the warring techno-tribal factions, and why Aloy seems to be at the center of the mystery... all that will have to wait a bit longer to be explored.

Horizon Zero Dawn will release exclusively for the PS4 on February 28. 2017 in the US and March 3, 2017 in Europe.

Source: PlayStation Blog