Horizon Forbidden West was one of the biggest announcements during the PlayStation 5 reveal. It’s no secret that the first game was a massive success, so Forbidden West has got large shoes to fill. Based on the trailer though, it’s looking to be spectacular.

In a recent video from the PlayStation Youtube Channel entitled “Horizon Forbidden West – Guerrilla Talks”, Game Director Mathijs de Jonge spilled a number of very interesting details about the next title, including the target release date in 2021.

First off, let’s get that out of the way. Horizon Forbidden West is targeting a release date of 2021. When exactly, it was not specified, but at least we can now lay rumors to rest that this is going to be a launch title. It’s not.

According to de Jonge, the title Forbidden West refers to “a mysterious new frontier that stretches from Utah in the USA all the way to the Pacific Ocean in the West.”, which will be the main point of focus of the game and where it would take place. Expect the world to be more vibrant and beautiful thanks to the power of the new technology that the next gen consoles will be packing.

Loading time was also a point of concern from the first game but as de Jonge points out, “with the PS5’s SSD, there will be virtually no loading screens. So in an open world game like Horizon Forbidden West, if you open up the map and fast travel from one end to the other, restarting from a checkpoint, will be super-fast.”

Horizon Forbidden West will feature a bigger map, but Guerrilla also wants to let players “discover what lies hidden beneath the surface of lakes and rivers.” We’re not quite sure yet as to what extent of underwater action we’ll see, but players can definitely look forward to it.

There will also be new threats to deal with, and some examples are the Shell Snappers, Snapmaws, and Sunwings among others. There will be “dozens of new machines” and they will have to be studied to give Aloy a fighting chance against them.

As you journey into the Forbidden West, you’ll encounter new tribes as well. While some are peaceful, others will not be so welcoming and one of these tribes have also found a way to override the machines, allowing them to use these fearsome beasts into battle.

The Tremor Tusk, which resembles a Mammoth, will be one of the bigger challenges in the game. Loaded with heavy armor plates, this is one of the machines that can be used by the tribes, which should pose an even greater danger.

Horizon Forbidden West is shaping up to be a worthy successor to the original. We’ve yet to see some actual gameplay, but Guerrilla has been known to deliver what they promise and if this is any indication, everyone should get excited.

Horizon Forbidden West is scheduled to be released in 2021 for the PlayStation 5.