Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered called out for ‘Instagram filter’ Aloy
Gamers have noticed something a little different about Aloy, but what's her secret?
25th Sep 2024 16:45
Images via Guerrilla Games
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered called out for ‘Instagram filter’ Aloy
Gamers have noticed something a little different about Aloy, but what's her secret?
25th Sep 2024 16:45
Images via Guerrilla Games
We'd heard Sony has something special up its sleeve for the September 24 State of Play, and while the announcement that Ghost of Yotei is the one that stole the show, there was plenty else for Sony Ponies to enjoy. Although not the most surprising, leaks were on the money that Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered is on the way.
It's been seven years since we first met Aloy back on the PlayStation 4, and while there are sure to be the usual complaints about remastering games that are less than a decade old, we'd like to point that vocal minority toward The Last of Us Part 2. Aloy is back, but some think she's had a little work done.
Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered critics have a problem with Aloy
We wondered how long it would take for the community to once again turn on Aloy, and after she was previously accused of having a 'hairy' face, she's now apparently been through an Instagram filter (cat ears not included).
Guerilla Games promises that Zero Dawn Remastered will live up to the same visual quality as 2022's Forbidden West. Alongside 10 hours of new motion capture performance, there are new textures, and Guerrilla Games' Co-Studio Director Jan-Bart van Beek later confirmed Aloy's Forbidden West model has been brought over to the remaster.
As we've already had the free PS5 upgrade for Zero Dawn, there were questions bout whether a full remaster was really needed. Those who've already got the game can pay $10 to get the remaster, although there are those who are vowing to boycott because they think the 'new' Aloy looks worse.
Taking to X, one sceptic said, "Did the PS5 Remaster partner with Instagram filters😂 Why does she look less realistic?" Another added, "Remasters getting hype when it's such a lazy way to develop games is insane 💀💀💀 smoothing out her face is the justification for $10?" and a third said, "Remaster looks like every Instagram influence post I see, that soft filter look."
Someone else concluded, "I'm not trying to be funny and I'm seriously asking which one is which?? The left one in some ways looks a lot better but than the right one I think has a better-looking face... I don't know. It just doesn't feel like much either way."
Namely, it was just an excuse for those who seem to have a problem with Aloy to have another pop at her. With Stellar Blade giving the hyper-sexualised Eve and the designers admitting they made her that way, Aloy has faced criticism that she doesn't fit everyone's traditional ideals of beauty.
While it's fair enough to question what's changed between the PS5 upgrade and Zero Dawn Remastered, the continued debate about how attractive women in video games are is an exhausting one. Sure, Aloy might've had a little work done, but does that really affect the way you play?
About The Author
Tom Chapman
Tom is Trending News Editor at GGRecon, with an NCTJ qualification in Broadcast Journalism and over seven years of experience writing about film, gaming, and television. With bylines at IGN, Digital Spy, Den of Geek, and more, Tom’s love of horror means he's well-versed in all things Resident Evil, with aspirations to be the next Chris Redfield.
