We finally got a release date for Guerrilla Games’ highly anticipated sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn. Originally set for a 2021 release, Horizon Forbidden West will now launch on 18 February 2022. Pre-orders for the PlayStation exclusive will be open next week too on 2 September.

“It’s no surprise that our teams were hugely impacted by the global pandemic; we have been adjusting to new workflows, protocols, and other challenges, while keeping our teams safe and prioritizing a healthy work/life balance,” said Mathijs de Jonge, Game Director at Guerrilla Games.

“While the decision to move the game’s launch to 2022 certainly wasn’t easy, we’d like to take a moment to thank all of our fans for their unwavering support,” de Jonge added.

Back in May this year, Guerrilla Games showed off a pretty extensive gameplay demo of Forbidden West. It showcases the stunning environment of the new region, along with new traversal mechanics for Aloy, the main protagonist. Her Spear seems to have a new set of combos now too, and Aloy got a number of new weapons as well.

Aside from the release date of Forbidden West, Guerrilla Games also revealed a pleasant surprise: an Enhanced Performance Patch for Horizon Zero Dawn is now available on the PS5. This lets PS5 players run the game at 60fps, which should make for a more enjoyable gameplay experience.

Horizon Forbidden West will be launched on both the PS5 and PS4 on 18 February 2022. Pre-orders for the game will be open on 2 September, so stay tuned for that next week.