What is Guerrilla Games' Horizon: Zero Dawn?

Killzone developer Guerrilla Games has jumped ship for a new IP. But what is it?

Horizon: Zero Dawn debuted at Sony's E3 2015 conference today and left us both stunned and confused.

First, it wasn't a gritty futuristic first person shooter, which caused our adjustment disorders to flare up. Second, we thought we were watching a lovely cinematic trailer but it segued seamlessly into gameplay. Third, we didn't really have any idea what we were looking at - action? RPG? Survival sandbox? MMO?

Sony PR to the rescue. According to information sent after the show, Horizon: Zero Dawn is an open world action game coming to PS4 (of course) in 2016.

Players are cast as Aloy, a skilled hunter, and proceed through a narrative - so it's not a survival sandbox, as some of that crafting stuff made us think.

"Explore a vibrant and lush world inhabited by mysterious mechanized creatures. Embark on a compelling, emotional journey and unravel mysteries of tribal societies, ancient artifacts and advanced technologies that will determine the fate of this planet, and of life itself," Sony said.

You don't actually need to ask us twice. Here's a batch of screenshots, followed by a fact sheet. Be sure to check out Horizon: Zero Dawn's stunning first trailer and gameplay demo, too.

• A Lush Post-Apocalyptic World
  How have machines dominated this world, and what is their purpose? What happened to the civilization here before? Scour every corner of a realm filled with ancient relics and mysterious buildings in order to uncover your past and unearth the many secrets of a forgotten land.
• Nature and Machines Collide
  Horizon Zero Dawn juxtaposes two contrasting elements, taking a vibrant world rich with beautiful nature and filling it with awe-inspiring highly advanced technology. This marriage creates a dynamic combination for both exploration and gameplay.
• Defy Overwhelming Odds
  The foundation of combat in Horizon Zero Dawn is built upon the speed and cunning of Aloy versus the raw strength and size of the machines. In order to overcome a much larger and technologically superior enemy, Aloy must use every ounce of her knowledge, intelligence, and agility to survive each encounter.
• Cutting Edge Open World Tech
  Stunningly detailed forests, imposing mountains, and atmospheric ruins of a bygone civilization meld together in a landscape that is alive with changing weather systems and a full day/night cycle.