‘Horizon Forbidden West’: More clues point to a potential in-game store and release of DLC expansions

“Horizon Forbidden West” is a full-fledged single-player game that explains why it does not need to have an in-game store. However, players may have found another clue that the game will have such a feature down the line.

In-game stores have become a more common feature in video games these days, especially for titles that have microtransactions. This feature is typically not available in single-player-only games like “Horizon Forbidden West.”

However, there have been rumors that Guerilla Games could be planning to add an in-store game in the future, where players can find add-on content like cosmetic items and DLCs. “Horizon Forbidden West” fans have started speculating on its possibility again this week after some have pointed out that the game’s physical copy includes a label that says it has in-game purchases.

Fans on Reddit noted that a video released by the VSC Rating Board doubled down on this information. The video was meant to explain why “Horizon Forbidden West” received a PEGI 16 rating, the host said, “This game offers players the opportunity to connect to an online storefront where they can purchase subsequent DLC expansions, which some parents or carers may want to be aware of. It should be noted that the game can still be played without the need to purchase such items.”

This message is also posted on the VSC Rating Board website. The Entertainment Software Rating Board, which provides ratings for video games released in the United States and Canada, gave “Horizon Forbidden West” the Teen rating. That means the game is deemed suitable for players ages 13 and up. The ESRB website also informs parents that the game has in-game purchases.

Guerilla Games has yet to explain why “Horizon Forbidden West” has been marked as having in-game purchases by both rating boards despite the lack of an in-game store. Some fans think that the developer could be working on optional customization items, while others suggest the game might have a direct store where players could directly purchase expansions later on.

“Horizon Forbidden West” has only been released for a week, so details about post-launch content are still scant. But it is worth noting that “Horizon Zero Dawn” had the expansion “The Frozen Wild,” so its sequel might get the same treatment.