One of PlayStation’s most recognizable dormant franchises may finally be preparing for a return.
After more than a decade away from the battlefield, Killzone could be making its way back to PlayStation. A new report claims Guerrilla Games is involved in the early development of either a remake or remaster of an existing entry in the sci-fi first-person shooter franchise.
According to MP1st, Guerrilla is reportedly collaborating with an external studio outside PlayStation’s first-party network on the project. Development is said to be at a very early stage, meaning fans probably shouldn’t expect an official reveal anytime soon. Sony and Guerrilla Games have not announced the project, and neither the specific game being revived nor whether it will ultimately be classified as a remake or remaster has been confirmed.
Could the Original Killzone Be Getting Remade?
The obvious candidate is the original Killzone, which launched for PlayStation 2 in 2004. While the report does not confirm that game as the target, rebuilding the first entry for modern PlayStation hardware would give Sony an opportunity to introduce Killzone to an entirely new generation.
The original game helped establish Guerrilla Games long before the studio became known for Horizon. Killzone eventually developed into one of PlayStation’s major shooter franchises, spawning Killzone 2, Killzone 3, Killzone: Mercenary, Killzone: Liberation and Killzone: Shadow Fall.
The original game has also been revisited before. Guerrilla helped bring Killzone HD to PlayStation 3 in 2012, with developers retrieving original source code and assets from the 2004 production.
However, a modern remake could go considerably further. Improved enemy AI, redesigned environments, higher frame rates, modern controls and dramatically upgraded visuals could transform the original Killzone into something much closer to the cinematic shooter Guerrilla originally envisioned.
Killzone Has Been Gone for More Than a Decade
The franchise’s last major console release was Killzone: Shadow Fall, which arrived alongside the PlayStation 4 in 2013. Guerrilla subsequently moved its attention toward Horizon, beginning with Horizon Zero Dawn and eventually making that universe the studio’s primary focus.
That long absence has only increased nostalgia surrounding Killzone.
Its oppressive industrial environments, heavy weapon handling and instantly recognizable Helghast soldiers with glowing red eyes gave the franchise an identity noticeably different from many modern shooters. Guerrilla has previously explained that the famous glowing eyes were actually added during development after testers had difficulty spotting Helghast soldiers against darker backgrounds.
A remake could therefore be much more than another remaster. It could be Sony testing whether Killzone still has enough audience demand to become an active PlayStation franchise again.
For now, expectations should remain measured. The reported project is extremely early, details could change, and PlayStation has yet to confirm its existence.
Still, after thirteen years without a new Killzone release, simply hearing that Guerrilla may once again be preparing for war is enough to give longtime PlayStation fans something they have not had in years: hope for Killzone’s return.
