"It wasn't an easy choice to make; we know many of you have been anxious to play the game since we first announced it," Guerrilla managing director Hermen Hulst said. "However, we also want to ensure that Horizon Zero Dawn lives up to the visuals and gameplay quality that our games are known for. The new date affords us the extra time required to deliver fully on our ambitious vision for Horizon Zero Dawn."
Hulst went on to say he knows the delay "may not please everyone," but stressed that it's in the best interest of the game.
"We're confident that the advantages of the additional development time afforded by the new date will become clear in the coming months. We really, really appreciate your patience and continued support, and look forward to bringing you the best game we possibly can in February 2017."
Announced at E3 2015, the ambitious-sounding Horizon Zero Dawn has a full day/night cycle and players will get to explore forests, mountains, and "atmospheric ruins of a bygone civilization." There are also robot dinosaurs; the one in the poster is apparently called "Thunderjaw." Sony has also said Aloy was inspired by female leads in franchises such as Terminator and Game of Thrones.
Additionally, Zero Dawn will not have a multiplayer mode, though the game will have "certain social features in there" that will be announced later.
