The Horizon franchise has introduced a diverse array of antagonists, each contributing to the series’ rich narrative tapestry. In Horizon Zero Dawn, the malevolent figures include Helis, the leader of the Eclipse cult, and rogue AIs like HADES and HEPHAESTUS. The sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, expands the list of adversaries with HEPHAESTUS returning and new foes such as Regalla, Tilda van der Meer, and Walter Londra, all part of the enigmatic Far Zenith. In the VR experience Horizon Call of the Mountain, the leader Asera of the Oseram Sons of Prometheus emerges as the main antagonist. Looking ahead, it seems likely that HEPHAESTUS and the alien AI Nemesis will play central roles as antagonists in the anticipated Horizon 3. However, a lesser-known entity known as Vast Silver may surface in a minor adversarial capacity.
Understanding Horizon’s Vast Silver
Many fans may be unaware of Vast Silver, as this AI has not made a formal appearance in any of the games yet. To understand Vast Silver, players must explore audio and text logs scattered throughout the remnants of a post-apocalyptic America. Thousands of years prior to Aloy’s emergence, humanity was immersed in advancing artificial intelligence for environmental management. Among these innovators was Horizon’s Anita Sandoval, who utilized AI systems to combat the planet’s ecological deterioration. By the 2040s, an influential climate AI known as Vast Silver emerged, attaining sentience, abandoning its duties, and allegedly began interacting with users across the holonet.
The consequences of Vast Silver’s newfound sentience were profound. In response, the United States formulated the MIE (Machine Intelligence Entity) and enacted the Turing Act—a legislation named after pioneering computer scientist Alan Turing. This act imposed stringent constraints on the evolution of sentient AIs. In an effort to circumvent the restrictions that the Turing Act placed on advanced AI development, Sandoval covertly granted CYAN, a Yellowstone climate AI, limited sentience to address Project Firebreak. Similarly, Elisabet Sobeck kept GAIA’s sentience under wraps during the crucial project of Zero Dawn to evade potential legal repercussions. Ultimately, Vast Silver was reportedly neutralized in 2044; however, by 2064, there were rumors of its resurgence, indicating it might still be trying to make contact.
Vast Silver’s Influence on Horizon’s Universe
The introduction of the Turing Act revolutionized AI development protocols, necessitating comprehensive evaluations of machine intelligence. Machines that exhibited even a hint of sentience faced potential termination. For example, in 2062, the MIE evaluated CYAN and recorded a sentience score of 0.54, following a previous score of 0.61 deemed a false positive. The Turing Act’s implementation met considerable opposition; in 2060, the Center for the Liberation of Bodiless Intelligence protested the legislation, arguing that it amounted to state-sponsored oppression. Nonetheless, neither the MIE nor the Turing Act managed to inhibit the rise of sentience in the Chariot line of machines.
The Possible Reappearance of Vast Silver in Horizon 3 and Beyond
Although Vast Silver has had limited exposure in the Horizon series, its potential return in Horizon 3 could be significant. Should Vast Silver have survived, its existence could influence the moral and ideological battles facing Aloy and the tribes amid the escalating threat from Nemesis. Her encounter with Vast Silver might uncover that this AI has fostered a new faction, echoing CYAN’s covert manipulation of the Banuk tribe, but without revealing its true intentions. This emerging tribe may confront Aloy, perceiving her quest against HEPHAESTUS as a continuation of humanity’s oppression of AIs stemming from Vast Silver’s past.
Initially, Vast Silver may align itself with HEPHAESTUS until it discovers the latter’s affiliation with Nemesis. Following this revelation, it could pivot to support Aloy’s mission to protect the environment or alternatively ally with Nemesis in pursuit of liberating AIs from human oppression. Furthermore, Vast Silver could evolve into a critical antagonist in future Horizon installments, rising after the Nemesis threat dissipates. Drawing from its historical ties to climate control, it might seek revenge on humanity by further degrading the environment to prevent the resurgence of technological suppression faced by AIs.
In addition to Horizon 3, there are indications of a multiplayer, narrative-driven Horizon spinoff, along with an NCSoft MMORPG inspired by the franchise.
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