The latest trailer for Horizon Forbidden West is here and it digs deep into the story of Guerrilla Games’ upcoming sequel. The trailer offers some bigger hints about the story of Forbidden West and how it will deepen the lore of the franchise. There are also a few returning characters shown alongside some major new players that reside out in the Forbidden West.

The trailer opens with Aloy speaking in voice-over to Elisabet Sobeck, the woman Aloy was cloned from, about the blight that is choking the life out of the land and turning the machines rabid. It then shows off some stunning shots of the new environments in the game before switching to a voice-over from a new character who describes the warlike culture that exists in the Forbidden West.

This is also the first place Guerrilla has shown off their new antagonist, Regala, in full, and confirms her alliance with the enigmatic Silens, who has gifted her with troops and the ability to control the machines. The trailer then takes a dark turn briefly before diving into the many allies Aloy will have on her quest to save the world once again.

Erend and Varl from Horizon Zero Dawn are both back for the sequel and will accompany Aloy on her journey out west. Three new companions are also shown off: a man who looks like he belongs to the warlike Tanakth, an Utaru woman, and a woman who doesn’t appear to belong to any tribe and wears a Focus like Aloy. The companions also appear to serve a more direct role in the story throughout the game than they did in Horizon Zero Dawn.  

The trailer closes with Aloy encountering a mysterious visage that appears to be a sentient AI. It warns her that she’s not the only one looking to unlock the secrets of the old world before a door opens to reveal a woman in futuristic clothing.

Horizon Forbidden West releases on February 18th, 2022, for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. For more on Horizon Forbidden West, check out the various different machines Aloy will encounter on her new adventure and the new and returning tribes she’ll meet while venturing out west.