Cut Content/Characters

"We live in a world of fallen cities and vanished tribes." This article or section refers to content that was removed or changed from the final product. The canonicity of this content is unclear, although is likely non-canon.

This page contains a list of all cut characters, as well as other notable changes that some characters in the final game went through during the development of the Horizon series.

Horizon Zero Dawn

Cut Characters

Aelund

Aelund is listed in the credits of Horizon Zero Dawn as being voiced by Glenn Wrage (which is reflected in Wrange's IMDb page), although they haven't been found in the final game. Based on their name, they were likely an Oseram.

Aelund Forgeman is an alias used by Dervahl (who is not voiced by Wrage). This use of the same name appears to either be a coincidence or a reuse of Aelund's name after the character was cut.

Aelund's name has been found in two files in the localization files of Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, neither of which reveal any further information about Aelund.

Fens

While Fens is a character in The Official Horizon Cookbook: Tastes of the Seven Tribes, he was originally planned to appear in Horizon Zero Dawn. See this section of his page for more information.

Geruf

Geruf's name is listed with no discernible context within the localization files of Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, with someone addressed as "Geruf's Partner" listed in the files for Into the Borderlands in the localization files of Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition. However, who this character is and their intended role is unknown. Based on their name, Geruf was most likely an Oseram.

Jost

Jost is listed in the credits of Horizon Zero Dawn as being voiced by Joe May (reflected in May's IMDb page), although they haven't been found in the final game. Based on their name, Jost was most likely a Nora.

A search into the localization files of the base game of Horizon Zero Dawn by User:Bearborg revealed button prompts for talking to Jost, but no other mentions. However, a search into the localization files of Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition by User:Machine Hunter Brooke turned up no mentions of Jost's name.

Larry

Larry was a cut recurring character in Horizon Zero Dawn intended to make an appearance a cut chain of quests, possibly being an early version of the quests featuring the Hunters Lodge (Hunting for the Lodge to Redmaw), likely being a placeholder name for the person giving her exams where she has to hunt several machines and collect trophies from each.

Multiservitor

Multiservitor B1-23

As revealed in the subtitle files for The Heart of the Nora in the localization files of Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, a multiservitor was intended to appear as a character during the quest, welcoming Aloy within ELEUTHIA-9, with the only line yet being found being "Welcome….". However, this was cut and none of the multiservitors that can be found within the facility speak to Aloy in the final game.

Musas

Musas was a Carja intended to make an appearance in A Daughter's Vengeance. See his page for more information.

Sem

Sem is a cut character from Horizon Zero Dawn that Aloy could speak to, found within the localization files of Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition. No further information about Sem, including what he would've spoken to Aloy about, has yet been found.

Based on their name, Sem was most likely a Nora.

Shivis

Shivis is a cut character from Horizon Zero Dawn, with their name being listed with no discernible context within the localization files of Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition. No further information about Shivis has yet been found.

Based on their name, Shivis was most likely a Carja.

Changed Characters

Aloy

Aloy.

Aloy's name has been present since the beginning of Horizon Zero Dawn's development. However, other names were considered for her, with Ben McCaw suggesting "Aera" which he liked because it implied the passage of time, although these were dropped and Aloy's name remained unchanged.

Before John Gonzalez joined the development team, Aloy was planned to not be particularly special among fellow machine hunters, with no connection to the ancient past. Later on, once the truth of Aloy's creation had been established, Gonzales mentions that his initial idea as to why Aloy grew up not knowing why she was created was "pretty awful, both overly complicated and utterly boring." However, he never describes what his initial idea was.

Arana

Arana.

In the localization files for Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, there is a file intended to be a list of relevant text for the quest In Her Mother's Footsteps (then known as "The One That Got Away"). This text reveals that Arana's name was originally planned to be named Thel.

Grist

Grist in the HORIZON ZERO DAWN Gameplay Demo (TGS 2016).

In the HORIZON ZERO DAWN Gameplay Demo (TGS 2016), Grist appears with a radically different early design.

Helis

Helis in the E3 2016 Trailer.

An early design of Helis is shown in the E3 2016 Trailer, where he's shown wearing a generic Eclipse mask, which he never wears in the final game.

Isaac

In the localization files in Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, the subtitle files of A Gift from the Past for when Aloy discovers the Happy Birthday Isaac! datapoint reveal that Isaac was originally planned to be named Danny.

Rost

Rost in the E3 2015 Trailer.

An early design of Rost is shown in the E3 2015 Trailer. This design of Rost has a similar build, wears the same Death-Seeker face paint and has vaguely similar clothes and hair to the final design, although his face and hair more closely resembles Karst's.

Rost's E3 2016 Trailer design as seen in the Rost Cosplay Guide.

Another different design of Rost is shown in the E3 2016 Trailer, which appears identical to his final game, but is missing the boar pelt and feather cape. This design of Rost is shown within the Rost Cosplay Guide.

Gallery

Rost in the E3 2015 Trailer from behind.

Aloy and Rost in the E3 2015 Trailer.

Saravad

While Saravad is a mentioned only character in the final game, he was intended to have a role in A Daughter's Vengeance. See this section of his page for more information.

Others

Honst

Karst, who may have originally been named Honst.

In the localization files for Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, among a list of files for character names in subtitles, a folder named "honst" contains a single file with only Karst's name within, suggesting that Karst's name was originally Honst.

However, Honst and Karst are listed separately in the credits of Horizon Zero Dawn, both listed as being voiced by Steve Furst (which is reflected on Furst's IMDb page), making it unclear whether Honst and Karst are the same character or are different characters altogether.

Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds

Cut Characters

A Vanguard, Nora and Oseram

The Nora, Oseram and Vanguard seen in the reveal trailer for The Frozen Wilds.

In the reveal trailer for The Frozen Wilds, a Vanguard, Nora and Oseram in generic clothing are prominently shown, first passing a herd of Tramplers, then later running from a very damaged Frostclaw or Fireclaw. However, these characters do not appear in the final game.

Changed Characters

Anita Sandoval

Anita Sandoval.

In the credits for Horizon Zero Dawn: The Frozen Wilds, Anita is listed as "Anita "Ani" Sandoval", despite never being referred to as "Ani" at any point, indicating that she was planned to be at some point.

Aratak

Aratak.

As revealed in the localization files of Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, Aratak was originally planned to be named Arathak. Additionally, his placeholder name was WARRIOR.

Ourea

Ourea.

As revealed in the localization files of Horizon Zero Dawn Complete Edition, Ourea's placeholder name was PROPHET.

Horizon Forbidden West

Cut Characters

Brewmaster

The Brewmaster is listed on the IMDb credits page for Horizon Forbidden West, voiced by Peter Brooke. However, no such character appears in the final game.

Datokkeh

Datokkeh is listed in the credits of Horizon Forbidden West as being voiced by Stephenson Ardern-Sodje (reflected in Ardern-Sodje's IMDb page), although they haven't been found in the final game. Based on their name, Datokkeh was most likely a Tenakth.

A search of the localization files by User:Bearborg didn't reveal any mention of Datokkeh's name.

Dratteko, Charatta and Mestokka

The localization files for Horizon Forbidden West reveal these three Sky Tenakth, who appears to be involved in a quest that took place on the Greypeak.

The quest appears to involve Aloy being sent to the Greypeak by Mestokka to follow up on Dratekko's rescue mission of some Tenakth soldiers after a collapse in the tunnels (possibly called the "Razor Way") under the Greypeak. It seems that the Tenakth soldiers were destroying Clamberjaws, which attracted an Apex Slaughterspine, forcing them to take shelter in a tunnel, which subsequently collapsed. Aloy managed to find three survivors (Dratteko, Charatta, and one unnamed). Charatta appears to have injured her legs and is unable to fight, but Aloy was able to destroy the machine alone. The tunnel was able to be cleared, allowing Aloy to leave the area through it.

While Charatta and Mestokka aren't listed in the credits of Horizon Forbidden West, Dratteko is listed as being voiced by Byron Marc Newsome.

Penkatta

Penkatta is listed in the credits of Horizon Forbidden West as being voiced by Sara Jewell, although they haven't been found in the final game. Based on their name, Penkatta was most likely a Tenakth.

A search of the localization files by User:Bearborg didn't reveal any mention of Penkatta's name.

Rikalla

Rikalla is listed in the credits of Horizon Forbidden West as being voiced by Ruby Thomas, although they haven't been found in the final game. Based on their name, Rikalla was most likely a Tenakth.

A search of the localization files by User:Bearborg didn't reveal any mention of Rikalla's name.

Targa

Among the artwork of female Oseram civilians on Arno Schmitz's ArtStation is artwork of an Oseram named Targa, who is listed in the credits as being voiced by Donnabella Mortel. However, she hasn't been found in-game.

Targa.

Targa.

Tattoo Artist

The Tattoo Artist is a cut Sky Tenakth character. While she was cut from the game, parts of her design were later used in some of Aloy's outfits.

Concept art of the Tattoo Artist.

Tontuf

Among the artwork of male Oseram civilians on Arno Schmitz's ArtStation is artwork of an Oseram named Tontuf, who appears to be a cut character as he isn't listed in the credits, nor has he been found in-game.

Tontuf.

Tontuf.

Urkallo

Urkallo is listed in the credits of Horizon Forbidden West as being voiced by Christopher Chung (which is reflected in Chung's IMDb page), although that haven't been found in the final game. Based on their name, Urkallo was most likely a Tenakth.

A search of the localization files of Horizon Forbidden West by User:Bearborg revealed that Urkallo has a subtitle caption, associated with other dialogue for The Deluge, but is unsure if Urkallo actually has any lines. However, no sign of Urkallo can be found in-game in said quest.

Zenkalla

Zenkalla is listed in the credits of Horizon Forbidden West as being voiced by Donabella Mortel, although they haven't been found in the final game. Based on their name, Zenkalla was most likely a Tenakth.

A search of the localization files by User:Bearborg didn't reveal any mention of Zenkalla's name.

Changed Characters

Alva

Alva.

The file names of Thomas Sykutera's artwork of Alva reveals that an early name for her was Chon.

Sergeant Devenish

Despite only appearing in a text-based datapoint, Sgt. Devenish is credited as being voiced by Ben Dilloway in the credits of Horizon Forbidden West, indicating that he had a speaking role that was cut.

Changed Appearances Post-Release

Several characters in Horizon Forbidden West had their appearances changed in updates post-release. Such characters include:

Name	Current Appearance	Former Appearance
Asera
Darikka
Jaxx
Kel
Natikka
Teikka
Ven