Horizon Forbidden West Introduced The Quen Tribe

Arguably the most interesting new tribe introduced in Horizon Forbidden West is the Quen. Rather than originating from the series' main setting, a post-apocalyptic America, the Quen are a seafaring society who journeyed across the Pacific Ocean from parts unknown. The adventurous empire is incredibly technologically advanced, with its leaders using the ancient Focus technology that makes Aloy such a skilled hunter and hero. Quen society and culture are heavily centered around the acquisition of ancient knowledge and technology, which can be deciphered and put to practical use by an elite caste of Diviners through the use of their Focuses.

During the events of Horizon Forbidden West's story the player encounters a Quen expedition which established a settlement, called Legacy's Landfall, in the Forbidden West. Aloy meets a Quen Diviner named Alva, with the two cooperating to recover ancient agricultural data and the artificial intelligence DEMETER. Aloy later comes into conflict with the expedition's mad leader, dubbed "Ceo" by the advanced tribe, though he is killed while attempting to enter the final resting place of Faro Plague creator Ted Faro. This leaves friendly Overseer Bohai in charge of the Quen expedition, opening up relations between Aloy and the seafaring civilization.

Horizon Forbidden West's Quen Return In Burning Shores

While the Quen play an impactful role in the main game, the fascinating tribe will return with renewed importance in the Horizon Forbidden West DLC Burning Shores. The expansion will take Aloy to the ruins of Los Angeles, which has been destroyed by centuries of volcanic activity and houses a massive Metal Devil machine. Thankfully Aloy will not be alone on this journey, since a Quen settlement called Fleet's End rests on the Burning Shores. A recent PlayStation Blog post sheds light on this gorgeous and peaceful new location, as well as the new Quen that Aloy will meet like the highly decorated Quen Navy commander iral Gerrit.

Alongside Gerrit, another brand-new Quen warrior named Seyka is set to play a major role in Burning Shores. A comionate and fierce marine, Seyka will reportedly spend a lot of time with Aloy during her adventure across an overgrown Los Angeles. The expansion's key art even features Seyka flying on a Sunwing alongside Aloy, teasing her prominent role in the Horizon Forbidden West DLC. The focus on Seyka and Fleet's End suggests that Burning Shores will pull back the curtain on the Quen, possibly revealing more about their fascinating society and history, just as Horizon Zero Dawn's Frozen Wilds DLC highlighted the Banuk tribe.

The Quen Are Horizon Forbidden West's Most Divisive Tribe

Horizon Forbidden West introduced the Quen and their culture, but the Burning Shores expansion can dig deep into this fascinating and divisive tribe. The Quen homeland of the Great Delta is suggested to be in Asia, with bits of lore hinting at a more specific origin of the Yangtze river in China, but Burning Shores can finally discuss this mysterious tribe's home. More of the Quen's history could be explored, too, with Aloy potentially learning exactly how the ancient Quen discovered Focuses and learned to use them. This lore would shed more light on the Quen while also paralleling Aloy's own journey of discovering the ancient past with her Focus.

While the tribe is incredibly interesting, Horizon Forbidden West introduces some divisive and potentially controversial aspects of Quen culture. The tribe functions as a caste system, with an Emperor and Imperials leading the people while commoners and peasants serve their masters. The Quen are also hinted to be very authoritarian, with the ancient history discovered through the Focuses being heavily censored and available only to appointed Diviners. By introducing new friendly Quen like Seyka and iral Gerrit, the Burning Shores DLC has the opportunity to either clear the air on these oppressive Quen customs or introduce characters who openly question the tribe's ethics and values.

Horizon Forbidden West expanded its post-apocalyptic world by focusing on the Utaru and Tenakth, but the Quen were the game's most interesting new tribe despite receiving the least attention. Thankfully, Burning Shores is set to spotlight this seafaring tribe by including the Fleet's End settlement and a major new character named Seyka. Like with the Banuk in the first game's Frozen Wilds expansion, this DLC can explore all sides of Quen culture and shed more light on their faraway homeland. Fans of Horizon Forbidden West who were disappointed by the tribe's minor presence can expect to see much more of the Quen in Burning Shores.

Sources: PlayStation Blog, Guerrilla/Twitter