The best game of 2017 is getting a huge expansion this November — here's everything we know

When "Horizon Zero Dawn" arrived on PlayStation 4 back in February, critics and players alike were dazzled. The gorgeous, massive third-person action game received near-universal critical acclaim, and Sony reaped the benefits of a blockbuster hit: huge sales numbers.

Horizon Zero Dawn

On November 7, the already gigantic "Horizon Zero Dawn" is getting a huge new expansion. It's called "The Frozen Wilds," it looks super fresh, and we already know a lot about it.

In "The Frozen Wilds," which arrives on November 7, the game's main character Aloy will explore an entirely new region, with a new culture and new robot animals.

The "Frozen Wilds" is a reference to where you're going, of course — the "Banuk" territory, north of the mountain range that would otherwise have stopped you in the original game.

As a result, the expansion is essentially a condensed version of the original game: There's an entirely new map, with new weapons and animals and a new culture to explore (the Banuk peoples). Here's the managing director of Guerrilla Games, Hermen Hulst, giving an overview of the expansion from an interview back in June:

"We start with a new territory. We go across the northern mountain range into the territory of the Banuk, the tribespeople of the Banuk. They are very hearty. They live in these wild lands. It's so cold, and it's very hard to survive there. It's very beefy, it's a good-sized map. There will be plenty of new stuff in there."

The expansion is a direct continuation of the main story. "Let's call it a new chapter in Aloy's journey."

One of the best things about "Horizon Zero Dawn" is its surprisingly deep, interesting narrative. Many games try, and most games fail, to marry strong gameplay and strong storytelling — "Horizon Zero Dawn" is a rare standout in this regard.

The game's development studio is advancing that narrative in "The Frozen Wilds." Rather than telling a side-story, or exploring an alternate "what if?" scenario, the new expansion will continue Aloy's journey of self-discovery.

Snow and ice are sure to play a crucial role in "The Frozen Wilds." What role that will be remains to be seen. Perhaps snow can be used as cover for sneaking around?

"Horizon Zero Dawn" is set in a future Earth, in a deserted Colorado that's been retaken by nature. Colorado, as you know, can be cold and snowy. It's neighbor to the north, Wyoming, can be even colder and snowier — and Wyoming appears to be the setting for "The Frozen Wilds."

See the rest of the story at Business Insider