​​​​​​The Focus is a small, augmented reality device worn by human users that serves as a multipurpose sensory interface.

Appearance

The Focus resembles a small silver triangle, approximately an inch long from base to tip. A strip of light runs along the centerline of the device from the bottom to the tip.

Functions

The Focus attaches to the side of the user's head through an unknown mechanism that closely resembles magnetism in operation, automatically clinging to the user's head once held close enough to their temples.^[1][2] It can be placed on either side of the user's head.

The Focus is responsive to the user's gestures and voice, and displays a visual 3D interface visible only to them or select other Focus users. When activated, a ring of light illuminates around the Focus. The interface is within a wide geodesic polyhedron of holographic light, and important markers are also indicated with holographic light in purple and blue hues. The user can interact with some of the holograms with gestures. The interface can be used while in motion up to a point, as Aloy must walk slowly to use it.

The Focus contains a suite of sensors that can scan and reveal the location of animals, humans, machines, and other select objects within a certain range, giving the user a brief description of the object scanned. It is able to determine additional information about machines, such as components and behavior. The Focus can also detect radiation, and will alert the user with a beep.^[5]

The Focus can connect to certain components to facilitate some of their processes, such as connecting to a Corruptor's override module, allowing Aloy to override and command machines.^[6]

Focuses can be used for communication with other Focus users, which can be used for audio only communication, or by projecting holograms of the other users for virtual face-to-face communication. This can also be done with non-Focus users who are patched into the Focus network by other means.^[8]

A Focus can tap into data stored on other Focuses by scanning them.^[6][9]

The Focus contains a capable processing unit, albeit one that was relatively weak by the standards of the Old Ones, allowing it to repair heavily damaged files and audios in a matter of hours or days, although can potentially take years,^[10] which normally is a computationally intensive process and can take years for current, real-world processors to achieve - if at all.

The Focus can remain operational for hundreds of years, as evidenced by Aloy's Focus being left in a cave exposed to the elements for nearly a thousand years and losing no known functionality,^[1] and remaining fully functional underwater and in other harsh weather.

Focuses can self-destruct, destroying itself with several sparks and a small explosion.^[6][9]

In the Old World, users were able to download apps akin to real-world smartphones from the Faro Store, boasting over 200,000 apps covering but not limited to music, fashion, navigation and health and appliance monitoring. Known apps include:

• AllSeeing.holo (holo sharing app)^[11]
• Inebri8 (monitors blood-alcohol and various drug levels, notifies bartenders of orders, notifies friends when help is needed, helps negotiate with bouncers, and analyses holos before sending them to prevent humiliation)^[12]
• RPGreet (gamified dating social media)^[13]

In Horizon Zero Dawn, additional cosmetic Focus effects can be obtained by completing New Game+ on different difficulties.

Using a Focus can alleviate the symptoms of Simulacrum Withdrawal Syndrome.^[4]

It is unknown what type of energy the Focus runs on or how it recharges, of if it even needs to.

Weaknesses

Despite their resistance to the passage of time and other hazards, the Focus is somewhat delicate to improper handling, being easily destroyed between Helis's fingers,^[14] under Aloy's foot,^[7][15] or by Erend crushing it while trying to put it on.^[16]

Focuses are vulnerable to spyware^[7] which can be installed into them via hacking.^[17]

Focuses cannot read data that they are incompatible with, most notably experienced by Quen Diviners due to their older model Focuses being incompatible with data created after an update in format.^[19] While they are waterproof, Focuses can malfunction seemingly permanently after being dropped in alcohol, although can still be used by a persistent user.^[20] Additionally, they can freeze for notable amounts of time if utilizing glitchy software.^[21]

It appears that excessive use of a Focus can cause physical symptoms, with the term "Focus-sick" being used by the Old Ones.^[22] While not confirmed if holograms produced by Focuses can pose a threat, those who suffer from ailments related to holography-induced vestibular disassociation need to take care when around holographic effects.^[23]

History

In the Old World

The Focus was invented some time in the 21st century by Faro Automated Solutions, as a personal device that could be used by civilians.

Before the Faro Plague, two updates were known to have been released for the Focus, the "Aten" update, which released with fanfare, but eventually became known for its failures, and the "Nepit" update, which sought to fix, tweak, and improve the Focus, effectively redefining its capabilities and functionalities. The Nepit update also refined biometrics for monitoring health and finding lost pets, to assisting in diagnosing and repairing household appliances.^[24]

At some point around the 2050s, a format update left some older models of Focuses unable to read data created after this update.^[18] However, this is inconsistent, as Alva's Focus, before the update, was able to read data about Thebes, which wasn't constructed until the mid-2060s.^[25]

At some point, a movie named Out of Focus was made, following the lives of two people whose Focuses accidentally get swapped when they meet. The movie received mixed reviews, with one reviewer noting that the Focus cannot actually do many of the things depicted in the film.^[26]

After the Faro Plague eradicated life on Earth, several Focuses remained functional into the New World.

In the New World

Focuses were a planned feature of APOLLO, being provided within Lyceum in the Cradle facilities, where they were to be used to educate the new generation of humanity. However, after Ted Faro's purge of APOLLO, none of these Focuses were used for their intended purpose.^[27]

The early Quen discovered some early model Focuses, which are unable to access data created after the 2050s due to a format update at the time. These Focuses allowed the tribe to advance much faster than neighboring tribes, and letting them learn about the Old World. Use of these Focuses is limited to Diviners and Overseers,^[18] with it being a capital crime to steal one.^[28] Thirteen Diviners have owned Alva's Focus before her.^[18]

Horizon Zero Dawn

Aloy discovered a Focus as a child, having been owned by a worker in a Zero Dawn facility before her.^[1] Sylens found and repaired a damaged one, and went onto repair others for the Eclipse, who used a communication network developed by Sylens under HADES's orders, allowing instantaneous communication over vast distances,^[10] who also provided one to Olin so they could monitor his activities. However, this network was destroyed by Aloy in order for her to safely infiltrate Sunfall.^[29]

Horizon Forbidden West

Aloy found a cache containing numerous Focuses sometime after the events of the Battle of the Alight.^[31] She gave some of these Focuses to Varl^[32] and Zo^[33], who in turn provided some to Erend, Kotallo and Alva.

Members of the Sons of Prometheus are also equipped with Focuses.

After defeating Far Zenith, Alva gave Bohai an updated Focus, believing he will find a way to use it to his advantage back home.^[34] Erend also took some Focuses with him on his journey back to Meridian and the Claim, intending to give them to some of his and Aloy's friends there.^[35]

Horizon Forbidden West: Burning Shores

While on her adventure in the Burning Shores, Aloy gave Seyka's Focus an update, allowing it to access data created after the 2050s.^[36] She also gave one to Gildun, allowing him to communicate with her and GAIA.^[37]

Gameplay

The scan range of the Focus is 75 meters in Horizon Zero Dawn, and 90 meters in Horizon Forbidden West.

Below is a list of the functions of the Focus that can be used during gameplay:

All Games

• Making the structures of nearby machines visible through obstructions, similar to an X-ray.
• Scanning machines and registering their information, including weaknesses, in the Machine Catalogue in the Notebook. This leaves them and their weak points highlighted for a short time.
  • In Horizon Forbidden West, players can tag individual components to remain highlighted outside of scanning mode.
• Placing a marker above a machine, human, animal, or certain objects (such as alarms) to allow tracking outside of scanning mode. This marker remains until the target goes out of range, is killed, or until manually removed.
• Highlighting a machine's patrol route.
• Places a compass at the top of the screen.
  • In Horizon Zero Dawn, unscanned datapoints appear with a box icon on the compass when nearby.
• Scanning datapoints, glyphs, and other sources of data.
• Highlighting tracks or evidence left behind by humans or machines.
• Identifying nearby humans, sometimes even if hidden from view by obstacles. Neutral or friendly people are generally represented with a purple model, while hostile people are bright orange.
  • In Horizon Forbidden West, these highlights remain for a short time outside of scanning mode.

Horizon Forbidden West

• Highlighting climbable ledges.
• Automatic flashlight in dark areas.

Notable Users

• Federa
• Some residents of Legacy's Landfall^[39]
• Various members of the Eclipse and Sons of Prometheus

Former Users

• Anika Chaoui^[26]
• Brad Andac
• Duncan Roerig^[40]
• Enki; deceased
• Isaac's father^[41]
• Vai; deceased
• Zé Torres^[26]
• Zhang Ai^[42]
• FaR05ucks00^[24]
• FARO4eva^[24]
• U5SERmsdm^[24]
• User 27934878^[43]
• Project Zero Dawn Counselors^[44]

Trivia

• Despite their popularity among the Old Ones, very few Old Ones depicted in holograms are ever seen wearing one, despite some mentioning wearing one^[46] or gesturing to their temple when sending files.^[47] The only one found thus far depicting Old Ones wearing Focuses is the hologram associated with the Sterling-Malkeet Amphitheater Vantage Point.

  

  • Interestingly, a concept art for Elisabet depicts her wearing one, which she does wear in her final design, and appears to use a different device on her wrist instead of a Focus, which is present in his concept art.^[48]
• Early drafts for the story of Horizon Zero Dawn had Aloy finding the Focus as an adult instead of as a child. This received heavy backlash from the design team, as this would mean the game's user interface would not appear until the third hour of gameplay.^[49][50]
• In Horizon Zero Dawn, the Focus is voiced by Christy Meyer.

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5} A Gift from the Past
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} The Dying Lands
3. ↑ Forbidden Legacy
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1} Cradle of Echoes
5. ↑ The Stars in Their Eyes
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4} The Womb of the Mountain
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4} Death's Door
8. ↑ All That Remains
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Maker's End (Quest)
10. ↑ ^{10.0 10.1} As mentioned by Sylens during The Mountain That Fell.
11. ↑ Who Did This? 86
12. ↑ Inebri8 available!
13. ↑ RPGreet!
14. ↑ The Terror of the Sun
15. ↑ The Wings of the Ten
16. ↑ As mentioned by GAIA after returning one of her subordinate functions.
17. ↑ As mentioned by Tilda van der Meer during All That Remains.
18. ↑ ^{18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3} Seeds of the Past
19. ↑ As mentioned by Aloy during Seeds of the Past.
20. ↑ As mentioned by Erend Vanguardsman during a conversation at the Base.
21. ↑ AVOID THE TOUR!
22. ↑ Distracted
23. ↑ Pangea Pompeii Live!
24. ↑ ^{24.0 24.1 24.2 24.3} Focus Update Released
25. ↑ Faro's Tomb
26. ↑ ^{26.0 26.1 26.2} Out of Focus - Viewer Reviews
27. ↑ The Heart of the Nora
28. ↑ Confidential! Property of Rheng
29. ↑ To Curse the Darkness
30. ↑ The Kulrut/The Sea of Sands/Seeds of the Past (whichever is completed first)
31. ↑ As mentioned by Aloy during Reach For The Stars.
32. ↑ Reach For The Stars
33. ↑ The Dying Lands
34. ↑ As mentioned by Alva after completing Singularity.
35. ↑ Aloy This is For You
36. ↑ Heaven and Earth
37. ↑ A Friend in the Dark
38. ↑ Horizon Hunters Gathering's Twitter; Choose your perks, strategize your path forward...
39. ↑ Sorry I Missed You!
40. ↑ I Must Thank You
41. ↑ Happy Birthday Isaac!
42. ↑ Redacted Incident File
43. ↑ Cram
44. ↑ Counselor Guidelines (1)
45. ↑ Sterling-Malkeet Amphitheater
46. ↑ Log: Charles Ronson (1)
47. ↑ Hologram of General Herres, Elisabet Sobeck and other military commanders during Deep Secrets of the Earth.
48. ↑ Record: 3 Nov 2064
49. ↑ Writing Horizon Zero Dawn - John Gonzalez Interview; 17:12
50. ↑ Designing Horizon Zero Dawn - Mathijs De Jonge Interview; 16:14

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