Elisabet Sobeck is one of the most important characters inHorizon Zero Dawn, as she was the one who conceptualized Project Zero Dawn and ensured that it came to fruition. Though she wasn’t around while Aloy traversed the post-apocalyptic world, her presence was definitely felt throughout the main quest.
Sobeck is primarily characterized by her altruism and devotion to life. This makes her a compelling character who offers both Aloy and the player plenty of interesting insights throughoutHorizon Zero Dawn. Also, her actions leading up to Zero Day showcased how far she was willing to go to have her beliefs realized, sending a strong message about moral integrity and selflessness.
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Before Aloy and Horizon Zero Dawn, There Was Elisabet Sobeck
Elisabet Sobeck was born on June 22, 2025 in Carson City, Nevada. In her early life, she lived with her family in their homestead, Sobeck Ranch. She was already interested in electronics then as she tinkered with them as early as the age of six.
One day, she accidentally set fire to a nearby pine tree, and her mother had to call the fire department to put it out. Sobeck’s mother later showed her the baby birds that died in the blaze and used the opportunity to impart the lesson that smarts were nothing if they weren’t used to make the world better and to serve life.This was a lesson that stuck with Sobecklong after she moved away.
At the age of 13, Sobeck enrolled at Stanford University to study a BS in Experimental Physics and Computer Science. After, she opted to pursue a PhD inRobotics and AI Designunder the Carnegie-Mellon University, which she completed in the year 2040, at the age of 20.
Dedication to Green Technology
In the same year, Faro Automated Solutions (FAS), a buddingrobotics manufacturing company headed by Ted Faro, hired Sobeck as a Junior Scientist. There, she spearheaded the conceptualization and creation of green robots for environmental cleanups and detoxification initiatives. This boosted FAS’s ratings and marked the beginning of the “Claw-back” decade. Sobeck’s efforts didn’t go unrecognized, as merely two years after she was hired, she was promoted to Chief Scientist.
By 2048, FAS decided tostart manufacturing military robots. However, this was something Sobeck could not stand for, so she resigned immediately. A year after, she founded Miriam Technologies, her own robotics manufacturing company focused on the creation of “life-positive” technologies. In a matter of years, it grew to become one of the biggest suppliers of green technology. It also won prestigious awards, such as the Nobel Prize for Physics in 2053 and the Rachel Carson Award for Environmental Progress in 2056.
That’s not to say heading Miriam Technologies was always smooth sailing. Throughout the time Sobeck’s company was active, Faro filed at least eighteen lawsuits against Miriam Technologies, making it more difficult for Sobeck to navigate her business. However, Faro would drop all pending lawsuits in 2064, after he called on Sobeck to ask for her help.
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The Advent of Project Zero Dawn
After getting the call, Sobeck went to the FAS building to meet with Faro, who filled her in on his problem. Agroup of his Chariot robotswent rogue and were terrorizing the people around them. Faro and his team were unable to shut the machines down because the company had implemented strict security protocols that made them impossible to hack. Worse, the Chariot robots could fuel themselves with biomass and self-replicate, meaning they could easily become an unstoppable force if they gathered enough fuel.
Upon learning all this, Sobeck was furious, chastising Farofor building deadly robotsequipped with far more power than any machine should ever have. She then told him that the rogue Chariot robots presented an apocalyptic scenario that would wipe all life on Earth in a matter of 15 months. Faro pleaded for a method of containing the robots, but Sobeck told him that was no longer possible. Still, she agreed to find a solution.
Fully aware thatthe Faro Plague could no longer be stopped, Sobeck devised a plan known as Project Zero Dawn. It involved the creation of a supercomputer equipped with a hyper-intelligent AI that could brute-force its way to finding the rogue machines’ deactivation codes. This was necessary as the Chariot line’s security protocols were so complex that cracking the code would take around half a century — time that Sobeck’s people did not have.
Shutting down the Chariot robots was only thefirst part of Project Zero Dawn, however. After this, the AI would then restore life on Earth, including the human species. This would allow life to begin anew, and Sobeck’s team made sure that the next generation of humanity was well-equipped by uploading an entire archive of knowledge into the supercomputer.
Though Sobeck is often seen as a benevolent character, there are certainly times when she had to make morally questionable decisions. Among the most notable is the fact thatProject Zero Dawn hinges on government secrecyand systematic deception. Operation: Enduring Victory, the war plan enacted in conjunction with Sobeck’s plan, involved fooling the masses into believing that Project Zero Dawn was an attempt to build a superweapon that would wipe out the Faro Plague. Military groups were assembled, and willing civilians were recruited and trained to fight the hostile machines. Though in reality, Enduring Victory was a desperate attempt to hold off the Chariot units for as long as possible to give Sobeck’s team the time they needed.
Aside from this, Sobeck’s plan entailed bringing in the most intelligent professionals in the field and giving them the choice to assist in Project Zero Dawn. Regardless of their decision, they were not allowed to leave the facility as they might reveal the true nature of the project. As such, if they did not wish toparticipate in Project Zero Dawn, they could only choose between detention or euthanasia.
Zero Day and Sobeck’s Death
Sobeck’s team managed to finalize Project Zero Dawn in time, with Sobeck paying particular attention to the AI — GAIA. In-game, several audio logs and holographic recordingsshow her conversing with GAIA, presumably to teach the AI compassion and empathy. To Sobeck, these characteristics were crucial for the project’s success.
Upon completion ofGAIA and the supercomputer’s subsequent functions, the team sealed the facility to protect it from detection by the Chariot units. However, a malfunction prevented it from closing completely, and this could only be remedied from the outside. Sobeck took it upon herself to seal the facility herself, even if it meant that she could no longer return. After, she traveled back to Sobeck Ranch, where she supposedly spent the rest of her days until her suit’s life support gave out.
Sobeck is a nuanced character with strong principles and even stronger resolve. Though she had to commit morally wrong deeds for Project Zero Dawn, she believed it was worth it to save humanity, highlighting how far she was willing to go for her ideals. It’s precisely this complexity that makes Sobeck such a compelling character.
Horizon Zero Dawnis available now for PC, PS4, and PS5.
