PlayStation Reportedly Overhauls Horizon Multiplayer Spinoff Following Playtest Feedback
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Sony has reportedly ordered a major reboot of the Horizon multiplayer spinoff to strip out live-service elements in favor of a traditional co-op experience.
Sony has reportedly ordered a major reboot of Horizon Hunters Gathering, the cartoony multiplayer spinoff from Guerrilla's flagship single-player series, following lukewarm playtest feedback. According to recent reports, development shifted direction significantly as the studio stepped away from the live-service framework to refocus the project as a traditional cooperative experience with a dedicated story mode and a reduced overall scope. Staff members were reportedly given until December to impress leadership with the project's next key milestone, highlighting the heavy pressure surrounding its future.
This course correction highlights the ongoing retreat from Sony's aggressive live-service push, which has faced significant turbulence across the board. While Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 proved to be a massive breakout hit, other projects have struggled, including the high-profile closure of Concord and the cancellation of high-profile multiplayer efforts like Naughty Dog's planned standalone project. Industry shifts following the pandemic boom left many publishers recalibrating their multi-year strategies, prioritizing quality and sustainable player retention over broad market saturation.
Despite the pivot on Hunters Gathering, the Horizon universe continues to expand across different platforms and genres. Guerrilla is still quietly advancing its core single-player roadmap, while a separate mobile and PC MMORPG titled Horizon Steel Frontiers remains in development in partnership with NCSoft. For players, these adjustments suggest a more measured approach from PlayStation as the publisher works to deliver cooperative experiences that genuinely resonate with the community rather than forcing every franchise into a continuous service model.
Tags: PlayStation, Horizon Hunters Gathering, Guerrilla Games, Live Service, Gaming News
Original article: IGN South Africa