Horizon Hunters Gathering will abandon its planned live‑service approach and pivot to a tighter co‑op framework, Guerrilla Games announced after negative playtest reactions early this year.
New Direction for Horizon Hunters Gathering
The shift centers on a story‑driven, classic multiplayer mode with a reduced scope. Guerrilla Games told the public that the decision was shaped by low‑key testing feedback, and executives must present a new strategy by the end of December.
Industry reporter Jason Schreier said the move follows Sony’s recent cancellation of a PlayStation 5 live‑service title. He added that the community would likely welcome a focused experience over another “sloppy” service model.
Implications for the Horizon Universe
Despite the change, Horizon Hunters Gathering is not cancelled. Instead, Guerrilla Games is tightening the project to align with the Horizon franchise’s established multijoint play style.
Meanwhile, Sony is already lining up Horizon Steel Frontiers, a mobile‑first MMO slated for the future. The playtest setbacks for Horizon Hunters Gathering may influence the timing and resource allocation for the upcoming title.
Neither PlayStation nor Guerrilla Games has issued an official statement beyond the open‑letter format shared by Schreier, so the community must wait for further confirmation.
Ultimately, the decision to transition to co‑op is framed as a solution to previous development hurdles. The updated scope could preserve Horizon Hunters Gathering’s place in the Horizon ecosystem and demonstrate Guerrilla Games’ commitment to a quality launch over a dependent live‑service model.
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