In an unexpected turn for the acclaimed Horizon series, a brand-new multiplayer game has been revealed, but it's not the project from the franchise's usual developers. The announcement of Horizon Steel Frontiers has taken the gaming community by surprise, confirming that fans are set to receive not one, but two distinct online experiences set in this beloved universe.
A Surprise Announcement
The news broke not with a major press conference, but through the quiet launch of a website and YouTube channel for Horizon Steel Frontiers. This occurred on November 13, 2025, with minimal fanfare. Contrary to initial assumptions, this project is not being developed by Guerrilla Games, the Dutch studio behind the main Horizon series.
Instead, Horizon Steel Frontiers is in development at South Korean studio NCSoft, a company renowned for massively multiplayer online (MMO) titles like Guild Wars 2. The game is officially described as an online multiplayer role-playing game and is slated for release on PC and mobile platforms, with no current plans for a PlayStation 5 version.
Connections and Collaborations
This collaboration is not entirely out of the blue. Rumours of a partnership between Sony and NCSoft on a Horizon MMO have circulated since 2022. A job listing last year hinted the project was still active, surviving numerous cancellations of live-service games within Sony's portfolio. NCSoft has confirmed the project is being developed in collaboration with Guerrilla, ensuring it remains faithful to the source material.
According to the official announcement, the game is set in the lands of the machine hunters known as the Deadlands. It promises to build on Horizon's signature hunting-action gameplay while introducing advanced MMORPG systems, deeply customisable combat, and extensive player freedom.
Two Games, One Franchise
This revelation means there are now two separate Horizon multiplayer games in development. The original project, announced by Guerrilla Games via job listings in late 2022, is still in the works. Described as more akin to Monster Hunter with a potentially more cartoonish art style, this version is the one most fans were anticipating.
The existence of two games with seemingly similar co-op hunting concepts raises questions about market strategy. However, it appears to be a calculated move. Horizon Steel Frontiers is likely Sony's attempt to branch the franchise into markets like China and Korea, where PC and mobile gaming dominate. Meanwhile, Guerrilla's own multiplayer title is expected to target console platforms and Western audiences more directly.
Guerrilla Games now has a full slate, juggling the NCSoft collaboration, its own multiplayer spin-off, and the confirmed sequel to Horizon Forbidden West.
From the released gameplay footage, Horizon Steel Frontiers retains the core visual identity of hunting giant animal-shaped machines with other players. However, combat and movement appear more agile, featuring a new grappling hook that allows players to swing across large distances, adding a fresh dynamic to the familiar action.
This trend of adapting major PlayStation IP for non-console platforms is growing. Just a day before this announcement, a new Ratchet & Clank game, Ranger Rumble, was revealed as a mobile-exclusive multiplayer arena shooter, developed without the involvement of the original series' studio, Insomniac Games.
