Horizon Hunters Gathering will have its closed playtest this weekend, clashing with Marathon's Server Slam. Check out what this weekend holds for both PlayStation-owned studios and how to sign up for the test.
Horizon Hunters Gathering Closed Playtest Weekend Officially Announced
A Busy Weekend For PlayStation-Owned Studios
Horizon Hunters Gathering, an action multiplayer spinoff title from the Horizon series, will be having a beta playtest this weekend. As announced on PlayStation’s official website, the closed playtest is scheduled for February 27 to March 1.
Coincidentally, this upcoming weekend is also the Server Slam test for Bungie’s extraction shooter, Marathon. Since both Guerrilla Games and Bungie are Sony-owned studios, many are puzzled by the decision to have these two major playtests compete for attention.
Beyond the PlayStation-affiliated tests, Steam Next Fest is also currently running this week, further splitting the community's attention between dozens of new demos and the two major Sony titles.
Limited Regions Only
While this weekend is jam-packed with new demos for anyone to get and play, the Horizon Hunters Gathering playtest is far more exclusive, focusing on specific regions and limited time slots to test the game's infrastructure.
The closed beta will be available exclusively for North America (the US and Canada) and Europe (most EU countries and the UK), and will only be accessible during designated times over the beta weekend: 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM PST for North American players and 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM CET for those in Europe.
Those interested can sign up to participate by visiting the official Horizon Hunters Gathering website and completing the registration process. It is important to note that players must be part of the PlayStation Beta Program, and those who are particularly interested in Horizon Hunters Gathering or similar games will be prioritized.
Featuring Three Hunters and Two Modes
The Horizon Hunters Gathering closed playtest offers a focused look at its new stylized, tactical co-op gameplay, featuring three distinct Hunters: the agile archer Sun, the tech specialist Rem, and the heavy-hitting Axle.
Players can team up in groups of three to tackle two primary modes: Machine Incursion, a high-intensity wave defense challenge, and Cauldron Descent, a randomized tactical dungeon crawl. Between missions, participants can explore The Gathering—a social hub for upgrading gear and visiting vendors—set against the iconic ruins of Colorado Springs.
Unlike the Marathon Server Slam, participants in the Horizon Hunters Gathering Closed Playtest are under a strict NDA, prohibiting them from streaming or sharing gameplay publicly. Fans who aren't selected this time will have more opportunities to test the game later. Guerrilla Games and Sony have confirmed that future testing phases will expand to include more regions.
Horizon Hunters Gathering is currently in development for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. To stay up-to-date with the latest information about the game, check out our article below.
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Horizon Hunters Gathering – Closed Playtest
