An upcoming Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," has been canceled after some devs left NCSoft. Read on to learn more about this canceled project!
Horizon MMORPG Being Axed by NCSoft
NCSoft Cancels Horizon MMORPG and Other Projects Amid Feasibility Review
MTN, a South Korean news site, reported that NCSoft canceled several projects, including a planned Horizon MMORPG, on January 13, 2025. NCSoft is a prominent South Korean developer and publisher working on multiple MMORPGs. The most popular games they developed and published are the Lineage and Guild Wars series, both of which are MMORPGs.
According to the news report, NCSoft suspended the development of games due to a "feasibility review." In addition to the Horizon MMORPG, games codenamed "J" are also reportedly being axed, while "Pantera" or "Raising Lineage" is still under scrutiny.
MTN also reported that the developers tied to creating this game left NCSoft. Those who stayed after the cancellation were also reportedly being transferred to other projects handled by the company. Additionally, projects "H" and "J" were removed from the company’s organizational chart, further confirming their cancellation.
Sony and NCSoft have yet to release an official announcement about this report. It is currently unknown if other publisher and development teams will pick up the remains of "Project H" and continue its development.
Though concerning, Guerilla Games is also working closely on another Horizon multiplayer game, currently called the "Online Project."
Guerrilla Games Developing Horizon "Online Project" Since 2022
Guerilla Games officially confirmed their interest in creating an online project for the Horizon series in a Twitter(X) post on December 16, 2022. According to the post, they are looking for game developers to join their internal team in Amsterdam to develop "a separate Online Project set in Horizon’s universe." The post also teased that this game features "a new cast of characters and a unique stylized look."
A job listing for Senior Combat Designer was also posted in November 2023. According to the posting, Guerilla Games was looking for an individual who could "work closely with your Lead Combat Designer to design multiple machine enemies that provide a variety of challenges against multiple players." These new machines might be bigger and fiercer than ever before as they need to pose a threat against a group of players, further hinting that a multiplayer game is still in the works.
Fast forward to January 2025, and Horizon series’ devs are still looking for people for their unnamed Horizon multiplayer game. According to its recent job listing for Senior Platform Engineer, Guerilla Games is looking for an individual with "proven experience in building and operating multi-service, 1M+ globally distributed systems across multiple public cloud providers."
This indicates that Guerilla Games is anticipating around one million players for this game. However, an official announcement is yet to be announced by the devs. Additionally, this upcoming game might be the one internally developed by Sony instead of NCSoft.
Sony Announced its Partnership with NCSoft
On November 28, 2023, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) officially announced its "strategic global partnership" with NCSoft, combining NCSoft’s "technological prowess" and SIE’s "global leadership in the entertainment field."
"Partnering with NCSOFT advances our strategy to expand beyond console and broaden PlayStation’s reach to a wider audience," said Jim Ryan, President and CEO, of SIE. "Like SIE, NCSOFT shares a similar vision in creating high-quality, impactful entertainment experiences for players everywhere, and together we’re excited to collaborate to push the boundaries of gaming further."
With SIE’s partnership with NCSoft, Sony might be looking for ways to expand their horizons (no pun intended) in terms of online multiplayer games. Though a Horizon MMORPG might not come to fruition, other Sony titles might make their way on mobile devices in the future via this partnership.
Sources:
MTN: NCSoft’s News Report
Game Rant: Guerilla Games 2025 Job Listing
Game Rant: Guerilla Games 2023 Job Listing
Sony Officially Announces Its Partnership with NCSoft
