PlayStation is scaling back its upcoming Horizon live service title, Horizon Hunters Gathering, by stripping out its live service elements. According to a Bloomberg report, developer Guerrilla Games has been actively rebooting the project since June following negative feedback from players during private testing.
Quick Facts
- Developer: Guerrilla Games
- Platform: PS5
- Development Shift: Removing live service elements in favor of a traditional co-op multiplayer experience with a story mode.
- Next Milestone: Guerrilla has until December to impress Sony executives with the revised project.
Scope Reductions and Studio Impact
As a result of the pivot away from a live service model, the overall scope of Horizon Hunters Gathering has shrunk considerably. The title is being reshaped into a more traditional cooperative multiplayer experience featuring a dedicated story mode.
While Sony has not cancelled the project, staff were informed during a recent meeting that they must impress executives with their next milestone by December. Due to the reduced scope of the game, many Guerrilla developers have been reassigned to a different project, which is also scheduled for evaluation at the end of the year.
Broader Impact on PlayStation's Live Service Strategy
Meanwhile, a tiny team continues to work on Horizon 3, the next single-player entry in the franchise, though it remains years away from launch. This reboot marks the latest hurdle in PlayStation's broader live service push during the PS5 generation, following cancelled projects and struggles after acquiring Destiny 2 developer Bungie for $3.6 billion as part of an initial plan targeting more than 10 live service titles.