In a significant shift for PlayStation’s beloved post-apocalyptic franchise, Sony appears to be dramatically restructuring its approach to the Horizon series’ multiplayer ambitions. According to anonymous industry insiders, Horizon Hunters Gathering — the live service multiplayer spin-off that was intended to expand the Horizon universe into the competitive online gaming space — is being completely rebooted as a smaller, more focused cooperative experience featuring a dedicated story mode. This pivot marks a notable departure from Sony’s original plans and reflects broader industry trends moving away from the increasingly crowded live service market.
The reported changes come with significant personnel implications for the teams involved. Sources indicate that several staff members working on the project are being reassigned to other positions within Sony’s extensive game development network. Meanwhile, a smaller team at Guerrilla Games, the Dutch studio that created the Horizon franchise, continues work on what is described as the next “proper” singleplayer Horizon game. However, fans expecting a swift follow-up to 2022’s critically acclaimed Horizon Forbidden West may need to temper their expectations, as this sequel is reportedly still years away from release.
The Rise and Challenges of Live Service Gaming
Sony’s apparent retreat from live service ambitions for the Horizon franchise reflects a broader industry reckoning with this particular business model. Live service games, which generate ongoing revenue through continuous content updates, battle passes, and microtransactions, have proven extraordinarily profitable for titles like Fortnite, Destiny 2, and Genshin Impact. However, the market has become increasingly saturated, and many high-profile live service attempts from major publishers have struggled or failed outright in recent years. Games like Anthem, Marvel’s Avengers, and even Sony’s own Concord have demonstrated that simply attaching a beloved IP to a live service framework does not guarantee success.
The live service model demands constant developer attention, regular content updates, and substantial ongoing investment to maintain player engagement. For a studio like Guerrilla Games, which has built its reputation on crafting meticulously detailed singleplayer experiences, pivoting to this demanding model represented a significant operational challenge. The decision to scale back Horizon Hunters Gathering into a more manageable cooperative experience suggests that Sony leadership may have recognized the mismatch between the project’s ambitions and the studio’s core competencies.
The Horizon Franchise Legacy and Future Prospects
The Horizon series debuted in 2017 with Horizon Zero Dawn, introducing players to Aloy, a young hunter navigating a world where humanity has regressed to tribal societies while mechanical creatures roam the overgrown ruins of the old world. The game was both a critical and commercial success, selling over 20 million copies and establishing Guerrilla Games as a premier PlayStation first-party studio. The sequel, Horizon Forbidden West, expanded on the original’s formula with improved combat, exploration mechanics, and a continuation of Aloy’s story that took her to the western regions of post-apocalyptic America.
The franchise’s transition to a more traditional cooperative format for Hunters Gathering could actually prove beneficial for maintaining the series’ identity. Horizon has always excelled at environmental storytelling, atmospheric world-building, and the personal journey of its protagonist. A focused co-op experience with a proper story mode would allow multiple players to explore the fascinating Horizon universe together while preserving the narrative-driven elements that fans cherish. This approach mirrors successful cooperative games like Monster Hunter, which shares thematic similarities with Horizon’s creature-hunting gameplay loop.
For PlayStation’s broader strategy, this development signals a potential recalibration of the company’s live service ambitions. Sony had previously announced plans to release multiple live service titles across its first-party studios, but the underwhelming performance of some of these initiatives may be prompting a more cautious approach. With the next mainline Horizon sequel still distant on the horizon, fans of the franchise will need to wait patiently while Guerrilla Games continues refining what will hopefully be another landmark entry in this beloved series.
Expert Opinion: Sony’s strategic pivot with Horizon Hunters Gathering represents a mature acknowledgment of market realities rather than a failure. The live service space has become brutally competitive, and redirecting resources toward what Guerrilla Games does best — compelling singleplayer and focused cooperative experiences — positions the Horizon franchise for sustainable long-term success rather than risky short-term gains. Expect other major publishers to similarly reevaluate their live service pipelines throughout 2025 and beyond.
