According to Eurogamer.net, Guerrilla Games has officially announced Horizon Steel Frontiers, a new MMORPG in the Horizon franchise being developed by NCSoft with collaboration from Guerrilla. The game is described as a “fierce survival adventure” where players become machine hunters in the Deathlands region, featuring large-scale raids and an advanced combat system. However, the cross-platform release is only coming to mobile and PC, completely skipping PlayStation 5 despite Horizon being one of PlayStation’s flagship franchises. In response to fan outrage, Guerrilla confirmed in a follow-up X post that they’re “still busily working on more ways for you to hunt machines” in the Horizon universe. The studio previously confirmed another mainline Horizon game with Aloy is in development, alongside a film adaptation announced back in January 2024.
The PlayStation problem
Here’s the thing – this is genuinely bizarre. Horizon is literally one of PlayStation’s crown jewels. Zero Dawn and Forbidden West moved millions of units on PlayStation consoles. So why would Sony greenlight a major franchise expansion that completely bypasses their own platform? The fan reaction says it all – comments on the announcement trailer are filled with “CRIMINAL” and “huge miss” reactions. People who built this franchise’s success on PlayStation can’t even play the new game on their preferred platform. That’s… a choice.
The NCSoft angle
NCSoft is basically the king of MMOs in Asia, with massive hits like Lineage and Guild Wars under their belt. They know how to build persistent online worlds that keep players engaged for years. But their track record with Western audiences? Mixed at best. And let’s be real – mobile MMOs have a… reputation. The official site looks slick, but converting Horizon’s precise combat and immersive world to touchscreen controls? That’s going to be a challenge.
The bigger picture
This feels like Sony chasing the live-service dragon again. Remember when they announced like ten live-service games were in development? This might be part of that strategy. But skipping your core platform to chase mobile revenue seems risky. Meanwhile, Guerrilla’s working on more Horizon content, including that Aloy-led sequel and the film adaptation. Basically, they’re building a Horizon universe while letting partners handle spin-offs. But alienating your most dedicated fans in the process? That’s a dangerous game.
Wait and see
Look, the trailer does look surprisingly good. The machine designs are there, the world feels like Horizon, and NCSoft knows how to build MMO systems. But I can’t help wondering – is this going to feel like a proper Horizon experience or just another mobile MMO with a popular skin? And when your own fanbase is this angry about the platform choice, that’s a problem you can’t ignore. Maybe we’ll see a console version later, but right now? This feels like Sony leaving money – and loyal players – on the table.
