Horizon Multiplayer Spinoff Rebooted Due to Negative Feedback

The pursuit of live service gaming often feels like a high-stakes gamble, especially for established franchises. This tension is currently playing out in the PlayStation studio, where a beloved title is undergoing a major shake-up. Sony has reportedly decided to reboot Horizon Hunters Gathering following disappointing feedback from recent playtests.

The original Horizon Hunters Gathering was envisioned as a vibrant, cartoony spinoff of the photorealistic Horizon world, drawing comparisons to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series. It promised deep, tactical, three-player co-op action centered around challenging hunts, where players would adapt their Hunters and use a roguelite perk system to craft custom builds.

The game was designed to be more than just a session; it was intended to be a social hub where players could connect, customize their Hunters, upgrade gear, and celebrate victories together, all while diving into an unfolding narrative. Game director Arjan Bak had emphasized that the combat was tactical and skill-based, built on the precision of the main Horizon games, and that the story was fully canon and ongoing.

However, the live service ambitions have proven challenging. The fallout from other projects, including the disastrous launch of Concord, has cast a shadow over Sony’s drive to expand its live service portfolio. This history makes the current reboot an especially scrutinized endeavor.

Now, the focus has shifted from expansion to refinement. Guerrilla has reportedly been working on a full reboot since June, with the goal of stripping away the complex live-service components to create a more traditional cooperative multiplayer game with a focused story mode and a smaller scope.

This necessary pivot comes with intense pressure. Staff have been informed that Guerrilla has until December to demonstrate the game’s next milestone to PlayStation leadership. The stakes are high, and whispers suggest that some of the original team members may be shifting focus to other projects with looming deadlines.

While the immediate future is focused on this adaptation, development continues elsewhere. A smaller team is reportedly working on the next installment of the main series, tentatively known as Horizon 3, though that journey remains years away.

Ultimately, this situation highlights the delicate balance between creative ambition and commercial viability in the console gaming landscape. For Sony, the challenge is not just to reboot a game, but to redefine what a successful, long-term live service experience looks like in a market increasingly demanding quality over sheer quantity.