News broke recently that an upcoming Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," has been canceled by NCSoft following the departure of key development staff. Let's delve into the details.
Horizon MMORPG Canceled by NCSoft
NCSoft Cancels Horizon MMORPG and Other Projects Following Feasibility Review
A report from South Korean news outlet MTN on January 13, 2025, revealed that NCSoft canceled several projects, including the anticipated Horizon MMORPG. NCSoft, a major player in the MMORPG market (known for the Lineage and Guild Wars franchises), cited a "feasibility review" as the reason for halting development. Besides "Project H," another project codenamed "J" was also reportedly canceled, while "Project Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage") remains under review.
The MTN report further stated that developers working on "Project H" left NCSoft. Remaining team members are reportedly being reassigned to other company projects. The removal of "Projects H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart serves as further confirmation of their cancellation.
While neither Sony nor NCSoft have issued official statements regarding this report, the future of "Project H" remains uncertain. It's currently unknown if another publisher or development team will take over the project.
However, fans of the Horizon universe shouldn't lose all hope. Guerrilla Games is actively developing a separate Horizon multiplayer game.
Guerrilla Games' Horizon "Online Project" Remains in Development
Guerrilla Games publicly announced their work on a Horizon online project in a December 16, 2022, Twitter (X) post. They've been actively recruiting developers for this "separate Online Project set in Horizon’s universe," promising a "new cast of characters and a unique stylized look."
A November 2023 job listing for a Senior Combat Designer hinted at the scale of this project, seeking someone to design "multiple machine enemies that provide a variety of challenges against multiple players." This suggests significantly larger and more challenging machines designed for multiplayer combat.
Further solidifying the project's ongoing development, a recent job posting (January 2025) for a Senior Platform Engineer reveals Guerrilla Games anticipates "1M+ globally distributed systems," suggesting a player base of at least one million. While details remain scarce, this upcoming title, internally developed by Sony, appears to be progressing steadily.
Sony and NCSoft's Strategic Partnership
On November 28, 2023, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced a "strategic global partnership" with NCSoft, aiming to leverage NCSoft's technological expertise alongside SIE's global reach. Jim Ryan, President and CEO of SIE, stated that the partnership will help expand PlayStation's reach beyond consoles. While the canceled Horizon MMORPG is a setback, this partnership could open doors for other Sony titles to potentially appear on mobile platforms in the future.
