Sony Interactive Entertainment and Guerrilla Games have officially pulled back the curtain on a new entry in the beloved Horizon franchise titled "Horizon Hunters Gathering" Departing from the traditional single-player experience, this new title introduces a co-op action-combat loop where players must team up to defend humanity against relentless machine invasions.
A Bold New Visual Direction
The most striking difference from the mainline Horizon series is the art style. While the main games push the boundaries of photorealism, Horizon Hunters Gathering embraces a stylized, vibrant aesthetic. Guerrilla noted that while they remain committed to high-fidelity single-player adventures, this project allows them to experiment with a fresh look that complements the fast-paced multiplayer action.
Where Horizon Meets Killzone Legacy
According to Guerrilla, the idea of a cooperative machine-hunting game has been in the works for a long time. By merging the rich world-building of Horizon with the studio’s veteran experience in multiplayer development from the Killzone series, they have crafted a unique combat experience designed for team synergy.
Key Features and Launch Strategy:
Squad-Based Gameplay: Teams of up to 3 players work together to take down massive mechanical beasts.
Diverse Hero Roster: At launch, the game will feature 6 unique heroes, each with distinct abilities and attributes, with more characters planned for future updates.
Unified Platform Strategy: To ensure a healthy player base, the game will launch simultaneously on PS5 and PC with full cross-play support.
A Closed Beta is scheduled for the near future, though an official release date has yet to be announced.
Currently, Horizon has become a significant intellectual property of Sony, expanding in many directions (such as LEGO Horizon Adventures and the TV series). Developing a cartoon-style co-op game will help expand the fanbase to teenagers and players who prefer accessible games.
Sony has a clear plan to aggressively target the Live Service Games (SBS) market. The stylized art style isn't just for aesthetics; it also reduces system requirements, allows for smooth gameplay on lower-spec PCs, and simplifies the creation of "Skins" or character customization items for long-term revenue generation.
The 3-player team-based mech boss combat gameplay is similar to the highly popular Monster Hunter series in Asia and globally. This may be Sony's attempt to capture market share in the monster hunting game genre using the already strong Horizon universe.
The simultaneous Day 1 launch on PS5 and PC reflects a clear shift in Sony's multiplayer strategy, following the success of Helldivers 2 in 2024.
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Source - PlayStation Blog
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