News broke recently about the cancellation of an upcoming Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," following the departure of several key developers from NCSoft. Let's delve into the details.
NCSoft Cancels Horizon MMORPG and Other Projects
According to a January 13, 2025 report by South Korean news outlet MTN, NCSoft—the renowned developer and publisher behind the Lineage and Guild Wars franchises—canceled several projects, including the anticipated Horizon MMORPG. The cancellations stem from an internal "feasibility review." Besides "Project H," another project codenamed "J" was also reportedly scrapped, while "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage") remains under evaluation.
MTN's report further indicates that the developers working on "Project H" left NCSoft. Remaining team members have reportedly been reassigned to other company projects. The removal of "H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart serves as additional 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 unknown if another publisher or development team will take up the project.
However, the news isn't entirely bleak for Horizon fans. 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 an "Online Project" within the Horizon universe via a December 16, 2022 Twitter(X) post. They've been actively recruiting developers for this project, which promises a new cast of characters and a unique visual style.
A November 2023 job posting for a Senior Combat Designer hinted at the scale of the multiplayer experience, mentioning the design of challenging machine enemies for multiple players. This suggests encounters significantly more difficult than those in the single-player titles.
Further evidence of the project's ongoing development comes from a recent job listing for a Senior Platform Engineer. Guerrilla Games seeks an individual with experience in managing large-scale, globally distributed systems capable of supporting over one million players. While this indicates significant ambition, official details remain scarce. This project is likely a Sony internal development rather than an NCSoft collaboration.
Sony and NCSoft's Partnership
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced a strategic global partnership with NCSoft on November 28, 2023. This collaboration aims to leverage NCSoft's technological expertise and SIE's global reach to expand into new gaming markets. While the canceled Horizon MMORPG won't be part of this, the partnership could lead to other Sony titles appearing on mobile platforms in the future.
