The eagerly anticipated Horizon MMORPG, known internally as "Project H," has been officially canceled by NCSoft following the departure of key developers. Dive into the details of this surprising turn of events and what it means for fans of the Horizon series.

NCSoft Cancels Horizon MMORPG and Other Projects Amid Feasibility Review

On January 13, 2025, South Korean news outlet MTN reported that NCSoft, a leading developer and publisher renowned for its MMORPGs like Lineage and Guild Wars, has decided to cancel several projects, including the much-anticipated Horizon MMORPG. This decision comes as part of a broader "feasibility review" conducted by NCSoft, which also saw the termination of projects codenamed "J." Another project, known as "Pantera" or "Raising Lineage," remains under review.

The departure of developers initially assigned to "Project H" played a significant role in its cancellation. Those who remained at NCSoft post-cancellation have been reassigned to other ongoing projects. The removal of both "H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart marks the official end of these ventures.

As of now, neither Sony nor NCSoft has issued an official statement regarding this development. It remains uncertain whether another publisher or development team will pick up the remnants of "Project H" to continue its development.

Despite this setback, fans of the Horizon series can look forward to another multiplayer project in the works, known as the "Online Project," being developed by Guerilla Games.

Guerrilla Games Developing Horizon "Online Project" Since 2022

Guerilla Games announced their ambition to expand the Horizon universe with an online project through a Twitter(X) post on December 16, 2022. They are actively seeking developers to join their team in Amsterdam to work on this "separate Online Project set in Horizon’s universe," which will feature "a new cast of characters and a unique stylized look."

Further evidence of this project's progression came in November 2023, when Guerilla Games posted a job listing for a Senior Combat Designer, indicating a need for someone to design "multiple machine enemies that provide a variety of challenges against multiple players." This suggests that the new machines could be significantly larger and more formidable, designed to challenge groups of players.

As of January 2025, the development of this unnamed Horizon multiplayer game continues, with a recent job listing for a Senior Platform Engineer seeking someone with experience in managing "multi-service, 1M+ globally distributed systems across multiple public cloud providers." This suggests that Guerilla Games is gearing up for a game that could attract up to a million players. While no official announcement has been made, this project might be the one internally developed by Sony, separate from NCSoft's efforts.

Sony Announced its Partnership with NCSoft

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) officially unveiled a "strategic global partnership" with NCSoft on November 28, 2023. This collaboration aims to leverage NCSoft’s "technological prowess" alongside SIE’s "global leadership in the entertainment field."

Jim Ryan, President and CEO of SIE, commented, "Partnering with NCSOFT advances our strategy to expand beyond console and broaden PlayStation’s reach to a wider audience. Like SIE, NCSOFT shares a similar vision in creating high-quality, impactful entertainment experiences for players everywhere, and together we’re excited to collaborate to push the boundaries of gaming further."

Through this partnership, Sony is exploring new avenues in online multiplayer gaming. Although the Horizon MMORPG may not see the light of day, this collaboration could lead to other Sony titles being adapted for mobile platforms in the future.