According to Wccftech, Guerilla Games and NCSoft have officially announced Horizon Steel Frontiers, the Horizon-based MMORPG that’s been rumored for years, coming to PC and mobile within the next couple of years. But that’s not the only multiplayer Horizon project in the works. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier clarified on Bluesky that the studio has a separate multiplayer Horizon game in development at Guerilla itself, calling it the company’s “next big project.” Unlike Steel Frontiers, which is skipping PS5, this other multiplayer title will likely appear on Sony’s console while still being multiplatform to PC. Studio director Jan-Bart van Beek previously confirmed the team has numerous ideas for expanding the Horizon franchise, with multiplayer being just one avenue they’re exploring.
Two paths, one franchise
Here’s what’s really interesting about this situation. Guerilla isn’t just dipping its toes into multiplayer – they’re going all in with two completely separate approaches. The NCSoft partnership makes perfect sense for the MMORPG space since they’ve got that expertise, while Guerilla keeps control of what’s likely a more traditional co-op or competitive multiplayer experience. It’s a smart diversification strategy.
But why two multiplayer projects? Basically, Sony’s looking at Horizon as their answer to franchises like Assassin’s Creed that successfully expanded beyond their single-player roots. The franchise has massive recognition thanks to the games and that Netflix adaptation in development. They’re building a universe here, not just making sequels.
The console question
The platform split is telling. Steel Frontiers skipping PS5 for PC and mobile suggests they’re targeting different audiences and business models. Mobile MMOs are huge in Asia, which fits NCSoft’s wheelhouse perfectly. Meanwhile, Guerilla’s own multiplayer project will almost certainly hit PS5 because, well, Sony wants to sell consoles.
Think about it – how many successful live service games does Sony actually have right now? They’ve been trying to crack this code for years. Having Guerilla, one of their most reliable studios, lead a major multiplayer push makes complete sense. Failure isn’t really an option here given how much they’re investing in live service titles.
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What comes next?
So when do we see this other project? With Steel Frontiers officially revealed, the timing feels right for Guerilla to start teasing their own multiplayer title soon. Maybe at the next PlayStation Showcase? They’ve been hiring for multiplayer positions for years now, so this isn’t some recent decision.
The bigger question is what form it takes. A co-op focused experience similar to Monster Hunter? A competitive player-vs-player game in the Horizon universe? Or something completely different? Given Guerilla’s track record with innovation in the Decima engine, I’m betting it’ll surprise us. Either way, Horizon’s future is looking a lot less lonely.
