Horizon MMO Canceled by NCSoft

NCSoft Scraps Horizon MMORPG "Project H"

NCSoft, a leading South Korean game developer, has reportedly canceled its upcoming Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," along with other projects. This news, broken by South Korean news outlet MTN on January 13, 2025, cites a company-wide "feasibility review" as the reason for the cancellations. The report also states that key developers working on "Project H" have departed NCSoft, and remaining team members have been reassigned to other projects. The removal of "H" and another canceled project, codenamed "J," from NCSoft's organizational chart further solidifies the cancellations. While NCSoft and Sony have yet to officially comment, the news raises questions about the future of the Horizon MMORPG.

Guerrilla Games' Separate Horizon Online Project Remains Active

Despite the cancellation of NCSoft's effort, Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the main Horizon series, continues development on its own separate online project within the Horizon universe. Announced in December 2022 via a Twitter (X) post, this project, referred to as the "Online Project," is being developed internally by Guerrilla Games in Amsterdam. Recent job postings, including one for a Senior Combat Designer in November 2023 and another for a Senior Platform Engineer in January 2025, suggest a focus on large-scale multiplayer combat and a player base exceeding one million. These listings point towards a significant online component, potentially a massively multiplayer online experience, distinct from NCSoft's canceled project.

Sony and NCSoft Partnership: Implications for Future Projects

The recent strategic partnership between Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and NCSoft, announced November 28, 2023, adds another layer to this situation. While the canceled Horizon MMORPG is a setback, this partnership could open doors for future collaborations, potentially bringing other Sony titles to mobile platforms. The partnership's focus on expanding beyond console gaming suggests a broader strategy that may still involve online multiplayer experiences, though not necessarily for the Horizon franchise in the same form originally envisioned by NCSoft.

In short, while NCSoft's Horizon MMORPG has been canceled, the future of online Horizon experiences is not entirely bleak. Guerrilla Games' separate project continues to progress, and the Sony-NCSoft partnership opens up new avenues for online gaming collaborations. Further official announcements are anticipated from both companies.