Guerrilla Games and Sony Interactive Entertainment have officially pulled back the curtain on the next evolution of the Horizon franchise. Titled Horizon Hunters Gathering, this cooperative action experience is currently in development for both PlayStation 5 and Windows PC.
Shifting the series’ focus toward multiplayer, Horizon Hunters Gathering enables teams of up to three players to hunt the iconic mechanical behemoths that define the series. According to the PlayStation Blog, the gameplay is designed to be “tactical, reactive, and deeply skill-based,” adapting the surgical precision of the mainline titles into a dynamic team environment. The reveal highlighted two primary modes: a survival-based wave mode and a “multi-stage trial” featuring rotating challenges and tiered rewards.
This new project appears to be an ambitious genre-blend. Players will step into the boots of distinct Hunters—reminiscent of the character rosters found in hero shooters—and customize their abilities through a “rogue-lite perk system” that allows for specialized combat builds.
While the pivot to co-op marks a significant departure for the franchise, Studio Director Jan-Bart Van Beek emphasized in a lengthy reveal trailer that single-player adventures remain a pillar of Guerrilla’s DNA. The visual direction has also seen a transformation; the game trades the hyper-realistic post-apocalypse of previous entries for a more stylized, vibrant aesthetic that shares more in common with Fortnite than with Aloy’s original journeys.
Despite the change in tone, Horizon Hunters Gathering is confirmed as a canonical entry in the series’ lore. While narrative specifics remain a mystery, the development team promised that the story will continue to expand well after the initial launch, suggesting a live-service framework. To keep the player base unified, the title will support full cross-play and cross-progression between PS5 and PC.
Although a formal release window was not provided, a playtest is scheduled for the end of February on both platforms, allowing the community to provide feedback on the project’s current state. Prospective hunters can register for the test via the PlayStation Beta Program.
Source: Polygon
