Horizon MMO Canceled by NCSoft

News broke recently about the cancellation of an upcoming Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," following the departure of key developers from NCSoft. Let's delve into the details.

NCSoft Cancels Horizon MMORPG and Other Projects

South Korean news outlet MTN reported on January 13, 2025, that NCSoft had canceled several projects, including the anticipated Horizon MMORPG. This decision came as part of a company-wide "feasibility review." Besides "H," another project codenamed "J" was also reportedly axed, while the fate of "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage") remains uncertain.

The MTN report further stated that developers directly involved with "Project H" left NCSoft. Remaining team members were reportedly reassigned to other company projects. The removal of "H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart serves as further confirmation of their cancellation.

While official statements from Sony and NCSoft are pending, the future of "Project H" remains unclear. It's unknown whether another publisher or development team will take on the project.

However, it's important to note that Guerrilla Games is actively developing a separate Horizon multiplayer game.

Guerrilla Games' Horizon "Online Project" Remains in Development

Guerrilla Games publicly announced their Horizon "Online Project" on December 16, 2022, via a Twitter(X) post. They are actively recruiting developers for this project, which promises a new cast of characters and a unique visual style.

A November 2023 job listing for a Senior Combat Designer hinted at the scale of this online experience. The listing specified a need for designing challenging machine enemies capable of posing a significant threat to groups of players, further solidifying the multiplayer aspect.

Recent job postings, including one for a Senior Platform Engineer in January 2025, reveal Guerrilla Games anticipates a player base exceeding one million. This suggests a large-scale online game is in development. However, details remain scarce until an official announcement. This project is likely a Sony internal development, separate from the NCSoft collaboration.

Sony and NCSoft's Partnership

On November 28, 2023, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced a strategic global partnership with NCSoft. This collaboration aims to leverage NCSoft's technological expertise and SIE's global reach in the gaming industry. While the canceled Horizon MMORPG is a setback, this partnership opens doors for potential future collaborations between the two companies, potentially bringing Sony titles to mobile platforms.