NCSoft Cancels Horizon MMO

News broke recently that an upcoming Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," has been canceled by NCSoft following the departure of key developers. Let's delve into the details.

NCSoft Cancels Horizon MMORPG and Other Projects

On January 13, 2025, South Korean news outlet MTN reported that NCSoft, a major player in the MMORPG market (known for franchises like Lineage and Guild Wars), canceled several projects. Among them was the anticipated Horizon MMORPG. The cancellation, according to the report, stems from an internal "feasibility review." Alongside "Project H," another project codenamed "J" was also reportedly axed, while "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage") remains under evaluation.

MTN further reported that developers directly involved with "Project H" left NCSoft. Those remaining have reportedly been reassigned to other company projects. The removal of "Projects H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart serves as further confirmation of their cancellation.

While neither Sony nor NCSoft have issued official statements, the future of "Project H" remains uncertain. It's unclear if another publisher or development team might pick up the project.

However, hope for a Horizon online experience remains, thanks to Guerrilla Games.

Guerrilla Games' Ongoing Horizon "Online Project"

Guerrilla Games publicly announced their work on a separate online Horizon project in a December 16, 2022, Twitter(X) post. The post highlighted their search for developers to join their Amsterdam team, promising a new cast of characters and a unique visual style.

A November 2023 job listing for a Senior Combat Designer further solidified these plans, detailing the creation of challenging machine enemies designed for multiple players. This suggests a larger scale and potentially more difficult encounters compared to the single-player games.

Fast forward to January 2025, and recruitment continues. A recent job posting for a Senior Platform Engineer revealed Guerrilla Games anticipates a player base of over one million for this unnamed multiplayer title, hinting at a significant online presence. While details remain scarce, this project, developed internally by Sony, appears to be moving forward.

Sony and NCSoft's Partnership

On November 28, 2023, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and NCSoft announced a strategic global partnership, combining NCSoft's technological expertise with Sony's global reach. This partnership, while not directly related to the canceled Horizon MMORPG, might open doors for future collaborations and potentially bring other Sony titles to mobile platforms. While the NCSoft Horizon MMORPG is no more, the future of Horizon in the online space remains vibrant thanks to Guerrilla Games.