Horizon MMO Reportedly Canceled as NCSOFT Faces Financial Struggles

PlayStation’s aspirations to merge its iconic single-player franchises with ongoing live service games have encountered significant challenges. The highly anticipated Horizon Zero Dawn MMO appears to be in jeopardy. NCSOFT, the Korean publisher previously thought to be collaborating on this endeavor, faces financial difficulties that have necessitated the cancellation of planned projects, including this MMO.

Last year, Sony and NCSOFT forged a strategic collaboration aimed at extending PlayStation’s reach beyond consoles into the realms of PC and mobile gaming. This partnership was particularly focused on developing an MMO set within the beloved world of Horizon Zero Dawn, informally referred to as Project H. However, recent reports from the Korean outlet MTN—cited by Push Square—indicate that this project has been scrapped due to NCSOFT’s precarious financial outlook as it heads into 2025. This cancellation adds to the list of PlayStation’s live service games that are being abandoned, both those previously announced and those that remained unconfirmed.

Additional Cancellations in Sony’s Portfolio

Sony’s Live Service Ambitions in Disarray

Aloy from Horizon Forbidden West next to Aloy's Fortnite skin. — Custom Image by: Tom Wilson

The Horizon franchise, which includes two main games, a Horizon Zero Dawn LEGO spin-off, and the PSVR experience Horizon Call of the Mountain, has solidified its status as a cornerstone of Sony’s exclusive offerings. Initially, the MMO developed by NCSOFT was only one of potentially two online games based on the franchise. The other, Horizon Online, is still being pursued by Guerrilla Games, the original creators of the series. Nonetheless, the cancellation of the MMO raises questions about the viability of these live service endeavors.

According to MTN, Project H was sidelined as a result of layoffs in 2024 and was ultimately deemed infeasible. Staff members involved in Project H are reportedly being reassigned to other projects, although specific details about their new assignments remain undisclosed. Notably, Sony has yet to provide clarity on how this development will affect its partnership with NCSOFT or its broader strategy in the live service gaming sector.

Growing List of Canceled Live-Service Projects

Uncertainty Surrounds Sony’s Future Plans

The quiet cancellation of the Horizon MMO adds to a troubling trend, as Sony has also confirmed the abandonment of other live-service projects that were in the works. Both Bluepoint Games and Bend Studios, well-regarded internal developers, fell victim to this shake-up. Reports suggest that these studios only learned of their projects’ cancellations at the same time as the public, signaling potential disorganization within Sony’s live service strategy.

As the gaming community watches these developments unfold, there remains a palpable sense of uncertainty surrounding what Sony’s next steps might entail when it comes to live service gaming. The future may require a reevaluation of its strategies in light of these recent setbacks.

Sources: MTN, Push Square

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