Cancellation of the Horizon MMO: Insights from Recent Reports
Recent reports suggest that the highly anticipated Horizon MMO, developed by the South Korean studio NCSoft, may have been shelved along with other projects. This news has stirred considerable discussion in the gaming community.
According to an exclusive report by MTN, details surfaced last week, which were later shared on ResetERA. The report indicates that several key projects at NCSoft, including the Horizon MMO and Project H, have ceased development following a recent feasibility assessment. Sources suggest that team members involved in these titles received notifications about the project cancellations, with directives to prepare for internal role shifts, which were communicated late last year and into early 2025. Additionally, many of these projects have vanished from the company’s organizational structures, lending credibility to the notion that their cancellation is indeed final.
Implications for Sony’s Live Service Strategy
The Horizon MMO had not been formally announced, so it is doubtful that NCSoft will issue a public statement regarding its discontinuation. Nevertheless, this turn of events highlights ongoing struggles for Sony, especially as it ventures into the live service gaming space. The company’s recent history reveals a challenging trajectory, marked by the troubled launch of Concord the previous year and the recent cancellations of two other in-development titles by Bluepoint Games and Bend Studio, which were focused on a God of War live service game.
In contrast, the Horizon multiplayer project, which garnered attention following leaked footage earlier in 2023, remains under active development. This indicates that Sony is still committed to broadening the Horizon franchise, aiming to break free from the single-player experience that defined its first two main entries. The resilience shown by the development teams could signal a new direction, as they strive to keep the franchise alive amidst these shifting tides.
As the landscape of multiplayer gaming continues to evolve, it will be interesting to monitor how these developments affect both NCSoft and Sony’s strategic direction moving forward.
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