Horizon MMO Canceled by NCSoft

News broke recently about the cancellation of an upcoming Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," 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 had cancelled several projects, including the anticipated Horizon MMORPG. This decision came as part of a company-wide "feasibility review." Besides "Project H," another project codenamed "J" was also reportedly scrapped, while "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage") remains under evaluation. NCSoft, a major player in the MMORPG market known for franchises like Lineage and Guild Wars, is clearly undergoing a significant restructuring.

The MTN report further indicated that the developers originally working on "Project H" have left NCSoft. Remaining team members are reportedly being reassigned to other company projects. The removal of "H" and "J" from NCSoft's organizational chart serves as further confirmation of their cancellation. While neither Sony nor NCSoft has issued an official statement, the future of "Project H" remains uncertain, with the possibility of another developer picking up the project's remnants.

However, the cancellation of the NCSoft project doesn't signal the end for Horizon's foray into the online multiplayer space.

Guerrilla Games' Ongoing Horizon "Online Project"

Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the main Horizon series, has been actively developing a separate online project within the Horizon universe since at least 2022. A December 16, 2022, Twitter (X) post confirmed their pursuit of developers for this "Online Project," hinting at a new cast of characters and a unique visual style.

A November 2023 job listing for a Senior Combat Designer revealed further details, specifying the need to design challenging machine enemies for multiple players. This strongly suggests a multiplayer focus, potentially with larger and more formidable enemies than seen in previous games.

A more recent job posting in January 2025 for a Senior Platform Engineer highlights Guerrilla Games' ambition for this online project, seeking an individual experienced in managing large-scale, globally distributed systems capable of supporting over one million players. While still unannounced, this project seems to be progressing steadily, possibly as a Sony-internal initiative rather than an NCSoft collaboration.

Sony and NCSoft's Partnership

The strategic partnership announced on November 28, 2023, between Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and NCSoft, aims to leverage NCSoft's technological expertise and SIE's global reach. While the cancelled Horizon MMORPG is a setback, this partnership opens avenues for Sony to expand its presence in the mobile gaming market and potentially explore other online multiplayer opportunities with NCSoft.