Sony’s Not Pulling the Plug on Horizon Hunters Gathering, New PS5 and PC Beta Test Announced

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Horizon Hunters Gathering might not be the exact post-apocalyptic game fans are hoping for, but Guerrilla Games has invested too much time and effort into it to cancel the project now.

The game’s developers have announced a second playtest, running from May 22nd to May 25th. Players can participate on both PlayStation 5 and PC. Sign-ups will only be available through the PlayStation Beta Program.

In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Game Director Arjan Bak explained that the game is still under development. He stated they’re starting with small-scale playtesting to refine the main gameplay and incorporate player suggestions before releasing it to a wider audience.

He explained that they gain valuable insights from every playtest, and this recent one was particularly helpful. He thanked everyone who shared their honest feedback.

Guerrilla Games, the studio behind Killzone, has made significant improvements to their latest game based on feedback from an early playtest. They’ve adjusted all three playable characters – Rem, Sun, and Axle – based on what players experienced in the beta.

So, the next test is gonna let us play as two new characters! There’s Ensa, who sounds awesome – a really charming Oseram smuggler with a history as a mercenary. And then there’s Shadow, a Carja operative who controls one of those big, scary Stalker machines. I’m definitely excited to try them both out!

This closed beta will feature new challenge levels for Machine Incursion and Cauldron Descent, as well as a playable Episode that’s part of the game’s story campaign.

Here’s how Bak described them:

New episodes drive the game’s story forward, revealing fresh mysteries, characters, and gameplay features. Choose your Hunter, prepare for action, and venture into the wilderness to protect Ashwater Valley from an overwhelming machine invasion.

You can experience Episodes and Machine Incursion on your own, with computer-controlled Hunters as allies. The upcoming beta will let you try out this feature.

Although we like how Horizon Hunters Gathering is shaping up, the first reactions from players haven’t been very positive. A recent poll on Push Square showed that 43% aren’t planning to play the game, and another 22% aren’t interested.

That wasn’t a small sample size either: almost 5,000 of you voted in the poll.

Guerrilla faces a significant challenge with this project. While it’s good they’re testing and collecting feedback, it seems like the outcome may already be decided.

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2026-05-05 17:07