Horizon's MMO Appears to Have Been Cancelled

Approximately a year ago, Sony revealed a strategic collaboration with South Korean publisher NCSOFT, rumored to be for the development of a multi-platform MMO set in the Horizon universe.

At that point, CEO Jim Ryan expressed: “Joining forces with NCSOFT aligns with our plan to extend beyond console gaming and extend PlayStation’s influence to a more extensive player base. Similar to SIE, NCSOFT has a shared vision in producing top-notch, influential entertainment experiences for gamers worldwide. We are thrilled about the prospect of working together to pioneer new frontiers in gaming.

The internal codenames for this game were Project H and Project Skyline. It seems they were planning to release it on PlayStation 5, personal computers, and mobile devices, aligning with PlayStation’s strategy to expand its player base.

But that game appears to have been cancelled, as NCSOFT falls upon hard times.

In their New Year’s message this month, co-CEOs Kim Taek-jin and Park Byung-moo emphasized to the staff: “Let’s make 2025 an extraordinary year of tireless hard work, as if our success hinges entirely on that year. If we don’t see a change by 2025, NCSOFT may not have a future.” Quite a challenge, isn’t it?

After a series of job cuts in October of the previous year, a recent report by South Korean publication MTN suggests that Project H was terminated during a review of its feasibility. It appears that the staff involved will now be reassigned to another project instead.

It’s worth mentioning that the game you’re referring to is distinct from an independent online multiplayer version of Horizon, which is currently being developed by its original creators, Guerrilla Games. As of now, it appears that this separate game is still under active development.

But Sony’s been having a particularly tough time expanding its business recently.

Recently, a God of War live service game developed by Bluepoint and another title from Bend Studio were unfortunately cancelled. To date, Sony Interactive Entertainment hasn’t successfully transferred any of their franchises to mobile platforms. Last year, the smartphone studio Neon Koi was closed down after its acquisition in 2022, which indicates that Sony has yet to effectively adapt its games for mobile devices.

Due to escalating expenses and a plateauing console market, PlayStation is venturing into fresh opportunities to expand its brands and boost earnings. However, apart from the massive hit of Helldivers 2, it seems the company is finding it tough to create lasting success with other projects.

2025-01-21 13:36

Horizon’s MMO Appears to Have Been Cancelled

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