NCSoft Cancels Horizon MMO

NCSoft Scraps Horizon MMORPG "Project H"

NCSoft's ambitious Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," has been canceled, according to a January 13, 2025 report by South Korean news outlet MTN. The cancellation follows a company-wide "feasibility review" resulting in the termination of several projects. The report also states that key developers working on "Project H" departed NCSoft, with remaining team members reassigned to other projects. The removal of "Project H" from NCSoft's organizational chart further solidifies its cancellation. No official statement has been released by NCSoft or Sony.

Another project, codenamed "J," also faced cancellation, while "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage") remains under review. The news raises questions about the future of the Horizon MMORPG genre, but offers a glimmer of hope from an unexpected source.

Guerrilla Games' Ongoing "Online Project"

Independently, Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the Horizon series, has been actively developing a separate online project since 2022. This "Online Project," confirmed via a December 2022 Twitter (X) post, features a new cast of characters and a unique art style. Job postings, including one for a Senior Combat Designer in November 2023, highlight the development of new, challenging machines designed for multiplayer combat. A recent January 2025 job listing for a Senior Platform Engineer reveals Guerrilla Games anticipates a player base exceeding one million.

This suggests a significant, potentially standalone, online Horizon experience is in the works, potentially under Sony's direct development rather than through NCSoft.

Sony and NCSoft's Strategic Partnership

The November 28, 2023 announcement of a strategic partnership between Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and NCSoft adds another layer to the situation. While "Project H" is canceled, this partnership could pave the way for future collaborations, potentially bringing other Sony titles to mobile platforms.

The future of Horizon in the MMORPG space remains uncertain following NCSoft's cancellation, but Guerrilla Games' continued development of their online project offers a different path for fans eager for a multiplayer Horizon experience. The Sony-NCSoft partnership also hints at broader possibilities for future collaborations.