Guerilla Games is reportedly redesigning “Horizon Hunters Gathering” to remove its live service elements, responding to critical feedback from early playtests, according to a report.
Shift Towards a Co-op Experience
Bloomberg has revealed that, since June, the developers have been transforming the game into a more conventional multiplayer co-op experience. This overhaul follows negative reactions from initial playtesters, leading to the removal of live service features in favour of a structured story mode and a narrower focus.
Decision Deadline Approaches
The report indicates that the game is not officially cancelled, but Guerilla Games is facing a deadline in December to win approval from PlayStation’s executives. Additionally, several developers working on Horizon Hunters Gathering have been reassigned to a different project, which is also up for evaluation by the end of the year.
Sony’s Live Service Challenges
This development reflects Sony’s ongoing struggle with live service games. The company has witnessed several setbacks, including the shutdown of “Concord” shortly after it was made available, and multiple cancellations of projects. For instance, Bluepoint Games was closed after a planned “God of War” live service game was halted, and a multiplayer version of “The Last of Us” was cancelled, even though it was near completion. Likewise, a “Twisted Metal” battle royale game also faced cancellation in recent years. Other projects like “Marathon” are not performing well, and “Fairgames” remains in limbo after losing its director last year.
These challenges highlight the difficulties Sony has encountered in successfully launching a hit live service game. The task now remains for Guerilla Games to re-imagine Horizon Hunters Gathering in a way that meets the expectations of Sony’s leadership.
Reporting based on coverage first published by eurogamer.net.