NCSoft Axes Horizon MMO

NCSoft Scraps Horizon MMORPG "Project H"

NCSoft's plans for a Horizon MMORPG, codenamed "H," have been scrapped, according to a January 13, 2025 report by South Korean news outlet MTN. The cancellation follows a company-wide "feasibility review" and the departure of key developers from the project. The report also indicates that another project, codenamed "J," has also been canceled, while "Pantera" (or "Raising Lineage") remains under evaluation. The cancellation of "H" and "J" is further substantiated by their removal from NCSoft's organizational chart.

While neither Sony nor NCSoft have issued official statements, the news raises questions about the future of the Horizon IP in the MMORPG space. The possibility of another developer picking up the project remains uncertain.

Separate Horizon Multiplayer Game in Development

However, the cancellation of NCSoft's project doesn't signal the end of online Horizon experiences. Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the main Horizon series, has been actively developing a separate online project since 2022. This project, internally referred to as the "Online Project," was confirmed in a December 2022 Twitter(X) post and has seen ongoing recruitment efforts, including a November 2023 job posting for a Senior Combat Designer. This posting hinted at the development of new, challenging machines designed for multiplayer combat.

A recent job listing for a Senior Platform Engineer further suggests a large-scale online game, anticipating a player base of over one million. This ambitious scale, coupled with the ongoing recruitment, strongly indicates that Guerrilla Games' online Horizon title is progressing steadily and may be a Sony-led project, separate from NCSoft's involvement.

Sony and NCSoft Partnership

The recent strategic partnership between Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) and NCSoft, announced November 28, 2023, adds another layer of complexity. While the Horizon MMORPG didn't materialize through this collaboration, the partnership opens doors for future collaborations, potentially bringing other Sony titles to mobile platforms.