Sony has announced Horizon Hunters Gathering, a new multiplayer project set in the Horizon universe and developed by Guerrilla Games. The title shifts the franchise into co-operative PvE gameplay, moving away from the single-player structure seen in Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. While earlier reports suggested the studio was developing a Horizon-based MMO, the newly revealed project focuses on three-player team missions. The game is scheduled to launch on PlayStation 5 and PC, with cross-play support available at release. Sony has not confirmed a launch date.
Hunters Gathering centers on cooperative combat against machines in mission-based scenarios. At launch, players will have access to three playable hunters, each equipped with unique weapons, abilities, and combat roles. Guerrilla Games has not detailed a progression system, and the reveal trailer does not reference persistent class development. Current information indicates that players may select a hunter when entering a mission queue rather than committing to a fixed class. The studio has confirmed that additional hunters will be introduced after launch.
The first playtest is planned for late February and will include two mission types. Machine Incursion challenges players to defend a location from waves of attacking machines, ending with a boss encounter. Cauldron Descent adopts a dungeon-style format, where teams infiltrate a machine facility, progressing through multiple stages filled with enemies and environmental hazards. The mode also incorporates light puzzle elements tied to the environment. Alongside these modes, the full game will feature a campaign that can be played solo or cooperatively.
The setting remains consistent with the Horizon timeline, taking place in the American West roughly 1,000 years after the fall of modern civilization. Players assume the role of hunters who protect human tribes from machine threats roaming the wilderness. While machine designs resemble those seen in earlier Horizon titles, the visual presentation in Hunters’ Gathering leans toward a more stylized and cartoon-inspired art direction.
With its co-op structure, mission-based gameplay, and cross-platform release, Horizon Hunters Gathering marks a new direction for the franchise. Additional details are expected closer to the February playtest.
