Horizon MMO By NCSoft Reportedly Cancelled

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Summary

  • NCSoft developed Horizon MMO project ceased development.
  • Project H, based on Horizon franchise, had members reassigned.
  • A Horizon MMO may struggle to attract target market due to franchise’s narrative focus.

It appears that yet another live-service game tied to a PlayStation franchise, similar to the two previously announced ones, has also been scrapped following Sony’s decision to cancel their live service projects.

2022 saw the first reports that game developer NCSoft was allegedly working on a multiplayer online game (MMO) set within the universe of the Horizon franchise.

Horizon MMO Joins The List of Scrapped PlayStation Live Service Games In Development

According to a recent article from MTN, a Korean publication, it appears that certain upcoming live-service games from NCSoft are being halted during a review process to assess their feasibility.

Based on an interview conducted on the 13th, it was revealed that a secret product development team within MTN, led by ‘Pantera,’ ‘H,’ and ‘J’ under Chief Business Officer Lee Sung-koo, were informed to halt their work. It appears that ‘H’ and ‘J’ have since been removed from the company’s organizational structure. The decision to discontinue these projects was reportedly made at the end of 2024 and the beginning of this year, with team members being instructed to prepare for reassignment to other projects within the company.

One of the games currently in development is speculated to be known as “Project H.” This game is thought to be the massively multiplayer online (MMO) version of Horizon, supported by the employment history of a former NCSoft staff member and recent, deleted job postings.

It appears that the termination of this project isn’t directly linked to Sony’s scrapped live service projects. However, the coinciding timing could potentially suggest a connection.

Speaking as a dedicated fan, I’d like to highlight that the project by NCSoft isn’t the same as the multiplayer Horizon game being developed by Guerrilla Games. Each of these games promises an unique experience within their respective universes.

Although Horizon is undoubtedly one of Sony’s prominent exclusive series, it doesn’t quite match the popularity of other first-party titles like God of War or The Last of Us. Proposing a Horizon MMO could seem appealing in theory, but who would be the intended audience for such a game? Given that Horizon is primarily known for its single-player, narrative-driven experience, converting its universe into an MMO might struggle to attract new players and may even face difficulties captivating fans of the franchise.

Despite the ongoing situation, the latest Horizon game, LEGO Horizon Adventures, unfortunately failed commercially and had to offer significant price reductions just a month following its debut.

As a dedicated fan, I must confess that my expectations for Lego Horizons Adventures were sky-high, blending two legendary franchises: Lego and Horizon. Regrettably, it fell short of the mark significantly. Instead of crafting an unforgettable adventure, what we got was a forgettable experience marked by a lackluster retelling of Zero Dawn’s narrative, repetitive battles, and minimal exploration opportunities.

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2025-01-21 19:11