NCSoft Scraps Horizon MMORPG "Project H"
News outlet MTN reported that NCSoft, a leading South Korean game developer, canceled several projects, including a Horizon MMORPG codenamed "H," on January 13, 2025. This decision followed a company-wide "feasibility review." The Lineage and Guild Wars franchises are among NCSoft's most successful MMORPGs.
The cancellation of "Project H," along with another project codenamed "J," is reportedly linked to key developer departures from NCSoft. Remaining team members are being reassigned to other projects. The removal of "H" and "J" from internal organizational charts further solidifies the cancellation.
While "Project H" has been abandoned, another Horizon multiplayer game remains in development.
Guerrilla Games' Ongoing Horizon Online Project
Guerrilla Games, the studio behind the Horizon series, confirmed in a December 2022 Twitter (X) post their work on a separate online project within the Horizon universe. This project features a new cast of characters and a unique visual style.
Job postings, including one for a Senior Combat Designer in November 2023, hinted at challenging multi-player combat encounters with new, powerful machines. A recent January 2025 listing for a Senior Platform Engineer suggests a target player base of over one million, indicating a large-scale online experience.
The Future of Horizon and the Sony-NCSoft Partnership
Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) announced a strategic partnership with NCSoft on November 28, 2023, aiming to expand PlayStation's reach. While the NCSoft Horizon MMORPG is no longer in development, this collaboration opens possibilities for future Sony titles on mobile platforms.
The cancellation of "Project H" is disappointing, but Guerrilla Games' continued development of their online Horizon project offers a glimmer of hope for fans eager for a multiplayer experience within the beloved Horizon universe. Official announcements from Sony and Guerrilla Games are awaited to provide further details.
